The Secret Life of Bees

Rating:
Summary: Kidd Rock rules!
Review: Who would have thought that he could write a book like this. The last non-fiction book I read was Godzilla, which was a long time ago, so perhaps I'm not the best to judge, but a book about the secret life of bees is long overdue in my opinion. The cover looks very cool, although I probably would have put a killer bee or the queen bee (like in Aliens) with a nest full of baby killer bees on the cover. Also, I don't get why there is a vase with a dead flower on the cover. I guess it's a book about sad bees, who knows.

Rating:
Summary: A book all women should read.
Review: I just finished this book all in about 5 hours. I love this book it is the best book I have read in a long time. I wanted to read more and more though I hope Sue Monk Kidd writes a part II. I wonder if Lily and Zach ever had a relationship. I love the sisters and after I finished this book I was so sad I missed everyone in the pink house so much. I want to go there to visit. I felt like a little girl again falling in love, experiencing hate, and missing people who had passed on. I love the book Sue Monk Kidd, you sure know what you are doing!

Rating:
Summary: Another lightweight
Review: There are too many books that offer the reader the challenge of complex characters and good development. Don't waste your time with this one if you're up to the challenge of what good literature is all about. This book was an insult to the intelligence and imagination of the thoughtful reader. The author too often explains the character's reactions without allowing the reader to come to personal conclusions. What ever happened to thought-provoking! Not much for discussion here.

Rating:
Summary: Rare moments of brilliance
Review: I found the novel easy to read; simple writing with a rare moment of insight and brilliant description. What bothered me most with the novel, as with many novels that try to make a single point, is the extremes portrayed in characters. Why do men have to be portrayed as absolute jerks (with rare, weak exceptions) and women the strong, loving, insightful characters? In my world both types of people are represented in both sexes.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely and powerful
Review: A beautifully written first novel with an amazing story and extraordinary characters that are already missed.

Rating:
Summary: Hooky
Review: I stayed home from work all day just to finish this. It was worth it. On every level, with all its complexities, this so far is my number one book for 2003.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet as Honey
Review: Lily Owens is a fourteen year old girl living in the racially charged South of the 1960's. Unlike other girls her age she carries around a deep burden that at times threatens to overcome her. Her mother died when she was four leaving her with only a pathetic handful of items including an unusual picture of a black madonna with the words Tiburon, South Carolina written on the back. Left to live with her abusive father T. Ray, Lily dreams of the times she was loved by her mother and is grateful for the only tenderness she gets from her black caretaker Rosaleen. When Rosaleen angers some white men from the town while on her way to register to vote, Lily has to think fast and both she and Rosaleen run away to escape. They go to the only place Lily can think of, Tiburon. What Lily finds is a strange pink house with the three Boatwright sisters named after the months of the year. She and Rosaleen are accepted into their home and Lily begins to learn about raising bees and the making of Black Madonna honey. It is here that Sue Monk Kidd excels so beautifully with her characterizations of the three sisters, August, June and May. It is with tenderness and longing that Lily begins to explore the emotions she has repressed because she feels loved and safe for the first time. The reader aches with Lily as she searches for a reason to feel worthy of love and to release and forgive the past. Kidd, fashions a tale about these strong woman who learn that the only way to feel nourished is to mother oneself. This novel is like taking a ride on a deliciously slow, winding river on a warm summer day. The writing is beautiful, the story is engaging and the characters are intriguing. A really enjoyable reading experience.

Rating:
Summary: What a Book!
Review: I originally bought this book for my daughter to take to music camp. I had run out of books to read so I picked this up and thought I'd read it before she took it to camp. I am so glad I did. This book makes you laugh and cry. I just loved reading about "the sisters" and their bee farm. I loved the way they accepted Lily as one of their own. It is a book that gives you hope and reminds you that people's differences can make for an exciting and interesting life.

Rating:
Summary: Don't have to take my words
Review: I think this book should only be read by women because there are many things here that men most probably might find boring and not interesting. I finished the book because I was hoping that I might like it somewhere before the last chapter, but boy.. I was disappointed. Well, don't take my words for it, read it and see you might like it. After all, different folks like things differently.

Maybe I'll try to find a book about the secret life of cockroach. I might like it better that this book.

Rating:
Summary: Loving it...
Review: This book is a rare jewel and the only reason I didn't give it 5 starts is because I'm only on page 10, but I LOVE it! I can't imagine how the next 290 pages will be, but guaranteed I'll be up all night finding out! :)