The Bee Sting

"Shortlist"

"Informed observers also had their eyes on Paul Murray’s tragicomic family saga The Bee Sting , in which we view the world through the eyes of four members of the Barnes family in a revolving carousel of perspective that has seen the novel compared to the work of Jonathan Franzen. Imelda’s first love died tragically in a car accident; heartbroken, she found herself marrying his brother in his place. Dickie assumed the role of his dead sibling in other ways too, taking on the family business and living in denial his homosexual identity. Cass and PJ, their teenage children, are busy with their own identity crises as their bewildered parents break down. “The characters are unforgettable,” declared the Booker judges. “They persist with hope and are capable of startling moments of love and generosity, despite their myriad flaws and problems.” The Guardian declared that “you won’t read a sadder, truer, funnier novel this year.” The Bee Sting is Murray’s fourth novel, and channels the same riotous teenage angst of his 2010 bestseller Skippy Dies , an unruly mystery set in an elite boy’s boarding school. That too was longlisted for the Booker. 2023 wasn’t Paul Murray’s year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the running again in future."

"Fans of Paul Murray’s hilarious 2010 novel, Skippy Dies, might be shocked by his latest – this is a dark story about the dissolution of four members of an Irish family contending with economic trouble, alcohol abuse and violence, among other notably non-funny subjects. The novel spans more than 650 pages and it’s frequently heartbreaking, but Murray’s beautiful prose – the best of his career so far – and pitch-black sense of humor make it fly by. It might be dark, but it’s definitely a trip worth taking."

"The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Read that enormous, brilliantly absorbing tome in two days."