Title: Fly, Honeybee, Fly: A Memoir
Author: Eva Robberts-Vankova
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-5320-6285-8
Pages: 253
Genre: Memoir/autobiography
Reviewed by: Carl Conrad

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Fly, Honeybee, Fly – these were the words of her father that echoed in the memories of Eva Robberts-Vankova, the author of this memoir that gave her courage as she prepared to fly to a destination by airplane. Without the encouraging image of a powerful man sweeping his hand at a honeybee that had landed too close to him in a painting, she was frightened by the thought of this huge airplane transporting so many passengers in the sky being able to do it without mishap. That is, until she heard that reassuring phrase so that her fears could be relieved.

In many intimate and detailed memories like this, the author recalls events from her past that eventually bring her from an innocent, often confused and uncertain young girl in Prague, Czechoslovakia, to an accomplished, confident older woman and mother of her own children who had left Prague for life in what was called “the other world” eventually ending up in Texas, in the United States.

By dividing the book into five sections – 1) What My Parents Told Me, 2) What Life Gave Me, 3) What I Made of My Life, 4) How I Learned The Purpose of Life, and 5) How I Understood The Infinity of Life – Ms. Robberts-Vankova captured the essential elements of her experiences that were significant in fulfilling her dreams and aspirations. She recalls childhood memories, both grim and exhilarating, as well as the joys and challenges of raising children and finally settling upon a notable career with a doctorate in Quantum Mechanics from Charles University in Prague.

The Communist political influence and limitations on what she could do – even what name she could be called from an acceptable list of 366 – always adds a consideration to the choices she faced. The fact that her father was a staunch defender of, and recognized party advocate of the Communists, also placed her in both a protected position as well as one of criticism by anti-Communists for her accomplishments.

Interesting additions to Eva’s remembrances were the poems she inserted at the beginning of many of the chapters that her father had written and wanted others to know about. They were written after Eva had left the Czech Republic, and were translated from her father’s “poem bundle” which Eva translated into English. Many of the sentiments were touching and even apologetic which made their connection between Eva and her father that much more meaningful.

This is a memoir of a life that was not notable for its achievement nor famous in any way, but one that represents the lessons, hardships, struggles, doubts, and the convictions of a little girl who let herself fly like a honeybee and looked back at her journey with satisfaction.