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Rating: 
Summary: Glorious tale of passionate love
Review: A sweeping tale of passionate love set during the turbulent events of WW2 and spanning 50 years.Zermano world renowned Spanish painter and his beautiful French lover Louise Collard were separated during the Nazi occupation of France. The world thought Zermano had tired of Louise, she who had once fired his inspiration for his paintings and his lust. In the end it was Louise who left the legacy and Louise who led the way. After her death intimate letters written by her to Zermano, but never posted were accidentally found. They recount the period during the war when she and Zermano were separated, when unspeakable horrors and cruelties abounded in war torn Europe. Passionate, beautifully written letters describe the love between Zermano and Louise and recount Louise's life during their enforced separation. This is not a soppy love story, but a powerfully, deeply moving and well written historical tale of two tragic lovers, touched with passion, politics and art. A wonderful book I didn't want it to end and which I highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Novels of the Century
Review: Day of the Bees is an incredibly beautiful novel where every word is delicious and every twist and turn breathtaking and heartbreaking. I haven't ever come across such a magical and interesting heroine like Louise. She haunts me still days after having read the book. And the ending: WOW!!! You will be blown away by the ending and will have a unique journey all the way there. I am a lucky reader for having read Day of the Bees and I can't imagine anyone who has ever really been in love or has been vulnerable to desire not liking this incredible treat of a novel. There is nothing not to like about it, plain and simple. I highly recommend Day of the Bees.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious and unoriginal
Review: Like many other readers, I picked the book after reading the promising blurb, and the beautiful cover. Elements such as the French Resistance, the fiery passion of an artist and a mysterious, seclusive woman, secrets lost in the past all seemed very intriguing.
Well, this book has nothing to offer. It is actually so forgettable and full of cliche that the reader feels as if he/she has received an undeserved slap in the face.
Most of it is in the format of letters, which however are also foolish, since it is as if the characters are retelling their story without any personal views on it, so don't expect much.
As for the French Resistance theme it is a small part of the book, and without many if any historical elements and the role the characters play didn't captivate me at all.
Art... Where, exactly? Why does it matter that the male character is a painter? What is the significance of his being an artist?
No answer.
There are some pretentiously lyrical sexual scenes, which serve practically no purpose and most of the text actually has that supposedly lyrical and poetic edge to it.
If you'd like to read a truly beautiful story with themes of art and love in it, then I highly recommend "Possession: A Romance", by A.S.Byatt
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