Rating: 
Summary: Try This Wonderful Book For Yourself
Review:
Sue Monk Kidd, like young Lily a daughter of the South, is perhaps best known for her memoir The Dance of the Dissident Daughter. In this, her first novel, she's avoided those themes heretofore apparently part and parcel of southern literature - a noble family fallen on hard times, a hereditary streak of madness; all so essential to the work of a Conroy or a Faulkner. Kidd instead concentrates on a single facet of the American South: learning to gauge the boundary between races. Kidd has painted a little corner of the South, where life among "the coloreds" is seen through the eyes of a young white girl. Casual racism is imputed to all but a few whites, including Lily herself.
The greatest truth that Lily learns from the bees is that without a queen, the hive will die. Without a mother - her own queen - Lily is dying inside, and she cannot come alive until she finds her new queen in Tiburon. We watch as Lily comes of age, learning hard lessons and harder truths. We watch as she learns the truth that so few of her time and place seemed to know; the truth that it is friendship and caring and love that bind people together, not the color of their skin.
The world was such a different place in 1964, a world where schools, swimming pools, drinking fountains - indeed, everything - were segregated. It is such a different place today, but not so different as it could be; not so different as it should be. We're left to wonder, whatever happened to the freckle-faced girl who did so much growing up that summer? Did she go on to become the writer she wanted to be? Did she finally learn how to live, and how to love? Find out for yourself. Read this wonderful book. In addition to The Secret Life of Bees, I also recommend an obscure little romance, an Amazon quick-pick, called The Losers Club by Richard Perez - strange and wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't Live Up To Its Promise
Review: "The Secret Life of Bees" is initially such an engaging and compelling read that I couldn't help being disappointed about halfway through when the narrative begins to implode on itself. It seemed as though once the reader's interest was thoroughly piqued, everything unravelled and settled into mediocrity. It's almost as if the author suddenly realized she had a deadline to meet, and yet still needed to write another 150 pages or so, and rushed through its completion in a less-than-inspired manner. Hence we get tedious, bizarre rituals by the "Daughters of Mary" and not very credible behavior on the part of the principle characters. The fourteen year old Lily, for example, who showed so much courage and fortitude early on, becomes something of an unforgiving tempermental brat in a way that seems unwarranted. I won't point out more specifics so as not to create spoilers; the book is still worth picking up as long as you don't take it too seriously or let your expectations be raised.
Rating:
Summary: My Recommendation
Review: "Secret Life of Bees" (five stars) is my newest recommendation for my book group for the interesting way in which it falls into the flow of the last two books we read: "Atonement" (four stars) and "My Fractured Life" (five stars). I realize that "Secret Life of Bees," "Atonement," and "My Fractured Life" are not what I would call directly related. However, there is a common link that you only get from reading them. At the very least they are the three books of the past year I most recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A GENTLY TOLD STORY
Review: I'm not sure if "Secret Life of Bees" could ever be translated well into a film. I guess with CGI they can do anything these days. Books like "My Fractured Life" and "Master and Commander" jump off the page and scream to be translated into film, but I think part of the quaint appeal of "Secret Life of Bees" is that it doesn't have that wild excitement to it. It is a quiet novel, and one that if treated gently, will treat you gently in return. I have a sincere affection of "Secret Life of Bees." I mean no offense to "My Fractured Life," "Master and Commander," "Seabiscuit" or any other books of that ilk, they are fine books worthy of their many praises. "My Fractured Life" is destined to be a classic; "Seabiscuit" is timeless already; and "Master and Commander" is immortal with power. But "Secret Life of Bees" has a gentleness that makes it uniquely endearing.
Rating: 
Summary: It's lovely . . gorgeous writing . . . but ?
Review: I'm sure I'm about to step on toes because this book is moving and I know why. I'm moved by it even as I say -- HUH?
Wait a sec. This bit smacks of racism:
Two people show up out of nowhere. A grown woman and a talkative, imaginative 14-year-old. And these women (wise and/or winsome to the point of charicature -- almost stock figures) keep looking to the 14-year-old to answer the questions? They keep worrying and fretting about the child's background -- her future and path. While Rosaleen, who's independent enough to try to register to vote, and is an ADULT, is treated like a side-kick. She is clearly in shock from being beaten but why don't any of the sisters pull her aside and say woman, what happened to you? And what's this kid up to?
Granted it's in first person, and from a self-absorbed 14-yr-old point of view -- perfectly appropriate for the age. But the book seems to generally agree that Lily is the Center of The Universe.
Except for Lily -- and occasionally Rosaleen at the beginning -- no one is entirely human. T Ray is all evil. August is nearly perfect. The writing is so lovely it occasionally takes my breath away even as the story, and sometimes the characters, annoy the hell out of me.
Rating:
Summary: Honey for the soul
Review: If you liked Kaye Gibbon's "Ellen Foster" then Lily Owens will capture your heart. When her father, T. Ray, punished her by making her kneel on grits, I immediately knew that she was a survivor and he was a coward. May, June, and August Boatwright, the beekeeping sisters, and their Black Madonna honey were exquisite. May's tortured soul taught me about empathy gone awry. Sue Monk Kidd's strong southern storytelling skills are reminiscent of Reynolds Price and Harper Lee. In this her first novel, the writing isn't perfect but it tugged at my heart the way Barbara Kingsolver's "Pigs in Heaven" did. The characters, the time period and the small town setting made it similar to "To Kill a Mockingbird." This novel should be read by parents and teens together. I hope Kidd plans a sequel. I care so much about the characters that I yearn to know about their future lives.
Rating:
Summary: Entertainment at it's Best
Review: Lily Owens tugged at my heart from the very first page. I was quickly drawn into the life of this spunky adolescent as she seeks the truth about her mother and finds forgiveness within herself. At times I found myself cheering her on and admiring her strength while at the same time wishing she could find that one safe haven she so desperately needed.This book is filled with colorful and entertaining characters. I instantly fell for the Boatright sisters, August, June and May named of course for the months of the year. The Daughter's of Mary, a very eccentric and off beat group of women provided wonderful visuals yet also displayed great strength of character. T Ray, is the proverbial father we love to hate and Rosaleen, Lily's friend and champion are but a few of the binding elements in this story. Treat yourself to a wonderful journey as Lily discovers the power and love of these wonderful characters. I hope to read more of Sue Monk Kidd in the years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Excellence!
Review: One of the best books I've ever read. Everything has been a disappointment since...
Rating: 
Summary: i'm ashamed
Review: that i work at a place that had a connection to getting this trite, sentimental, ridiculous garbage published. i want to throw up.
Rating:
Summary: Honey for your soul
Review: The book made me feel good and took me back to a time and place we have lost. I believe those wonderful, kind women who helped Lily could have existed in the early 1960's and I wish they still did. One of the reviews on the jacket called it "a perfect book" and I think that sums it up. It is so beautifully written
that I often found myself going back to savor a sentence or passage. I think it is a woman's book first and a true classic second. Highly recommended for all of us to learn more about bee's and kindness.
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