BOOK CLUB: Wasp Season

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[Total: 8 Average: 4.5]

Author: Jennifer Scoullar
ISBN: 978-1-925827-25-5

Copy courtesy of Jennifer Scoullar and Pilyara Press

Jennifer Scoullar is one of my favourite Australian authors and I’ve adored every one of her books, including this one.  Scoullar is, in her own words, “a passionate conservationist and amateur naturalist” and this is strongly reflected in all her works.  But it’s not always about the big things, Tasmanian Tigers, Brumbies, Dolphins, etc. the little things also have an amazing impact on our world.  In this part documentary, part suspense, part horror, but all brilliant book you will learn more about our Australian types of wasps, and the impact of the European Wasp on our environment than you ever knew before

Wasp Season is written as a very different dual timeline.  Firstly we have Beth, 35, separated for the last two years from her husband Mark, and their two children, Sarah 12 and Rick, 10, plus Mark’s new family, Lena (short for Helena), 25 and their new baby Chance.

After the separation, Beth and the children have moved to the country property she and Mark bought together, with Mark having regular weekend access.  Beth is pleased that despite the messy and painful breakup she and Mark appear to have reached a level of cordial relationship and she’s loving being closer to nature in the home she’s named Benbullen.   

The only downside to her idyllic home is the discovery of a European Wasp in the garden, complete with a struggling caterpillar in its strong jaws. Rushing outside to try and rescue the caterpillar Beth is horrified to see 2 more wasps.  Clearly she doesn’t want her home overtaken by European Wasps, so after doing some research she heads down to the local hardware store to purchase a wasp trap.

As a lover of all forms of nature, Beth struggles with watching the caught wasps die in their traps, torn between knowing of the need to remove the wasps from her home, and her distress at causing death.

The more research Beth does about European Wasps the more fascinated she becomes by the life of the wasp queen, her struggles and sacrifices to survive and birth a new queen to ensure the future of the species.

And so we move to the European wasp queen, Zenandra, as she builds her nest in a fallen log in Benbullen’s garden.  The efforts she goes to in creating the perfect home, laying her eggs, taking care of her babies as they grow, then the emergence of her firstborn, Sabrina, followed shortly thereafter by the emergence of further sisters.  The European Wasp population explosion is beginning.

Meanwhile, things don’t seem to be going so well with Mark and Lena, Mark is beginning to realise that trading Beth in for a younger model is not everything it’s cracked up to be.  But in his arrogance, he seems to believe that Beth would welcome him back with open arms.  Beth, however, has moved on, she is happy to have a cordial relationship with Mark, but has no desire to reconnect with him on any other level.  As Mark’s behaviours become increasingly erratic and frightening, so too do the activities in the wasp world escalate.  The Increasing suspense in both worlds leads to a dramatic and traumatic conclusion.

“You’ll never see a wasp in the same way again”.

I know I said it before, but I reiterate, this is a brilliantly amazing book.  I learnt more about some of our insect population in this one read then I have learnt in my entire life before, and all in the context of a fabulous story of human drama.

Many thanks to Jennifer Scoullar and Pilyara Press for providing this book for me to read, and to Beauty and Lace for enabling me to provide a review. A definite 5 star read from me.

A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Wasp Season by Jennifer Scoullar. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.

18 thoughts on “BOOK CLUB: Wasp Season

  1. Wasp Season is a great read about wasps and a lady called Beth. The wasps played a roll in the story more then the people. Beth has two children ex husband that wants her back in his life. She doesn’t want him she has moved on with her life with her wasps and the farm.
    The twist of the story will shock you.

  2. Wasp Season by Jennifer Scoullar was written a little differently to a lot of books I have read. I did find at times that the nature side of the storyline of the wasps interfered with the fiction side of the story. The fiction side of the story was very good, but the wasp parts were sometimes too much for me.
    Beth and her children Rick and Sarah live on a small property in the country. Her ex-husband lives in Melbourne with his new partner Lena and their son Chance and they live a life of luxury.

    Beth loves her life on the property with horses and her beloved garden, but the wasps are taking over and invading her garden.

    Life carries on with a very major twist later on in the story that will change your thought pattern and leave you thinking how come I didn’t think that was going to happen!

    Having the author sign the book was a very special touch.

  3. Thankyou to Beauty and Lace and Jennifer Scoullar for the opportunity to read Wasp Season.

    Beth’s marriage has ended and she and her 2 children are building a quiet life in the country. Her ex husband has moved on with a new partner and baby.
    Beth loves her life, her kids, her garden and is ready to date again.
    Suddenly her ex husband begins to make trouble, bringing down Beth’s peaceful existence.

    In a parallel world in her garden, the tranquility and balance of Nature is about to be shattered when European Wasps have moved in and nested.

    A must read with a brilliant ending.

    I will never look at an European wasp in the same way again! Amazing facts throughout the book about all the insects and garden life we don’t take time to notice.

    I have read other books by Jennifer Scoullar and loved them all, great Australian stories.

  4. Wasp Season by Jennifer Scoullar was a fantastic read. I absolutely loved it and my only complaint was that it finished! Jennifer wove a wonderful story of fiction and non-fiction together that I found enjoyable and fascinating. As the front cover says, ‘You’ll never see a wasp in the same way again’ I have found myself doing exactly that.
    The story revolves around Beth and her two children Rick and Sarah and their life after her divorce from her ex-husband Mark. Mark has started a new life with a new partner Lena and their baby and it’s time for Beth too as well. However, life as she knows begins to get turned upside down with Mark deciding his new life is not as green on his side of the fence after all. At the same time, European Wasps have set up a new nest on Beth’s property and the story of how they thrive and survive and the chaos that then enfolds runs parallel to the chaos that is quickly becoming Beth’s life.
    I loved the story about Beth and the many characters involved. There are so many layers to this story that I thoroughly enjoyed and then combining it with the story about the European Wasps was the icing on the cake! The wasp part of the story was so well written that it didn’t feel like I was reading a textbook. It was interesting and gently informative, and I just could not stop reading. I can’t not mention the ending either, it was awesome!
    Thank you so much to Beauty & Lace and to Jennifer for the opportunity to read this (and for the personal signing, what a special treat!). I am sourcing further books by Jennifer straight away and can’t wait to read more of her work!

  5. Thank you Beauty and Lace and Jennifer Scoullar for the opportunity to read and review Wasp Season.

    I really enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing right until the end. I definitely will never look at a Wasp in the same way again. This was the first book I have read by this author but will not be the last.

    I loved that it was also signed by Jennifer a lovely touch.

  6. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

    I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and will never look at wasps the same way again

    I loved the way Jennifer was able to combine an amazing fiction story with remarkable non fiction.

    Congratulations on an amazing book once again!

  7. Thank you for my opportunity to read this book & also to Jennifer Scoullar for my signed copy, very special touch.

    This is my first novel by this author & I loved it, I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more of her novels in the future.

    An ending with a twist, would recommend this to read

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