Rating: 
Summary: An Easy Read
Review: The Secret Life of Bees" is an entertaining book and an easy read. I enjoyed it very much, but it's not a great book. The author demonstrated that a family does not have to be a traditional composition. Many people's families can be made up of friends. Men don't nessecarilty have to be in a family. I am
a single middle-aged woman , so the power of the 'daughters of Mary' hit home. But I am sure married women as well could relate to it. This novel doesn't have the universal appeal that say another southern novel"To Kill A Mocking Bird " has but then that novel is a classic. After reading "The Secret Life of Bees" I want to form deeper bonds with my friends, live in a pink house , and develop with my friends some traditions. Read this book over a weekend. It's a chick book.
Rating: 
Summary: Insipid and unsurprising
Review: I picked up this book expecting a light, fluffy read. I got that to an unwanted degree. Reading this book was a waste of my time. The characters are completely one-dimensional, unrealisitic, and unbelievable. There are NO surprises, although I think the author felt she put some twists in. I saw evereything in this story coming from page one. On the back, one of the reviewers compares Sue Monk Kidd to Carson McCullers. I'm not a huge McCullers fan, but Kidd comes NOWHERE CLOSE. This book will make you dumber for having read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating and Charming
Review: I loved this book! It was recommended to me by a very good friend and I can see why. This book was totally captivating and the charecters were wonderfully developed. This is a highly addictive book and a very enjoyabvle read.
Rating: 
Summary: Sweet, but not saccharine - beautiful prose
Review: A book that I found myself easily sliding into and becoming one with the story. Kidd's writing style and usage of words is exceptionally beautiful. The characters were believable and true, the plot moved along in a sensible way - never was I jarred by the thought "that doesn't make sense" or "that's implausible."The only disappointment was when the book ended, because I wasn't ready to leave that story and give up that writing. I was gripped by the story of the young girl who finds her authority within herself, with the help of loving adults who give her room to expand, and never try to shunt her into anything other than what she already is. I would think this would appeal, certainly, to teen girls, but also adults, male and female, who are searching and struggling for their own sense of self-worth, authority, and direction in life. This book will also appeal to anyone who just likes to read beautifully written books. Kidd is a true master of storytelling and word usage. Read this, and behold something beautiful.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I agree with some of the other reviews: this book was a let-down. I kept waiting for the story to improve, but it never did. I don't understand why this book is on best seller lists; there are far better titles out there to spend one's time reading.
Rating:
Summary: A Bit Dissapointed to Say the Least
Review: I was expecting a whole lot more from this book after seeing it for weeks on the top 10 lists. I know there are a lot of people who felt very connected to the story, but I found it hard to accept some of the plot points, and therefore I found it hard to really be inside the characters. The ending wasn't what I had hoped for, but it is a decent beach book....happy reading
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: As far as Memoirs go I would have to say that this book, ranks up there as one of the best I have read. Is it fiction or Non Fiction: hard to tell. But beautifully written. The author does an excellent job of pulling the reader in and making them understand. This book is in the same type of genre as two other books I have read that I find to be equally as good. Nightmares Echo and My Fractured Life. Each is excellent in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Review: The Secret Life of Bees was a wonderful find that I also shared with my teenaged daughter and son (twenty one). It is an uplifting story that is somewhat old fashioned, without being out of style. For some reason the tone took me back to my young days reading Laura Ingles Wilder's Little House on The Prairie books. Not to take anything away from The Da Vinci Code or My Fractured Life as great modern books, The Secret Life of Bees has a homespun style that reminds me of when I was young.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I loved reading this book. I found myself relating to Lily as she dealt with awkward adolescence and a search for something more. She makes for a very likeable character and you'll be rooting for her the whole day.
Rating:
Summary: Do you have a teenaged daughter?
Review: If you do then you should both read this together. I suggest this because it is a well written novel with interesting woman/girl relationships. The charaters and setting stay with you. The story itself is fine but not the kind of book that I look forward to the turning of the pages. If you are looking for something to share with your daughter, without getting too heavy, this is the book. You'll learn about bees and life and discrimination without a heavy hand.
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