By Melissa Khan
Hassan, a young boy from Harikaya, Pakistan, loves nature, poetry, and his parents. His mother’s eyesight is getting worse, and Hassan knows the only thing that could keep her from losing her sight completely is the mythical black honey found in the forbidden forest in his village. But to find the bees and obtain their honey, he must first find the beekeeper. Before he can, Hassan is sent to Karachi on scholarship to stay with Mir Saab, a man he believes drove his father away. While there, he meets Mir Saab’s niece, Maryam, and becomes enamoured with life in the city. But the bees still call to him.
The Last Beekeeper is a story of a young boy’s choice between living a life he could never have dreamt for himself and the one he was always meant for. The language is atmospheric and entangles you in its magic realism.
The historical context of the novel, set in 1974 amidst the political changes in Pakistan, provides an intense layer to this novel that without it wouldn’t be the same. Understanding the volatile shift happening between the private and publicly owned industries at the time allows readers to fully empathize with Mir Saab’s actions and how devastating the choice he made was when he was Hassan’s age. Also, recognizing the real-world existence of the species of bees Hassan is searching for allows readers to believe in the honey’s healing properties, instead of it being simply a magical solution. Before going into this novel, I wasn’t aware of these elements, and my perspective changed greatly upon learning them. The magic felt real and the stakes were higher.
Although beautifully written, there were moments throughout the story that felt like false starts, making it difficult to stay focused. An event would occur that could further the main plot, but the scene would end abruptly, or the characters would neglect to share information. Hassan’s lack of information was used to add a mystical sense of uncertainty, but it also made the story drag. Magical elements like Hassan’s ability to visit the beehive, communicate with them, or his connection with them went unexplained, leaving the reader confused. Around the midway point in the novel, I kept anticipating that something big was about to happen and was disappointed when nothing ever came from what I interpreted as foreshadowing. More conflict or substantial interactions between intertwined characters could have prevented their endings from feeling thin or underdeveloped.
I struggled at first to get into this story, which was due mainly to missing details and context. Upon completion of the novel, I’m glad I was able to finish. I think, overall, the story was decent and enjoyable. I encourage those interested in Hassan’s journey to stick through it and keep an open mind for this ambitious debut novel.
Thank you, Harper Collins Canada, for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.