A Keeper of Bees: Notes on Hive and Home

By Allison Wallace

I was hooked. Call it adrenaline surge, call it honeybee venom in my veins–whatever the explanation, henceforth I would need these funky little critters in my life. Givers of sweet, thick honey, bringers forth of the fruits from trees and bushes and who knew what else, they also gave more food for thought than a body could know what to do with.
–from A Keeper of Bees

Allison Wallace’s devotion to honeybees and their amazing, intensely lived lives started years ago, when she was living in a cabin in the North Carolina woods. Ever since then, wherever she has called home, Wallace has kept company with bees. Now she gives us the honeybee in all its glory, dancing “the great, never fully knowable ecological dance,” striving like other creatures and plants to be all it can be in its short life.
With a philosopher’s perception and a scientist’s knowledge, Wallace interweaves the facts of honeybee biology with reflections on desire, intimacy, work, evolution, memory, and home. She shares the thrill of intimately observing thousands of busy bees cozily ensconced in their brilliantly designed, perfectly weatherproofed hive. She muses on the female workers’ unceasing activity, and on the male drones’ idleness as each awaits his acrobatic midair mating with the queen, followed by his instant death. She marvels at the cosseted queen, upon whom the future of the hive depends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Dec 18, 2007
• ISBN: 9780307430410

Reviews for A Keeper of Bees

[klburnside · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

bees are so fascinating! i don't know why i picked up this book, because i'd never really been all that interested in bees.

but this book is written in a perfect way to really get me into them. the author interweaves the science of bees with her personal experiences with raising bees and just her general musings on life. the way it all came together just left me in awe of how intricate and beautiful the natural world is.

the book just progressed really naturally and gave tons of information without feeling at all like a textbook. i kept finding myself asking questions in my head as i was reading like.. "but how exactly do bees behave without the support of a beekeeper?" or "what exactly is honey?" somehow these questions always seemed to be answered within two pages of my inner inquiry.

it got me really interested in bees and kind of reminded me a little of how i got excited about apples and potatoes and marijuana and tulips after i read the botany of desire.

i'd really recommend this book to anyone, whether you like bees or not.

[satyridae · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the parts about bees. The odd interlacings of Hurricane Katrina, Wallace's divorce, her nearly English-speaking dog? I didn't like those parts nearly so much. The authorial voice is warm and friendly, and the writing is workmanlike but didn't strike me as inspired. A pleasant diversion.