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Summary: The Secret Life of Bees
Review: When The Secret Life of Bees was recommended to me as a wholesome and heartwarming book, I was a little concerned about the books ability to hold my attention. Instead, the book was exactly that and interesting. The story of Lily Owens is one of her perseverance in difficult situations and her ability to conquer them.
Since her mother's death, Lily was cared for by her black housekeeper Rosaleen and her abusive father. The story takes place in the South in the 1960's so when Rosaleen is jailed after upsetting racist townspeople, Lily decides it is time for the to escape the town and her father. They head to Tiburon, South Carolina, looking for any clues about Lily's mother where they are taken in by three caring, black beekeepers. The sisters help Lily to understand her mother's short life, her father's anger and who she is. And with their support she is able to stand up to the challenges of racism and her past.I especially liked this story because it was told from Lily's point of view. By making Lily the narrator, Sue Monk Kidd gives the reader a glimpse into her deep and troubled thoughts; the intellect showed by Lily was impressive but she still needed strong women around her to guide her through her adolescence. That's where Monk Kidd's exciting and unique characters come into play in her strong writing. At times, however, the matriarch of the family seemed to perfect to be believable. Overall the combination of Monk Kidd's writing quality, Lily's compelling story and the messages in the book make The Secret Life of Bees a great book!
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Summary: Open your heart to "Bees"
Review: The Secret Life of Bees shall be kept a secret no more. The elements in this book are truly unique, and like no other fiction novel out there. The characters, such as Lily Owens, the protagonist of the book, are fully developed in their ways and dialogue. Kidd does a fantastic job of portraying the South in the summer of 1964, by showing the racism found there. However, racism is not the sole topic of this book, it is not even the main topic. This book focuses on Lily's difficulties growing up a motherless child, and the obstacles she must overcome. Kidd knows exactly what people want to read, and she knows how to touch a person's emotions. This book is so moving because Kidd knows how to connect with the reader in any way possible. She emphasizes on family, and the absence of a family when it is most needed. Kidd includes love, hate, death, and most importantly, living when it seems unbearable. Kidd does all this by using wonderful descriptions and imagery. She embeds the moment in the mind of the reader, and makes sure it will stay there. The scenes from the book are implanted into the reader's thoughts, and cannot be ignored. Kidd refuses to be overlooked in this wonderful novel. She is fantastic in every way; from the moment the reader opens the book, until the conclusion. The writing in The Secret Life of Bees is superb, and I recommend this book to everyone that wants to read a truly touching story. Sue Monk Kidd pulls the reader into the story, and it is difficult to get lost, and impossible to put down. I recommend this book as a must read; it is a story of heartache, courage, and inspiration.
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Summary: It wil "stick" with you
Review: This book was one of the best I've read in a while. The style reminded me a bit of To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favorites of all time. Great story about women and their relationships as well as a look into the early-1960's South. This book is intimate, sweet, and rich with imagery.
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Summary: Please take notice, you will NOT be disappointed
Review: I ABSOULUTELY devoured this book! It is a beautifully written testament to all that truly matters in life and love. It is a true "chick-book." Since reading it, I have passed it along to my three daughters. The reader will become seduced by its simplicity and enveloped in its warmth. Please do yourself a favor and read this book, then pass it along to the ones you love.
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Summary: Excellent story!
Review: I just could not put this book down! This is one of those stories that bring out several different emotions in you while you read it. Excellent book, highly recommend!!!
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Summary: A NOVEL AS SWEET AS HONEY
Review: This book was so intriguing, from start to finish. I came to know the characters so well, that I felt I grew up with them. I got to know Lily and Rosaleen as well as the Sisters Boatwright. This is a story about people helping each other and the love that has no boundaries or color. The setting in Sylvan, S.C. made me think this was another civil rights novel, but it truly was not and I learned so much about bees, honey and relationships. It was a carefully crafted novel and one, I feel, that will appeal to readers of every age
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Summary: a classic, heartfelt, Southern girl coming-of-age story
Review: For the first 50 pages of this book, I kept thinking to myself that this was the typical Southern novel (which, having been raised in the South, I don't like) - abusive relationships, racism, backwoods, etc., etc. However, as I got further into the book, the true essence of the book - life, love, death, family, friends, acceptance, perseverance, spirituality - began to emerge, and the story became truly captivating. This story is set in South Carolina in 1964 and is told by a mature-beyond-her-years 13- and 14-year-old Lily Owens. Throughout the book, Sue Monk Kidd paints a vivid, realistic picture of the small town South and its people during that era, as well as of the struggles and triumps of an intelligent, vivacious 14-year-old girl. Sue Monk Kidd has given her readers an ageless, timeless, uplifting, heart-expanding coming-of-age story.
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Summary: Great Story
Review: This is an easy book to read. However, I found the story very interesting.
A white girl runs away from home (from her contolling father) with a black helper in the 1960s. She is looking for someone who might know something about her dead mother. She stays with 3 black sisters who make honey for a living. Lily learns a lot about herself, the world around her (pertaining to relations between whites and blacks) and secrets about her mother.
The books is well written and deals with interesting issues. It has adventure, forbidden love, race relations, and deep secrets.
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Summary: Two Thumbs Up, Universally Great
Review: My wife and I read books together and compare our opinions. As the unofficial secretary in our democratic household, I then try to encapsulate our combined opinions into one review. Like most couples, there are many things we don't agree on. When this occurs my wife attributes it to her being right and me being stupid. This is often the case with books - there will be a book I can't wait to discuss because I love it, only to discover my wife hates it. This is not always the case. There are many books that we agree upon as being good or enjoyable. However, there are very few that we agree upon as being universally great. In fact, our "great" list is limited to three in the past year (obviously not three in all time, that would be an indication of a marriage that is heavily on the rocks). SECRET LIFE OF BEES by SUE MONK KIDD (along with THE DA VINCI CODE and MY FRACTURED LIFE) is one of our three books we recommend as being universally great. If my wife and I can agree on it, then rest assured men and women of all ages and backgrounds will be able to relate and enjoy.
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Summary: Disappointed.
Review: Chosen as one of my book group reads, this is a quick and light read. I was surprised to find the novel so lacking in depth and full of cliches after having read so many good reviews of it. If a Southern novel is what you're looking for there are many much more worthy of your time: Anything by Eudora Welty and Carson McCullers and of course To Kill A Mockingbird. This book is a total lightweight compared to any of those and just not as interesting.
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