Rating: 
Summary: just cute
Review: I actually give this 3.5 stars. Just b/c its a very cute colorfully written book. The only compliant I had was that a lot of the "moments" in the book were pretty dull or not very interesting. But overall its still a pretty cute and warm story. Just don't expect it to grab your attention once you start. Definitely light reading.
Rating: 
Summary: As trite as Bridges of Madison County and twice as dull
Review: This is a poorly researched novel that attempts to be profound but merely succeeds in being mediocre at best. Way too many metaphors (bees, mermaids, madonnas, hats) that don't make a point. What an inadequate tribute to the strong, intelligent black women of the south. My bet is that most of the women who so love this book are white.Furthermore, the author tries to convey that the young girl is a heroine. Why..because she was a victim? Is that heroism? In fact many of the women in the book were victims but instead of giving them credible personalities with dignity, the author made them superstitious caricatures of what could have been heroic black women. And the long gone mother? What is there to know about her? Another victim that allegedly held answers. Answers to what? How to make honey? This book is so disjointed and pointless; the only moral is: If you want to read about an egaging young girl in the south go read "To Kill a Mockingbird". That is literature; this is a soap opera.
Rating:
Summary: Yet Another Southern Novel
Review: Sue Monk Kidd sews together a crazy quilt from pieces taken from the great Southern writers of the past. From Harper Lee, a plucky young girl. From Mark Twain, the black
sidekick who briefly shares a river with the heroine. From Tennessee Williams, Big Daddy. From William Faulkner, Amy, the crazy sister. My memory fails me. Is bizarre Southern Catholicism from Carson
McCuthers? I would be saying nice things about the element of black women's spirituality in this book if I hadn't just read Sherman Alexie's comments about white women somehow thinking that a woman of color is wise and deep simply because she's a woman of color. Why is the only mature white woman in this novel (the dead mother) so damn dumb? The bees. Ah, the bees. Kidd does a nice job with the bees, just
like Proulx does with the knots in The Shipping News. Kidd does
better with the bees, but of course Proulx - and many, many other authors - had to break the ground with this modern device, the obscure subplot. If Kidd weren't such a great prose writer, I would have ditched this one after page 10, but I finished it. I hope she goes back to memoir.
Rating: 
Summary: I was Impressed
Review: I'm not a reviewer and wouldn't know how to write one. but I was very impressed by the depth of this book. I think Sue Monk Kidd did an excellent job and I can tell by most of the reviewers I am not alone. Also recommended: I also recommend Nightmares Echo by Katlyn Stewart as well and I Know Why The caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Dylan
Rating:
Summary: Devine Feminine Spirit
Review: This book was an amazing journey that you hate to see end. Highly recommended for anyone needing to reconnect with the female spirit!
Rating:
Summary: A good book to curl up with.
Review: This book just buzzes along and takes you on an enjoyable and complex journey into the world of the South in 1964. You'll glean interesting tidbits about bees (excerpts at the beginning of each chapter) and get to know the story of Lily. This white teen is on a quest (of recovery). This runaway is seeking clarity to her past. During her search, she finds herself adopted by a trio of colored bee keeping women whose lives are intwined with hers and with the lore of the Black Madonna. This is a compelling read and you'll want to savor each drop.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read!
Review: A great read! I truly enjoyed reading this It's a rarity these days to find an author capable of such good storytelling. The story is well written and very engaging, and despite the fact that it lost some momentum in the middle, I found myself eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. All in all, though this is not quite a perfect novel, it comes close.
Rating:
Summary: Very Pleased
Review: Read this book with "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "My Fractured Life" and was very pleased. It has a lazy Southern roll to how it drips off the page, almost like honey off a spoon.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Inspirational
Review: This book is magical. It truly swept me away. Reading it was like experiencing a spiritual awakening. It is so heart-felt and tender. Being a new mother, I wanted to reach out to Lily, wrap my arms around her and help her understand the depth of a mother's love for her daughter. I don't think I would have appreciated this book as much if I didn't have a daughter. I love the lessons Lily teaches us all: that there is a mother inside us, loving us and protecting us. We just have to reach inside to find her.
Rating:
Summary: This one hit close to home.
Review: I felt an instant kinship with Lily as I come from a farm in the South and my mother left my father and me in 1963 when I was nine. So many of Lily's feelings about her mother were remarkably and eerily close to how I felt during that time of my life. I was also intrigued by the story of the bees and how closely their lives relate to those of humans. This one is definitely a keeper to be read, probably several more times, in the future. I've also recommended it to my mother so she can perhaps gain a better understanding of some of the feelings I have always been unable to share with her.
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