Rating: 
Summary: Extremely overrated
Review: I gave this book two stars because it started out well and Sue Monk Kidd is a very good writer. However, while she has a way with words, she doesn't seem to know what to do to sustain a story. This book would have done well as a short story, or a 95 page novells--which would have spared Kidd the burden of having to develop her characters or develop a solid plot line. Basically, this is a silly little book, chock full of stereotypes, tired metaphors, pop-psych words of wisdom, and so saturated in honey sweetness that you're ready to barf. If the middle of the book hasn't put you to sleep, that is.If you're into finding the "mother within" then you might like this book. If you want to enter a world where all black people are wise, wonderful, and stereotyped beyond comprehension, then this is your book. It is interesting how weak, nasty, and non-descript all of the white characters are. The main problem with this book is that it went nowhere. The beginning started out well, and then faded into a "we did this, and then we went here, and we got a ride, and we found the house, etc." There was no plot tension, no twists, no conflict, nothing. The middle of the book is this huge vat of plodding descriptions, metaphors about bees, honey, and mothers, along with a unique form of Catholicism, and just filler, really. The ending is really silly, and Kidd's version of racism in 1960s small town South is pure fantasy (like a white girl and black boy riding around together and no one bats an eye.) I can't believe the press this book got, and how some are already saying its a classic, great southern literature, and so on. Please. This book is severely overhyped.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: The Secret Life of Bees is one of those heart warming stories that gives us hope for a better future. Sue Monk Kidd weaves just enough pathos and humor to keep it real. I highly recommend this book for your reading pleasure.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Tale For Women of Any Age
Review: Have you ever had the need to share something with maybe a close friend or perhaps someone you love The Secret Life of Bees is one of those things. It has many perspectives and ideas that you truly think you understand after reading this book.
It's a heartfelt yea gritty story about about a a young girl named, Lily owens who grew up as a motherless child, due to a fatal accident Lily made when she was young, now she is growing up with her hard father T. Ray, which she calls him because in her own words calling him Daddy never felt right. THe only real female she has to look toward is, Rosaleen her housekeeper who often kept Lily and her father in order. Lily realizes what she is a motherless, mysterious unpopular girl, who is also confused about where she stand on the race factor being a maloto person.But sees her life as something hidden as the secret lives of bees. This is very much so a heartfelt novel, about finding your trueself, and realizing how to let go, and realize the truth. Many analogies are used in this book such as the references to the hidden bees in Lily's room. It shows you how powerful your memories can truly be to you, can how important it is to seek the truth and move on once you find what it is that you saught. This novel will move and touch you in such ways that you never thought words could it will move mountains in your heart and blow winds across your soul. It will also make you realize the truth and sometimes mysteries of everyone's life. Which makes you appreciate your own so much more. It is all you could look for in a book love, heart, soul, and finding. You should go read this book to cure the common cold your heart gets sometimes.
Rating:
Summary: Honey without the bee sting
Review: Anyone who appreciates good reading will like this book. It's miles ahead of every other book on the market at this time, with the exception of one or two others. There's actually poetry in this well-crafted tale, though it does have its implausible moments. Told through the eyes of a child narrator-a popular device; think Huck Finn, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird-we are taken into the world of Tiburon, South Carolina by a sweet, somewhat precocious, good-natured girl named Lily. Taken by the hand is a more accurate description as the narrator slowly brings us into her secret world of bees, black women, abusive fathers, and first sexual awakenings. At times I felt as though I was Boo Radley, just discovered behind the bedroom door, with Scout leading me out into the room to pet Jem. The effect was similar in the way Kidd gently takes us by the hand. And her book is no less magical, but a modern day Mockingbird it is not. Rather, it stands on its own; with its own style, pacing, and characters. There were some elements to the story that bothered me. In particular, the actions of blacks to whites during the civil rights era. True, there were times when blacks stood up to whites, but it was almost always in large groups or when there was some hope of coming out alive. The scene where Rosaleen dumps spittle on the shoes of several of the town's most racist white men, on a half-deserted street, in the middle of the day, simply wouldn't have happened. Not black person in their right mind would have done anything remotely resembling this. The other troubling element of the story includes a black woman who plays the cello-one of the Boatwright sisters. While African-American classical musicians do exist, even by today's standards they are rare. In the sixties, in the South, they were non-existent. The cello seems to have no real significance in this story, and Kidd could have easily substituted the piano as the instrument of choice and been better off. It's obvious she was trying to stretch our imaginations with her portrayal of the three black sisters that take in Lily and Rosaleen, but by doing so she stripped away the "color" (pardon) that would have made them truly wonderful. In her attempt to avoid stereotyping blacks, she went to the point of making them almost virtually transparent. And what a shame this was. African-Americans, both then and now, have always had wonderful attributes that made them stand out. How much more interesting it would have been for Kidd to show us what the world of three genuine black women was like instead of this sanitized, politically correct one. Overall the writing in Bees is excellent and my misgivings about the directions the author chose to take are simply my own opinions. Decide for yourself. Of all the books on the bestseller list now, this is one of the few that deserves to be there.
Rating: 
Summary: An Enjoyable Way To Pass The Time!
Review: Okay first off as many reviewers have already stated this is NOT "To Kill A Mockingbird". If your fine with this, or are able to get past this you will find that this is an enjoyable book that although may not be considered one of the "classics" later on in time is still worthy of reading. Ms. Monk Kidd has picked a very touchy subject to write about and I feel manages to tackle many different aspects of the Civil-rights movement that many are not willing to touch. So what that Lily is the only white heroine surrounded by African-American women? These women do indeed have something to teach the young and yes abused Lily. If you are a reader that needs to have a message in a book to find it enjoyable then the message you will find here which I think many are overlooking is the message of acceptance. Again I think many that have read this book have gone in with very high expectations ("To Kill A Mockingbird") and of course this novel will fall short if your going to compare it to the previously stated classic. If you are one of the few that have the ability to open a book and read it for what it has to offer then you will find this book to be an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Ignore the person before me - this is a fabulous book!
Review: I normally do not write reviews, but reading how someone took a fictional, wonderful story and tried to demean it by pointing out "historical facts" irritates me. The book wanted to cover a time period where there was racial tension, but the book was not meant to be historical, nor was it supposed to be read from that perspective. It's a deeply touching book, where you relate to each of the characters, wishing that you could meet such a variety of types of people in one home. It's a book of journey. Please ignore people who want to make black/white issues and accuracy on history so prominent that they completely miss the story - and completely dismiss the wonderful way that Sue Monk Kidd portrayed the black characters (strong, loving, family oriented, thoughtful, independent, hardworking, and giving).
My mother, who is 54, read this book for her bookclub. She then passed it on to me, a 20 year old, who passed it on to my roommate, 21, who passed it on to her mom, 42, who passed it on to her neice, 13. My point is that this book is perfect for all ages, and it is a quick and heart felt read. I would recommend this highly for any woman, or girl who is over 11 or 12. It's a best seller for a reason - it's an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book; heartwarming and thought provoking
Review: I absoluty loved this story. I thought the main character Lily was precocious and endearing.I felt her pain while living with her abusive father T.Ray. The only bright light at home is her "housekeeper", Rosealeen. She is an African American woman doing her best to take care of Lily and soften the blow of her father's wrath. The book includes the mystery of Lily's mother's death whioch leads her on a wonderful journey. A series of events that includes Rosealeen spitting tocacco on a white man's shoes causes the pair to run away to a different town where they meet three remarkable African American women who change both their lives. May, August, and June are the women. These women raise bees and make honey. This sounds dull but it turns into an adventure for Lily. They all struggle together to find theri own identities. The process allows them to learn things about themselves and each other that are remarkable and life changing. I read a review by a customer who said that this book was not beleivable. There are certain events that take place that are emotional and seem preventable. I am sure that the writer of this book did her research. She grew up during the time of sixties racial strife. I certainly think she has a good grasp of life in the south during this time. This holds true particularly where she describes the struggles between African Americans and whites. I am sure that even then there were strong African American women who broke the rules all the time regardless of the consquences. Their actions may have seemed stupid or just plain dangerous. I call it courageous. It sure started the change towards a better life and rights for the African American. Every change starts with one small voice and/or action.
Rating:
Summary: Poetic, insightful, and wise
Review: "The Secret Life of Bees" is a beautiful and unforgettable story, set in the American South in the 1960's. The story teller is fourteen year old Lily Owen; a lonely adolescent tormented by the murky memory of her mother's death, and the real life neglect and abuse by her father. Told in the first person, each paragraph is profound, with statements that are poetic, insightful, and wise in their simplicity. The one saving grace in Lily's life is her nanny Rosaleen. The Civil Rights Bill has passed, and Rosaleen decides she is going to register to vote; an act of bravery for a black woman in South Carolina in 1964. The walk turns ugly when Rosaleen has a confrontation with three racists, resulting in Rosaleen's arrest. Events escalate, and Lily and Rosaleen flee injustice and violence. Fugitives from the law, vulnerable and on the lam, their options of where to go are few. But Lily has kept one item from her dead mother's meager possessions. It is a Black Madonna image with the name "Tiburon, South Carolina" on the back. With this picture in hand, their destination is chosen. Throughout this story are the themes of bees, and the making of honey. Bees working, doing their job, while the world continues on around them. The characterization in this book is wonderful. The women are beautiful, eccentric, strong, loyal and wise. They are unique and believable, and by the end of the book, they are dear friends to the reader. Dear sweet friends, like honey.
Rating:
Summary: Real Love is Color Blind
Review: The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd is set in the American South in 1964 in the year of the Civil Rights Act during intensifying racial unrest. The love shared by the motherless neglected fourteen year old Lily Owens and Roselyn, her outspoken African American nanny, demonstrates love's ability to transcend time, race and place.
When Roselyn attempts to vote, she resists an attack by three racists in town and is thrown in jail. Lily rescues her and together they escape to start a new life in Tiburon, South Carolina with three African American bee keeping sisters, May, June and August who pray to God via the Black Madonna. Lily chose the town of Tiburon because a box belonging to her deceased mother had a black Virgin Mary with the words "Tiburon, South Carolina" on it.
Kidd shows how the lives of bees can parallel our own. She says while researching the lives of bees she discovered there is a mystique about them and that in ancient times bees were considered a symbol of the soul, of death and rebirth.
The characters leap off the pages into our hearts. Lily with her feelings ranging from idealization to hatred concerning her dead mother and staying confused about the circumstances that lead to her mother's death. May being so sensitive she has a Wailing Wall to help her come to terms with the pain she feels. June with her unresolved fears which makes her seem angry and mean-spirited. August with her kindness, patience and wisdom. She instructs Lily, "Not just to love-but to persist in love...If you need something from someone, always give that person a way to hand it to you."
Kidd's novel shows us how real love and strong community is color blind and how it can not only help heal circumstances but encourages us to grow into our destiny.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: I very much enjoyed the book, The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. It was written very well and kept my interest until the very end. My favorite aspect of this book would have to be the characters. Sue Monk Kidd was able to bring the characters to life. I felt like I was standing right there with them in the scene of the book. The characters were so different from each other but also alike in some ways. The main character, Lily, is a 14 year old girl who ran away from her abusive, cowardly father, T. Ray. Lily will always be haunted by the day she accidentally shot her own mother at the age of four. Her entire life revolves around the loss of her mother. She is in constant search of forgiveness and for any knowledge or connection to her mother. Rosaleen, who has been like a mother to Lily, has been hired to take care of Lily. Rosaleen is a strong character who stands up for what she believes in. But sometimes that personality trait gets her into trouble. This book takes place in the mid 1960's in South Carolina during the civil rights movement. The issue of Rosaleen being black and Lily being white creates racial tension throughout the book. One part of the book I don't find accurate of the time period is when Rosaleen encounters the most racist three men in town and spits on their shoes. Another example is when Jackson, also black, throws a bottle a white man's head for no apparent reason. I don't think that is a true portrayal of the time period. Rosaleen and Lily end up living with three sisters that live in a pink house and bee-keep in the town of Tiburon. Lily chose that town because her mother owned a black Madonna that later is found out to have been on a label for honey made by the three sisters. Lily is a true survivor and has overlooked prejudice and hatred, which unfortunately was common during that time. Her friendship with the three sisters taught her of spiritual strength, sisterhood, and forgiveness. This book was sentimental and that was one the reasons I had trouble putting it down. I also liked how each chapter includes a quote about bees that relates to the chapter. The simplistic plot and easy to understand language made this book very enjoyable to read.
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