Rating: 
Summary: Trite
Review: My sister told me to read this book. I'm her brother but she still thought I would enjoy a book about women. Well she was wrong. It was a shallow and trite book. Just seemed really contrived. I'm not against "chick" books, I like Ann tyler books. This book though doesn't come anywhere near the depth of an Ann tyler book.
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Summary: A story about guilt, loss, and unconditional love
Review: The Secret Life of Bees is a coming-of-age story set against two unique backdrops: civil rights and beekeeping. The Zeitgeist of the Civil Rights movement is woven throughout the book, starting with when Lily, the 14 year old protagonist, runs away from home with her black caretaker, Rosaleen, after Rosaleen gets arrested on her way to register to vote. They escape to Tiburon, SC, a place Lily knows only from words written on the back of a picture of the black Madonna which she found amongst her dead mother's things. In Tiburon, Lily and Rosaleen make their way to the Boatwright sisters, three black beekeepers who kindly take them in. Having escaped her abusive father, Lily is free to enjoy and take comfort in her surroundings, yet she still feels unloved and yearns for the mother she can barely remember. As the story progresses, Lily must come to terms with her guilt: about her mother's death, her deception of the Boatwright sisters, and even being white. The book has an ending which is positive and affirming without being the perfect Hollywood conclusion; this is an engaging, thought-provoking read which is likely to particularly appeal to daughters who lost their mothers at a young age.
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Summary: In search of a mother
Review: Lily Owens is a young girl who has had a difficult life. She hardly remembers her mother who was killed by unfortunate circumstances when she was small. Lily knows that she had a part in the murder, but she's not quite sure what it was. She is left in the care of her father, a hard man who is unable to show any affection towards his daughter. The only loving person in her life is Rosaleen, a black servant, who treats Lily in a more kindly manner than her father does. Lily is with Rosaleen when she is assaulted by some white men and then is put in jail for striking back at them. While Rosaleen is in the hospital getting her wounds treated, Lily manages to sneak in and spirit her away. They run away to Tiburon, the name of a town that her mother had written on the back of a picture of a black Madonna. When they reach Tiburon, they discover that the black Madonna is the label from a certain brand of honey, so they go to the home where the honey is made. There, they are taken in by 3 kindly black beekeepers--May, June, and August. It is there that Lily is able to heal from her unhappy childhood and to come to terms with some of the longings in her life. There are several themes in the book, the most obvious one being the pursuit of a mother by Lily. Mothers are compared to the queen bee, who is an integral part of the honeymaking of the three sisters. Madonna, another mother figure, is revered by the Catholic ladies of the household. There are also common references to race relations when outsiders criticize Lily for staying in a home with black people. There are regrets and there is redemption. This is a multi-layered debut novel which holds a lot of promise for future work from this author.
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Summary: School Reading
Review: I chose to read this book over three others in a class assignment for my junior year english class. At first I didn't know if I wanted to read a book about an abused girl in the 60's. It turned out that I recieved the book the friday before Spring Break (which last a week)and finished it the wednesday of the next week. That was only 6 days to read! I loved the book very much but I was a little dissappointed with the ending. I'll admit that I cryed when I read a "certain" part ;). I got very involved in this novel and definitly recommend it to other young readers(12-whatever) as it strikes deep to the teenage mind of closure and independance.
Don't pass up a chance to read this novel. It doesn't take long and it will give you some inspiration for keeping your attitude to the general public good.
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Summary: Nice light read
Review: Although farfetched in some places the story was a lighthearted tale of a daughter's search to understand her dead mother. I find myself wanting to read the next book about what happens next.
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Summary: A Must Read for Mothers & Daughters, Dads and Sons Too
Review: "...Bees" tells the story of Lily Owen, age 14, living on a peach farm in the South when the Civil Rights Act is passed. Told in the first person, we quickly learn that her mother is dead and her father is...complicated. What I really loved is how poignantly and accurately Ms. Kidd captured the tortures of adolescence, of trying to fit in with one's peers, which is never easy and for Lily, nearly impossible. My favorite line is when Lily, describing high school, says "I might as well have had a sign stapled to my back stating 'I AM NOT POPULAR AND NEVER WILL BE.' " The book is divided between filling in the back story (why did the mother die? How?) and what happens after Lily leaves home. It is funny, sad, suspenseful. The writing is lucid and elegant. Truly one of the best books I've read in years.
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Summary: A great read
Review: Lily's innocent and untainted view of the world is the underlying theme of here life-changing adventure. The author takes the complex world of the segregationist South and turns it upside down in an enchanting book that my 25-year-old book club buddies enjoyed as much as my 70-year-old mother did. With the same power and conviction as "towanda" in Fried Green Tomatoes, August leads her beehive through many of life's difficult times.
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Summary: This is one book that hit the mark!
Review: This was a fun book to read. The story and characters were believable, a little larger than life of course, but to me that makes a good novel. I liked the characters I was supposed to like, I disliked the characters I was supposed to dislike, and I UNDERSTOOD THEIR MOTIVATION which is sooooo lacking in many other novels I have read recently.I also enjoyed the first person narrative -- it worked in this book and made it charming! A fast, memorable read that I wholehearted recommend. Although more geared to women, I believe that men will enjoy the story as well. READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: One of the best books I have ever read!!
Review: This book is a wonderfully heartwarming story. It is so colorful with amazing characters. A true tribute to women. So many good messages. I highly reccomend this succulant story.
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Summary: Let it Envelope You
Review: I felt wrapped up in Southern Comfort while reading this book. The strength of the language and sheer heart of the story will take you in. If you have enjoyed books like "Ellen Foster," "How to Make an American Quilt," and "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood" I think you will feel at home with this work.
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