Rating: 
Summary: The Sweetest Read
Review: "The Secret Life of Bees," by Sue Monk Kidd, is the story of Lily Owens. Lily is an orphaned girl who struggles with the fact that T. Ray, her father, tells her she shot and killed her mother when she was a baby. Lily lives with T.Ray and also with Rosaleen, who is black and sort of a mother to Lily. Rosaleen offends a racist in town, the two of them flee. The only place Lily can think of is that written on the back of the one treasure that she has of her mother; A picture of the black madonna with "Tiburon, South Carolina" written on the back.When Lily and Rosaleen make their journey, they settle with the three beekeeping - and calendar -sisters: May, June, and August (Yes, there was once an April). The story continues on an even sweeter note than that of honey. The bonds that Lily forms in Tiburon, the lessons that she learns (especially from August), about spirituality, beekeeping, and most important, self-growth and acceptance. In each chapter there is a quote regarding bees and their behavior, and the chapters each hold something about the characters that is in very many ways comparable to the secret life that bees do have. I thought that this was a beautiful expression of harmony, especially during the 1960s when racism was at its peak in many ways. The story of Lily's coming of age is one of self-worth, acceptance, the definition of a mother -- how it does not have to be a biological mother -- and mostly on dealing with life's stings ... and, of course, BEEing able to move on.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This is a beautifully told story of a young girl's coming of age. The events of our youth shape us, but we have choices in how. I highly recommend this novel. The beekeeping details were an interesting bonus, a mini education threaded throughout the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: A well written story, it keeps you waiting for the next event. A young girl goes on an adventure of sorts. Well researched.
Rating:
Summary: Coming to terms with your reality
Review: A great book for the "girl" in all of us. You hate her enemies & love her friends. Lovely.
Rating:
Summary: Not Quite "To Kill A Mockingbird"
Review: but a very engaging book, nonetheless. And I can't help wondering how long ago readers first read To Kill a Mockingbird. A lot of things experienced 30 years ago seem larger than life today.
I am always uncomfortable with books that emphasize the "spiritual" too strongly, but I was moved by the August's thought that the strength we seek is not from the statue/icon/symbol (the Black Madonna) but from within ourselves.
Rating: 
Summary: I dare to dissent, but this book is awful!
Review: Being a fan of "To Kill A Mockingbird" from the time I first read it at age 12, I thought that I would find something similar in "The Secret Life of Bees". I was wrong. This book disappoints on all counts. The characters are not fleshed out at all, so I never felt anything about them one way or another, except for the father whom we had to despise. The young heroine was written as a rather simple minded creature; her thoughts never congealed into anything concrete. And the assorted ladies were all interchangeable with no discernable purpose. The mother was forgettable and drew little sympathy. What was the point of this book? It was certainly not a mother/daughter story; nor was it an adequate commentary on social mores; it was almost a good courthouse drama but the author dropped that angle. Does this book teach, enlighten, entertain? I don't think so. I really don't understand the attraction of this dismal, unengaging, improbable novel. It's nowhere near "To Kill A Mockingbird" when it comes to characterization, mood, plot, details, authenticity, plausbility. 'Nuff said!
Rating:
Summary: I agree with the author..
Review: Another book would ruin it.. What a book!! Poor Lily. I felt so lost with her. I couldn't put this book down. A book to def recommend and pass on to my kids! Life in the South for sure!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Beautiful Novel
Review: Subtle and intoxicating. One of the few books I would gladly read again. Great writing. Great story. Great characters.
Rating:
Summary: Easy, thought-provoking read
Review: This engrossing novel is a coming-of-age story of a Lily Owens, who has been mainly raised by a woman hired by her unloving father after the untimely death of her mother. Although Lily witnessed her mother die, she was too young to remember it clearly, and is tortured by thoughts and seeming evidence that she is responsible for her mother's death. Her search for the truth, for her mother's roots, and for herself, leads her to Tiburon, South Carolina, where she meets the women who will guide her on her inner journey to adulthood.
While the book is definitely peopled with some very stereotyped characters, the focus remains on Lily's struggle to free herself from her past, rise above the racial tensions of the time, and become her own person.
I picked up a copy of this book to take with me as beach reading during my recent honeymoon, and by midway through I couldn't put it down. Luckily, my husband is an avid reader too, so he understood! I really did enjoy this book, but would recommend that if you are considering reading it, be aware that there are definite racist stereotyping undertones in the development of some of the characters, placed there by the author, I believe, as a vehicle for the plot development.
Rating:
Summary: Slow, slow, slow
Review: Thought this book was pretty much torture to read as it was terribly boring.
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