Secret Life of Bees

Rating:
Summary: The Secret Life of Bees
Review: This is one of the best books I have read in a
very long time. Frankly, I had trouble putting it
down. Have ordered a copy to mail to my daughter,
who lives in a Northwestern state but is a Southern
girl at heart, & think she will find it as fasci-
nating as I did.
Have read Sue Monk Kidd's writings in GuidePost for
years. If there is an "Author of the Year" award,
it most definately should go to Ms. Kidd. cb

Rating:
Summary: Did Not Want It To End!
Review: I was hooked. One of the best books I have ever read. Interesting characters just lure you into the story. Don't miss this one!

Rating:
Summary: Huck and Jim Redux
Review: I found Sue Monk Kidd's portrayal of Lily and Rosaleen's journey wonderfully reminiscent of Huck and Jim's escape from their former troubled lives. I would say to those who find the book too sweet-- Not so. This is a fantastical trip back to love which has been stolen from Rosaleen and Lily both. Enjoy the bigger than life characters for the archetypes they are in this eternal story retold.

Rating:
Summary: Bee-u-tiful book!
Review: I could not put it down!n Lily, Rosaleen, and the Calendar sisters create a rich and unique relationship, removing barriers of place, time, race, or reason. Collectively, my book club loved this book and we could not stop talking about the events that unfolded, the comraderie that was developed for the young Lily, and the basic human tenets that bond all women; joy, sorrow, love and kindness!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book!
Review: This one of the best books I have read in a long time! It is a timeless and beautiful story. I could not put it down and finished the book in 24 hours. I absolutely loved the book! Sue Monk Kidd is a beautiful writer with amazing metaphors and images. I would suggest this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Light but lots to think about!
Review: I really enoyed this book. The story moved along in a smooth lilting way. The author's use of language at times, is almost poetic. She has a beautiful style. She has also taken on a lot of controversial topics. I enjoyed the way she makes one think about race and religion. She also makes us think about how we are seen by our children. Very worthwile.

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary
Review: This book held so many things to think about. She explores religious beliefs and the ideals that our children have about us. It is so worth the short time it will take you to read it!

Rating:
Summary: Are you kidding me?
Review: I couldn't even bring myself to finish this book. I read EVERYTHING and make it a point to finish everything I start, even if I feel disappointed early on, in case the story or the writing improves. This book is one of maybe 5 in my lifetime that didn't even deserve that courtesy.
The writing is cloyingly sweet and the characters totally unlikeable.

Rating:
Summary: rich and golden reading
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! It had enough twists and turns and surprises and quirks to keep me entertained throughout. This is a book with substance, wit and drama. It has a well thought-out plot and colorful characters. I had read the book Watermelon preceding this one, and they were light years apart in intelligence. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to more from this author.

Rating:
Summary: DELICIOUS!
Review: What a superb book! Not many novels keep me reading for hours at a time. This wonderful surprise did, with characters just eccentric (and normal) enough to pique my imagination. I related to Lily not because of my home life, which was nothing like hers, but because I, too, was 14 in 1964 and vividly remember the changes that were happening all over the country - and the great resistance by those afraid of change. The calendar sisters were amusing and intriguing. T. Ray was a bully with an occasionally creative streak. The surrounding characters, good, bad and indifferent, helped to make what could have been an implausible tale plausible. Would a grown black woman go off with a young white girl? Who can say what someone would have done in a time of turmoil? Kudos to Sue Monk Kidd for creating a memorable cast of characters, for helping us remember that the civil rights movement affected everyone, for giving us a lesson in bee keeping, and for her exquisite descriptions of everything from the agony of punishment by grits to the incredible feel of pond water on a hot summer's night. Ms Kidd gave us a charming and thought-provoking story rooted in the 1960's South, complete with all its glory and misery.