Rating: 
Summary: Read in two days, couldn't put it down!
Review: I was hooked from page one. I hope there will be many more novels by Ms. Kidd.
Rating: 
Summary: The Secret Life of a Short Story
Review: You might think Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life Of Bees was some boring technical manual about insects. You'd be two-thirds right; it IS about bees and it IS boring. It also includes a story about a little girl in the mid-sixties South running away from her abusive father and occasional references to the civil rights movement of the time. While Ms. Monk has fine command of the English language, the story is tissue-thin. The novel has the same pace, content, and entertainment value as the mint-julep fueled afternoon musings of a group of southern matriarchs. The book began its life as a short story. It should have ended its life there as well. If you don't have a lot of time to kill but feel you must read this, read the first 40 pages and the last 25. If you have time to kill, you could read the entire book. Or you could just visit your grandmother and listen to her drone on about the family for a few hours.
Rating: 
Summary: be forewarned
Review: It's been done too many times to list. But if you like books with a
1.13 year old girl
2. first person narrator who's
3. Southern and has an
4. abusive father
5. with a little de rigeur race and religion thrown in
this is your book.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in YEARS, bar none!
Review: I dearly loved this book...It renewed my faith in mankind!It's the classic, quintessential Southern Woman's novel. I laughed, I cried, I sighed and I cheered for these wonderful characters. It's a novel about everywoman and everygirl. I passed it on to both of my daughters and they loved it, too. I bought this book in hardback at Sam's and I know I'll go back to buy many more copies for friends. The story is beautifully written and totally heartwrenchingly touching. My favorite character was May, who "wore her heart outside her body." Buy this book, read it and treasure it! Thank you Ms. Kidd, for such a priceless jewel of a story.....
Rating:
Summary: A "sweet" read...
Review: I was captivated by the descriptions of sights, smells and all other happennings in Lily's summer. There was depth to the book but not such that you couldn't come up for air and enjoy each "bee" scene and then to tie it to the story line. I craved honey cakes and tea laced with honey.
Rating:
Summary: Begging to be an Oprah Pick
Review: The story was not particularly unique or interesting, ditto the characters. Some of the stylistic components were good, and I really liked the quotations from bee books that headed each chapter. The quotes were thematically relevant and lovely on their own as well. Mostly I thought there was no "there, there." Blah blah blah, white girl and black nanny run away from unpleasant circumstances during times of racial unrest in the South. Their adventures while on the lamb were not interesting. The little attempts at making secondary characters have dimension by virtue of their quirkiness was a flop, if you ask me. It wasn't horrible, but it just wasn't worthwhile either. I can't imagine what people are accustomed to, that they're giving this thing four or five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Entertainment at it's Best
Review: Lily Owens tugged at my heart from the very first page. I was quickly drawn into the life of this spunky adolescent as she seeks the truth about her mother and finds forgiveness within herself. At times I found myself cheering her on and admiring her strength while at the same time wishing she could find that one safe haven she so desperately needed. This book is filled with colorful and entertaining characters. I instantly fell for the Boatright sisters, August, June and May named of course for the months of the year. The Daughter's of Mary, a very eccentric and off beat group of women provided wonderful visuals yet also displayed great strength of character. T Ray, is the proverbial father we love to hate and Rosaleen, Lily's friend and champion are but a few of the binding elements in this story. Treat yourself to a wonderful journey as Lily discovers the power and love of these wonderful characters. I hope to read more of Sue Monk Kidd in the years to come.
Rating:
Summary: I love this book!
Review: This book is a delight to read and touched me on so many different levels. I just finished it and I want to sit down and read it again. It is so good and has a message for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't it bother anyone else?
Review: One star is for the lovely cover and for some nice turns of phrase.
But otherwise, I feel badly misled by the other reviewers' 4-star ratings for this book. First of all, I found the portrayal of Rosaleen, the black woman who takes care of Lily, to be really insulting. She is the first black character we meet in the book and she is written as a not-too-bright child. In addition, I did not believe for a minute that a black woman in the South in 1964 (Civil Rights Act or no Civil Rights Act) would put herself in the position of danger that author Kidd creates to set the story in motion. Rosaleen, alone with Lily in the middle of nowhere, is insulted and confronted by a group of white men loitering at a gas station. Her reaction is to goad them with increasingly inflammatory actions. Well, gosh golly, even 14-year-old white girl, Lily, had enough sense to know what a bad idea all that was. Then Lily comes to the rescue with Rosaleen passively following whatever plan Lily has in mind. Sheesh! The rest of the story really doesn't ever redeem itself.
Sorry, this book is tripe.
Rating: 
Summary: Magic
Review: A rich and magical little book. Well & uniquely written in the consistent voice of 14 yr old Lily, who has a such a wonderfully open and forgiving heart. (Thanks to the encouragement of the Boatwrights) I too, long for a sequel. What's to become of the sisters? And what is Lily like as an adult?
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