On Bee's Bookshelf

  A startling, compelling collection of over 50 short stories and micro-fiction from Japanese writers, exploring the treatment of women and girls under a misogynistic society.  From critique of sexist etiquette and expectations, to violence and discrimination - this collection touches on points that all women will be able to find some connection, catharsis and understanding in. From simple, striking prose to whip-smart wordplay to poetic entries and fantastical, powerful metaphors that vividly take root in your head, it's full of beautiful examples of writing. Some readers have said it's not always clear the message of certain stories, potentially the translation could be adding a barrier here or cultural nuance but there's usually a brief overview and explanation at the end to help with any clarification you may need.  As with all collections, you might not enjoy everything, and there's such a variety of styles to enjoy. Sci-fi tales, surreal literary fiction, short bu...

If you knew you had fifty-nine minutes until everything and everyone you love would be lost forever, what would you do with that time? It's an ordinary evening. People are coming home from work, cooking dinner for their children, cuddling on sofas with their lovers. And then the message arrives, shattering everyone's worlds: Missiles are set to destroy England in fifty-nine minutes. Everyone should seek immediate shelter. 59 minutes  follows the journey of three women trying to make it home to and protect their families. The journeys should be simple, but with a lost schoolchild seeking help, a teenage daughter suddenly going missing, and dangerous criminals on the prowl, there is peril at every corner. Review:  " It's a beautiful day for the world to end" In this compulsive, terrifying tableau of real life, we follow Carrie, Frankie and Mrs Dabb when the alerts start to sound. And then the news comes; there's less than an hour until their world quite literall...

  On the windswept shore of her coastal town, seventeen-year-old Rose finds fleeting solace from a life marred by her father’s cruelty. There, she meets William, a mysterious fisherman whose quiet strength offers the comfort she has never known. As their bond deepens, Rose’s long-held dream of attending art school in Paris suddenly becomes reality, forcing her to leave behind the one person who truly understands her. Yet even in the vibrant heart of the city, William’s presence lingers in her dreams, his absence a hollow ache she cannot ignore. Drawn back home by an inexplicable pull, Rose embarks on a journey to uncover William’s past—only to discover he may not be who she thought… You know the phrase “good things come in small packages?” Well how about “emotionally devastating stories come in small books?” I know it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it but that’s exactly how I’d describe this.  A sweeping tale about a love and recovery that transcends time and death, Drown...

May 1940. As the Nazis overrun Denmark, Britain counters by invading Iceland. Secret agent Daphne Devine is dropped into occupied territory to assess a clairvoyant in Reykjavik, who may be passing information to the enemy. Alone, Daphne must navigate her way through this strange, frozen landscape, where the Allies aren’t always welcomed with open arms. When a new lead takes her North into Strandir, the land of sorcerers, she encounters fresh peril and discovers that now she, the hunter, has become the hunted. Daphne must use all her Secret Service training to outwit the enemy agents in her midst. Review: The simple fact of the matter is that Syd Moore is a witch. Back hundreds of years ago, she would’ve intimidated and scared men with her creativity, her ability to weave words and stories, her boldness and command of feminine power. Let’s be honest, men are probably still intimidated by her but we’re not locking people up in Colchester Gaol for witchcraft anymore.  Her writing is q...

The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s  other  girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead.   Do they look guilty? Yes. Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little. But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re  innocent . They swear. To clear their names, Kat, Olivia and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex's life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn't commit? Review:  A chemist, a lawyer and a writer walk into a bar … and start thinking about getting revenge on their cheating ex boyfriend.  It’s Three women scorned, one d...