LIQUID GOLD Bees and the Pursuit of Midlife Honey

Beekeeping is a mysterious, rewarding, occasionally painful, and often maddening pursuit. In this amusing memoir, it's also the source of an unlikely friendship between two middle-aged Englishmen. Simon Mattacks's easy-listening narration would tempt anyone to relax for a second drink at the pub while being regaled with Roger Morgan-Grenville's many mishaps on the way to sweet perfection. By shifting tone slightly, Mattacks captures the author's spontaneous bonhomie versus his friend Duncan's more exacting and hands-off approach. One of the story's many pleasures is listening to the casual, persnickety relationship grow into genuine affection despite equipment failures and unappreciative flying creatures. Along the way, Mattacks narrates with a rhythm and tone that welcome listeners to the fascinating world of the Apis mellifera. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]