Rating: 
Summary: Carroll at his best
Review: "On the level of sheer sentence-construction and his pellucid prose, Jonathan Carroll is among the most purely pleasing writers of the decade. Yet his elegant, entrancing novels have real depths, as they present a series of reports froma world unique to its creator... The small town, mystery-suspense plot (of KISSING THE BEEHIVE) kinks into wholly new, unexplored territory, which sets up a very moving, unsettling and tragic finish."excerpt from review in "The Independent" newspaper of London
Rating: 
Summary: Show me the Magic!
Review: 'Kissing the Beehive' is too, too short. At least for this fan. One thing I love about Carroll's work is his ability to create an appealing reality with likable characters and then pull the rug from beneath your feet, leaving you flat on your arse. That this doesn't happen with 'Beehive' is only a minor gripe as the writing is as ever economically beautiful. However I feel that the plot is wrapped up far too quickly, leaving me wanting more reflection from the narrator on the events that have taken place. I love the stuff on the business of writing and fandom and guess that at least some of this is self-conscious, autobiography.(really, Steve?) I'd definitely recommend it to anyone, with a special caution for Carroll devotees-don't expect the unexpected!
Rating: 
Summary: suave, stylized mystery
Review: As a teen-ager in upstate New York, novelist Samuel Bayer discovered the body of a murdered woman. Returning home decades later to write about the death, he finds his rakehell high-school best friend has become police chief; an anonymous killer is delivering bouquets and mocking literary critiques; and his neurotic new girlfriend-a beautiful documentary filmmaker-is secretly interviewing everyone in his unfinished book. These elements (plus kidnapping, a village idiot, Westchester gangsters, and a suicide cult), form a sleightly-joined mystery, neatly corked by a swift conclusion over champagne in a drawing room.
Rating:
Summary: More mystery than fantasy
Review: Carroll is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't dissapoint with "Kissing The Beehive." However, this novel is much more a straight mystery story than Carroll's other efforts that always seem to have several fantastical elements to them. I gave the book only four stars because it was missing that bizarre twist that seems to surface halfway through other Carroll novels (e.g., the dog talking in Land of Laughs). Regardless, I do recommend this book. As with all of Carroll's work, it keeps you totally engrossed in the story till the very end.
Rating:
Summary: More mystery than fantasy
Review: Carroll is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't dissapoint with "Kissing The Beehive." However, this novel is much more a straight mystery story than Carroll's other efforts that always seem to have several fantastical elements to them. I gave the book only four stars because it was missing that bizarre twist that seems to surface halfway through other Carroll novels (e.g., the dog talking in Land of Laughs). Regardless, I do recommend this book. As with all of Carroll's work, it keeps you totally engrossed in the story till the very end.
Rating:
Summary: More mystery than fantasy
Review: Carroll is one of my favorite authors and he doesn't dissapoint with "Kissing The Beehive." However, this novel is much more a straight mystery story than Carroll's other efforts that always seem to have several fantastical elements to them. I gave the book only four stars because it was missing that bizarre twist that seems to surface halfway through other Carroll novels (e.g., the dog talking in Land of Laughs). Regardless, I do recommend this book. As with all of Carroll's work, it keeps you totally engrossed in the story till the very end.
Rating:
Summary: One of Jonathan Carroll's most accessible books to date
Review: I believe that this is one of Jonathan Carroll's best works to date. (Yes, I've read them all.) While I adored "Bones of the Moon", "Kissing the Beehive" is only the second of his works that I've finished completely satisfied. I can live without the usual magical plot devices if I get the plot and character quality of this book in its place.
Rating:
Summary: not the best place to start with Jonathan Carroll
Review: I bought this book the moment i saw it. I'm a big fan of his work. I read this book straight thru, I didn't want to put it down. But it did leave me somewhat dissatisfied. The plot is interesting, it is typically somewhat bleak, the characterisation is generally good, except for the main female character who seemed rather sketchily drawn in. Also it felt like a book that should have been longer. The build up was good - but then it felt like he rushed to the ending rather than building up the characters / tension. After Silence felt the same too. I'd recommend any of the earlier books - but i think most of them are pretty hard to get hold of. Go for Sleeping in Flame first..
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but...
Review: I have to say the irony of the plot is amusing. Carroll is an excellent author of literature, trying to make his way into the "mainstream" by writing about a pulp novelist who wants to write his first "real book". While Kissing the Beehive is certainly more original and worthwhile than most novels, it is sub-par Jonathan Carroll and you would be better off spending time with his A Child Across the Sky or From the Teeth of Angels.
Rating:
Summary: Carroll has done it again!
Review: I loved this book, as I love all of Carroll's books. He is my favorite author. His imagination, intelligence and wit, not to mention fabulous characters, plots, and dialogue, consistently amaze me. Many of his books are out of print and hard to find, but every second spent searching for his books will be rewarded. Find his books and read them!
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