One of The New York Times Top 10 Books of the Year Winner of the An Post Irish Book of the Year, the Nero Gold Prize, and the Nero Book Award for Fiction Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Writers' Prize for Fiction Finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Fiction One of The New Yorker's Essential Reads of 2023. One of The Washington Post's 10 Best Books of 2023. One of TIME's 10 Best Fiction Books of the Year. Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, The Guardian, The Economist, New York Public Library, BBC, and more. From the author of Skippy Dies comes Paul Murray's The Bee Sting, an irresistibly funny, wise, and thought-provoking tour de force about family, fortune, and the struggle to be a good person when the world is falling apart. The Barnes family is in trouble. Dickie’s once-lucrative car business is going under—but Dickie is spending his days in the woods, building an apocalypse-proof bunker with a renegade handyman. His wife, Imelda, is selling off her jewelry on eBay and half-heartedly dodging the attention of fast-talking cattle farmer Big Mike, while their teenage daughter, Cass, formerly top of her class, seems determined to binge drink her way through her final exams. As for twelve-year-old PJ, he’s on the brink of running away. If you wanted to change this story, how far back would you have to go? To the infamous bee sting that ruined Imelda’s wedding day? To the car crash one year before Cass was born? All the way back to Dickie at ten years old, standing in the summer garden with his father, learning how to be a real man? The Bee Sting, Paul Murray’s exuberantly entertaining new novel, is a tour de force: a portrait of postcrash Ireland, a tragicomic family saga, and a dazzling story about the struggle to be good at the end of the world.
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About the author
Paul Murray
Author
Paul Murray may refer to:Paul Murray (admiral), South African Vice Admiral Paul Murray (author), Irish author of the book An Evening of Long Goodbyes Paul Murray (businessman), current director and former interim chairman of Rangers F.C. Paul Murray (footballer), English football player Paul Murray (journalist), journalist and former editor of The West Australian Paul Murray (musician), Canadian musician, member of the band Sandbox Paul Murray (poet), Irish poet, Catholic priest and spiritual writer; author of Aquinas at Prayer Paul Murray (presenter), Australian radio and television presenter currently at Sky News Australia Paul Murray (1905–1981), Irish rugby union international Paul Murray (skier), cross-country skier representing Australia at the 2006 Winter Olympics Paul D. Murray, British theologian
The Bee Sting
by Paul Murray
Books Like The Bee Sting
If you're looking for books similar to The Bee Sting, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Milkman
Anna Burns
A Booker Prize-winning novel set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The book examines social pressure, gossip, and individual resistance in a claustrophobic community. Burns' dark humor and keen social observation parallel Murray's narrative approach. The novel explores how personal choices are shaped by broader societal tensions.
Skippy Dies
Paul Murray
Another darkly comic novel by Paul Murray exploring complex family dynamics in Ireland. Set in a Dublin boarding school, the book follows the interconnected lives of students and teachers with Murray's signature blend of humor and profound insight. Like The Bee Sting, it delves into personal struggles, generational tensions, and the absurdities of contemporary life. The novel offers a tragicomic view of human relationships and societal pressures.
Night Boat to Tangier
Kevin Barry
A darkly comic novel about two aging Irish criminals waiting at a Spanish port. Barry's narrative combines humor, melancholy, and sharp social observation similar to Murray's style. The book explores themes of aging, friendship, and missed opportunities. Its blend of tragedy and comedy mirrors The Bee Sting's narrative approach.
The Spinning Heart
Donal Ryan
A novel set in the aftermath of Ireland's economic collapse, exploring community and individual resilience. Ryan's polyphonic narrative reveals multiple perspectives on social and personal challenges. Like Murray's work, the book offers a nuanced examination of contemporary Irish experience. The novel provides a powerful portrait of community under pressure.
Solar Bones
Mike McCormack
An experimental Irish novel that explores family, memory, and societal change through a unique narrative structure. The book follows a middle-class engineer reflecting on his life and relationships in rural Ireland. Like The Bee Sting, it offers a nuanced examination of personal and economic challenges. McCormack's innovative storytelling captures the complexity of contemporary Irish experience.
The Country Girls
Edna O'Brien
A classic Irish novel exploring women's experiences in mid-20th century Ireland. The book follows two young women navigating social constraints and personal desires. O'Brien's frank portrayal of Irish society predates but resonates with Murray's contemporary exploration of family dynamics. The novel offers a powerful examination of personal liberation.
From a Low and Quiet Sea
Donal Ryan
A novel exploring interconnected lives in contemporary Ireland. Ryan's lyrical prose and fragmented narrative structure offer a complex view of personal and social experiences. Like The Bee Sting, the book examines how individual lives are shaped by broader societal forces. The novel provides a profound meditation on human connection.
Solar Bones
Mike McCormack
An experimental novel that explores family, memory, and societal change through a unique narrative structure. The book follows a middle-class engineer reflecting on his life and relationships in rural Ireland. Like The Bee Sting, it offers a nuanced examination of personal and economic challenges. McCormack's innovative storytelling captures the complexity of contemporary Irish experience.
Normal People
Sally Rooney
A contemporary Irish novel exploring complex interpersonal relationships and social dynamics. The story follows two young people navigating love, class, and personal growth in modern Ireland. Rooney's precise prose and psychological depth mirror Murray's narrative style. The book offers an intimate portrait of characters struggling with identity and connection in a changing social landscape.
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Sally Rooney
A contemporary novel exploring friendship, love, and existential anxiety among young Irish adults. The characters grapple with personal relationships against a backdrop of global uncertainty. Rooney's precise characterization and social commentary echo Murray's narrative style. The book offers an intimate look at personal struggles in a changing world.
Ghost in the Throat
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
A genre-blending work that combines memoir, historical investigation, and literary exploration. Set in Ireland, the book reveals complex narratives of women's experiences across generations. Like The Bee Sting, it offers a multilayered examination of personal and collective histories. Ní Ghríofa's innovative storytelling challenges traditional narrative boundaries.
Holding
Graham Norton
A mystery set in rural Ireland that explores small-town dynamics and hidden histories. The novel combines humor and poignant character study in a manner reminiscent of Murray's work. Norton reveals the complex inner lives of seemingly ordinary people. The book offers a nuanced view of community and personal secrets.
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