July 2021 - The Beekeeper's Promise - Fiona Valpy

Wonderful. I'm hoping to start the book on Saturday

1. What was your first impression about Abi? Did it change during the book? Why, why not?
At first I actually thought she was someone who had been a self-harmer (scars on her arms). But as the story progressed it changed. She’s been through a lot and somehow managed to find her way through it. She’s been broken both mentally and physically, but managed to find a way on top of it.


2. If you got the chance to go on a retreat like Abi (yoga, spa etc.) would you? Why, why not?
I would love to, but I’m not sure if I would be able to relax when it comes to it. The idea of get some mental peace sounds amazing, I could definitely use a deep tissue massage


3. How would you describe Sara?
Sara is friendly and welcomes Abi with open arms. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the type who’s intuitive when it comes to other people and could see in Abi’s case that she needed to start over. I found out there’s a book on Sara, so I am definitely going to read that at some point.


4. Did you relate to any of the characters in the book? In what ways?
I would say Eliane and Sara. Eliane’s strength during the war even though she was scared of what might happen and Sara’s compassion and empathy.


5. What were the overarching themes of the novel? How did they relate to each other and to the plot?
War and battles. Both Eliane and Abi had to fight a war and battles trials in their own way. Eliane because of an actual war and Abi being under siege by her husband and they have to fight her way through the aftermath of what that marriage did to her.


6.What do the bees symbolise in the story?
One bee alone can’t do much on its own, but when in a community it can accomplish a lot. Both Eliane and Abi find their own strength through their community. Eliane by joining the resistance and help fight the Germans and Abi going from having no one to have a group of close friends, who inspires and lifts her up.


7. Did the characters seem authentic? Which characters experienced growth and change, and which did not?
Strangely enough I know pretty much all the character’s personas from real life, so yes they are very authentic. I’ve read a lot about France during the Second World War and know a great deal about how it was here in DK as well during the war. You couldn’t trust your neighbour, maybe even a family member, cause what if they collaborated with the Germans. I would have to say that the person who grew the most during the book has to be Abi. From when we meet her, still trying to figure out what to do with herself after her accident, her failed marriage and to find her place at Chateau Bellevue is remarkable, even though it’s not pointed out in capital letters, but the way she reflect over her past and find her peace at the chateau, says a lot about her growth.


8. Do you have a new sense of perspective as a result of reading The Beekeeper’s Promise? What did you learn?
I wouldn’t say it’s a new sense of perspective, but the book gives a good description of how things aren’t always what they seem. There will always be people who try and push you down, the question is just how you deny it from happening. Reading a book like this only emphasizes my own beliefs. No one tells me how I should live my life and I shouldn’t give in if someone tries to pressure me into something I don’t feel comfortable with.


9. Both Eliane and Abi are forced to make difficult choices when they find themselves oppressed. What do you think their options were? How do you think you would have reacted in their positions?
With Eliane she had four options. Either fraternise with the enemy, ignore and just live as nothing happened or three join the resistance as she did. The two first are pretty much the same in my opinion. I would most likely have done my part to fight in the shadows. As for Abi it’s more delicate, cause there are a lot of women, who never find their way out of what she’s been through. However I can’t see myself just become a ghost if I met a man like Zac. If I met a guy like him and found out he was a narcissist, well I would have left him right away, no questions asked. I can’t stand people like him, I’ve got too much spirit in me to be “tamed” like that.


10. Are you familiar with other works by the author? If so, how do they compare? If not, did you come away from this book wanting to read more?
I know there’s a book about Sara and then one about Mireille’s life in Paris during the war. After I’ve read this one, I will check the others out. I am a sucker for WW2 drama and France

I absolutely loved this book, but then again as mentioned above I'm a sucker for anything French and WW2 related and this is two of my favourite things mixed into one. The whole ping pong between Eliane and Abi worked well in my opinion and as mentioned above I would definitely check the other books based on some of the other characters from The Beekeeper's Promise that Fiona Valpy has written.

1. What was your first impression about Abi? Did it change during the book? Why, why not?

My first impression of Abi was that she was very lost and insecure. It was evident fairly early on that she'd experienced trauma which had left her broken. My impression only changed as Abi changed. I feel like we went on a journey of change with her.


2. If you got the chance to go on a retreat like Abi (yoga, spa etc.) would you? Why, why not?

Absolutely. I have been on Christian retreats and loved them. I have been looking at going on a creative retreat, either pottery or journal writing.

I love focused space to process the crazy that goes on in my head sometimes without distractions or feeling guilty because I should be.... cleaning windows or something equally as mundane!


3. How would you describe Sara?

In some ways Sara was Abi's polar opposite. To stop and pick up a total stranger and take her back to her home indicates a strength and confidence that Abi didn't have. Sara appears to be quite astute in a good way. She was able to sense that Abi needed something Sara was in a position to offer. I loved the easy friendship that grew between them.

4. Did you relate to any of the characters in the book? In what ways?

I absolutely related to Abi. Experiencing an unexpected life changing event that leaves a person feeling lost and uncertain about the future and then having to discover who you are when your world suddenly looks completely different. There are no quick and easy fixes. It usually going to take time and tears.


5. What were the overarching themes of the novel? How did they relate to each other and to the plot?

Courage through adversity. Both Abi and Eliane discovered their strength when their lives were at their most testing.


6.What do the bees symbolise in the story?

Bees all have specific jobs but they all need each other in order to be productive. I think the bees symbolise the importance of working together and demonstrate why we thrive in communities that support each other.

7. Did the characters seem authentic? Which characters experienced growth and change, and which did not?

I think the characters did seem authentic especially when we know that in reality, war's have always told stories of remarkable strength and courage; people who have been willing to risk everything to fight for liberty.
Stephanie immediately springs to mind as someone who did not experience growth and change. She was a nasty cow at the beginning and she was still a nasty cow at the end. I couldn't even excuse her behaviour as self preservation, she was just plain spiteful and clearly jealous of the attention that Eliane naturally seemed to attract. She wilfully stirred up trouble for Eliane whenever she got the opportunity. It was a shame her pride got in the way at the end of the book, despite everything she could have found a genuine friend in Eliane.


8. Do you have a new sense of perspective as a result of reading The Beekeeper’s Promise? What did you learn?

Not really but the book does invoke a sense of hope, that no matter what life throws at us, we can endure and we can heal.

When Eliane was thinking about what Mathieu was doing at a moment in time and considering that it was easier to grieve the loss of Jack than for the loss of Mathieu:

Death brought a sense of conclusion that abandonment did not.

The truth of this is so deep and profound it hurts!



9. Both Eliane and Abi are forced to make difficult choices when they find themselves oppressed. What do you think their options were? How do you think you would have reacted in their positions?

With Eliane, it's difficult to say for sure how I would have reacted. I'd like to think that I would be as brave as she was. When you're oppressed, being starved and losing friends and family, I'm fairly sure I'd come to the conclusion pretty quickly that the risk would be worth it.

For Abi, again I'd like to think that I would have got out of that relationship as soon as I realised how controlling he was but I also know that sometimes this can happen so gradually and covertly that you don't even realise it's happening until you're in way too deep. I think also that this is another perfect example of why community is so important. I can be quite loud and extrovert and I like the company of other people. I'm fairly confident that my friends and family would notice if that changed so significantly.


10. Are you familiar with other works by the author? If so, how do they compare? If not, did you come away from this book wanting to read more?

I'm not, but I would like to get round to reading her other books. I like Sara but not much was given away about her and I would like to have known how she came to be at Chateau Bellevue and how she knows Eliane and Mirelle. The authors note in Beekeepers Promise says her story is told in 'The French for Always' which I will definitely try and get a copy of.
We never really found out what Mathieu was doing while he was on the railways and what part he played so I'm wondering if one of her books we'll find out more about that too.
I love books that have overlapping stories with other characters so yes, she's definitely an author I would read again.


Loved this book choice Susanne.

Glad you liked it. Not often I come across new books like that. But when I read the synopsis for it I just knew it was down my lane of interest. Love all things history even if it's fictional.