The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk Kidd | It's an amazingly written coming-of-age story.

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The Secret Life of...

	The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd Penguin (Non-Classics), 2003 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 1406 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Well Done!

I loved, loved, loved this book and I am not the "go along with the crowd" type. But I've read a lot of criticism here about this book.
Listen, if you're looking for something that precisely lines up with your version of history/events, you're barking up the wrong tree. This is a fictional work that is meant to lead you down the "what if" road, which is really a great reason to read fiction.
However, the VALUE of this book is in the adventure of the story, the imagery, the "can't put it down" factor, and the message you (hopefully) walk away with, if your intellect allows.
I've read some reviews where the people were almost indignant about how this isn't possible or that isn't realistic. If you're the kind of person that needs your reading material to be completely plausible in every way, read a biography and stay away from fiction (fiction means it came from someone's imagination).
I myself was uncomfortable with the almost constant mention of Mary (mother of Jesus) as a religious figure. She was a person, not God, and she isn't supposed to be worshipped or prayed to. But again, this is a work of fiction; Sue Monk Kidd's version of a possible reality.
Ever hear the saying, "Fact is stranger than fiction?" Believe me, this story may not be possible in some people's world, but it's possible.
Although the story did not revolve around an interracial affair, it does touch on the subject. It focuses mainly on intterracial close relationships. That's the reason for all the comments, from others, in that regard.
And, by the way, my mother and father dated in the fifties and were married in the sixties. He's black she's white. And they're still alive and well today. Not every black man seen with a white woman (or vice versa) was hanged or shot.
In the end, it was plain awesome reading. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
My only warning is that it does have a lot unnecessary, supererogative cursing in it.

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It's an amazingly written coming-of-age story.

All right, so I'm clearly a geek that loves the whole world of women scenario. I'm sorry, but this was just a fantastic book. I give Kidd props for writing from the perspective of a young girl--few people do well that way.

Here we have a girl in the 60s who runs away, with her housekeeper, from her abusive father. She hasn't had a mother in years, and takes the opportunity to find out more about the woman she doesn't remember but who means so much to her. This leads her, via a thing of honey, to the Sisters, a group of beekeepers who graciously take in Lily.

Here, Lily is exposed to a world very much unlike the one her father gave her. Here, women are valued. In fact, there is this religious of the Black Madonna that is very girl-powery and beautiful. She, as a white girl, sees racism from a different angle.

I especially enjoyed the stories of the various characters. Everyone is different, but not in an obnoxiously cliche way.

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Just finished re-reading

I read this book a couple of years ago and recently came across it again on my bookshelf. My latest order hadn't arrived from Amazon and being desperate for a good read, I picked it up. I'm glad I did. This book is just as enjoyable as when I read it the first time. I love how the author faithfully captures the time (the deep American South) during integration.

A warm and funny book that holds up well.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, page 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

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