"15 slices of mischievous wit served decidedly, deliciously dark and succinct."
Defying convention, the content of John Offord’s Bees Make Honey and Butterflies Make Jam is every bit as curious as its intriguing title. Presented as a slim hardback that’s reminiscent of classic Ladybird books, it shares fifteen pithy vignettes, thirteen of them super-short stories, three of them amusing advertisements, one of which suggests readers buy this very tome — “the world’s best book”, no less.
There’s something of Edward Gorey’s quirky, dark humour in the opening eight-line tale, The Beautiful Princess. Not only is the princess beautiful, but she’s also generous, multi-talented, and pretty much perfect, which makes the brutally blunt closing line all the droller…
Unexpected, amusing, and boasting the sharp delivery of a quirky stand-up comedian, the stories range from twisting fairy tale tropes into astonishing shapes, to the most cringe-some interview you’re likely to have encountered on the page.
| Primary Genre | Humorous Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
The advertisements are the cleverest part of the book. I recommend this book to those who would enjoy stories that don’t conform to expectations.
John Offord is the author of Bees Make Honey and Butterflies Make Jam. This is a witty and unusual book. The endearing title sets the tone, reinforcing that we don’t know quite what to expect from this book! It consists of 12 very short stories and 3 humorous advertisements. Here is a taste of what you can expect from this amusing book. There are four stories with princesses in the central roles: a beautiful but unlucky princess, Princess Stroppy whose father’s wellington boots keep being stolen, Princess Hannah who travels to Mars and Siam, and Princess Cresty, a giant-crested whale who had something to do with the formation of the land on planet Earth.... Read Full Review
I loved this little book of stories!
I loved this little book of stories!... Read Full Review
I would recommend this book, which, although a very quick initial read, demands re-reading to extract all it has to offer.
Bees Make Honey and Butterflies Make Jam, the inspiration for the title coming from the author's daughter when she was three, is a collection of (very) short stories, which are both bizarre and endearing, and totally impossible to categorise.
One of best in my mind is 'I Think they Liked Me', which, incredibly in four paragraphs, tells the story of a young woman going for a job as a filing clerk. Through her observations we gauge the reception she receives from the interviewing panel and our hearts bleed at her cheerful optimism, when we know full well she won't get the job and her interview is being treated as entertainment.... Read Full Review
