This idea comes to a head when he is in Crimea and witnesses the racism against the Tatars who live there. The world of human power struggle, on the other hand, is deeply dysfunctional, cruel, artificially divided, and illogical. Kurkov transforms the abstractions of geopolitics into an intensely human account of compassion and persistence . Sergeyich is an admirable protagonist, helpful to those in need, notwithstanding an initial reflexive reluctance. Sergeyich, on the other hands, befriends the Ukrainian soldier who helps him out by charging his phone and throughout the novel they both check on each other with simple text: Alive?

Trotz des latenten Krieges findet er überall, selbst an der Grenze auch Menschlichkeit und Hilfsbereitschaft, besonders bei der Verkäuferin Galja und der Witwe seines tatarischen Imkerfreundes Ajsylu.Es muss an Andrej Kurkows Sprache und der meisterlichen Übersetzung liegen, dass „Graue Bienen“ für mich regelrecht zu einem page turner wurde. At one point, when Sergeyich points out to a local that the Tartars have a long connection to Crimea, she protests vehemently, parroting Russian propaganda about how: "This land's been Russian Orthodox since time immemorial !

The first third of the book concerns Sergeyich's life in the village, before he loads up his ancient Lada (complete with Soviet numberplates) with provisions and beehives and sets off for a trip around Ukraine. Sounds to which you have grown accustomed, to which you no longer pay any attention, are also fused into silence. Auf der Krim sind es die Repressalien gegen seine tatarischen Gastgeber, die ihm die Freude an der Natur, den Bienen und ihrem Honig vergällen. Interesting food: The central Asian meat stuffed pie, samsa, which looks and appears rather like the Indian samosa; of course, the latter are fried, while the former baked in a tandoor, and the popular version of the latter is usually stuffed with potatoes, not meat though there are meat versions too. Grey Bees is a timely novel with a story that has enough tension to propel you quickly through the pages, but what is so special about this book is the way Sergeyich moves through the world turned grey with war.

The town has mostly been destroyed and consists of only two roads, one named Lenin and the other after Taras Shevchenko, a Ukrainian poet and symbol for Ukrainian nationalism. where nature not only serves people but dotes on them; where the sun waits to depart until people have finished their daily tasks; where the air rings with countless unseen bells; where one can be free and invisible; where every living thing — every tree, every vine — has its own voice.