We are so excited to have once again on the blog today a review requested by an author who very kindly sent us his book. The Colonel and the Bee is a short novel bursting with energy and excitement. The author, Patrick Canning seems to have pulled from many references and genres, ranging from Charles Dickens, Angela Carter and Jules Verne. More than anything, I was left with the feeling that this was the tale I wish I had had as a young girl myself.
The novel follows thirteen-year-old Beatrix as she runs away from the circus with a man, Colonel James Bacchus in a hot air balloon to travel the world and solve crimes and find treasure. Even writing it down does not do justice to the roller-coaster this story is. Though the language is undoubtedly of a beautifully lyrical level and there are hints at more mature situations and circumstances, I would not hesitate for a moment to recommend The Colonel and the Bee to any young adolescent, with dreams of adventure and independence. Indeed, it is the kind of book I wish I had had when I was younger.
As a child I was constantly creating stories of my own, adventures I imagined taking featuring myself as the heroine. I would do this for a few reasons: the obvious being to occupy an overactive imagination, but the second being that there were just not enough stories that featured a gawky, mostly ordinary pre-teen. Stories of these kind are incredibly important not only for the sense of adventure and abandoning a sense reality for a sense of wonder, one that I believe needs to be maintained in adolescents just as much as adults.
What was particularly interesting about The Colonel and the Bee was the relationship between the titular characters. The Colonel from the onset is clearly an eccentric individual, often unable to hold back from his initial reactions and desires. Beatrix (or Bee as the Colonel calls her) is often the opposite way, seemingly more calculating with a stubborn streak. Indeed, the title is apt in that the real draw of the whole novel truly is the main characters and their relationship. The way that they bounce back and forth off of one another, drawing from the other’s strength and giving when they are weak illustrated strong friendship. This was made more interesting by the age difference between the two. Though Bee is only thirteen, she was often the more levelheaded character, whereas the colonel would be quite childlike in his enthusiasm and methods. The role reversal was refreshing to see between what an adult and adolescent could bring to each other.
Moreover, what I thoroughly enjoyed about the novel was the absence of human glorification. Though akin in feeling to fanciful adventure novels, it is never shy in describing the faults of the characters which makes them so believable. Indeed, so much of the story depends on the faults and mistakes of the characters. But what balances it out so well is the celebration in the faults making them who they are. I am an avid reader of dystopian novels but it was refreshing not to be downtrodden by immense self-loathing or anger from the characters.
My only critique, which ironically has also been something I have praised, regards the language. Perhaps it is my penchant for literary novels of the style of Atwood, Dickens or King, but I struggled with the constant use of contractions, making the novel seem more informal than I usually come to expect from a novel. On the other hand though, the language, though at times flowery, was almost lyrical and enjoyable to read.
Overall, the novel was incredibly enjoyable, however, I will maintain that despite the less than subtle hints at more provocative moments, I imagine this novel to be more suited to a younger audience, who would in the adventure flying acrobat find a thrill and desire for their own adventures.
~S~
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