The multi-million bestselling novel about a young girl’s journey towards healing and the transforming power of love, from the award-winning author of The Invention of Wings and The Book of Longings Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily’s … mother was killed. When Lily’s fierce-hearted black “stand-in mother,” Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina–a town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sister, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.
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I absolutely love Sue Monk Kidd’s writing. She is a very gifted writer and she touches your life and your heart with her words.
Secret Life of Bees is filled with wonderful characters, poignant moments, and a story of hope. It is quirky as it is unpredictable. A treasure of moments strung together by the little honey bee. How Ms. Kidd weaves this tale is clever, insightful, and truly unforgettable.
I can never forget how this book impacted me.
I enjoyed the characters in this book so much. They really came alive and I became attached. It also has such a balance between tragic events and living in unfortunate circumstances, laced with love and humor throughout the whole book. Overall, that love binds everyone together. Loved it!
I thought that it was well-written. So many pieces of foreshadowing and symbolism! I just finished it for my English class. What a great novel!
My friend @GwenB is now on Buzz! Gwen and I used to be in a real book club together before I fled, I mean moved away from, Tennessee. 🙂 Everyone go follow Gwen — her recommendations are always awesome!
One of the books we read together was so perfect for book clubs: The Secret Life of Bees, which I think we both expected to be a little more about racial tensions in the 1960s South but was still an enjoyable read.
Moving story of a young, southern, teenage white girl who encounters the harsh realities of racism during the 1960’s as she struggles to find love and acceptance.
The simplicity of a family unity, grows to have you embrace the characters personality. Through this embrace you learn to love even the outsiders. Beautifully written
I believe that if you haven’t read this book before then you have never truly lived, this book is so inspiring and creative it gave me a lot of self-respect and self-love.
I truly love this book and highly recommend it. If you are looking into reading this book then get to it! It is a life-changing book and an enormous page-turner.
Everyone who has read this book has come away changed just a little bit. The story is so believable and real that it sweeps you into it. You feel it! Some of the scenes will make you cry. And then there’s the love that pours out of these pages. I’ve read other books by this author and she always delivers!
I really enjoyed the view into the lives of people who lived in a world unlike mine. I loved seeing the courage and compassion, the willingness to look at other ways, and the success that may not look like some definitions of success but result in people who seem happy with their lot.
This book utterly redefined me the first time I read it. It spoke about a young girl growing up in the South in a way that deeply resonated with me, while also managing to be both heart-breaking and full of warmth. I’ve read it every summer since I first picked it up twelve years ago, and I absolutely recommend buying it while it’s discounted!
One of the best books I’ve read this year. Really love this story, and how it goes from such sad beginnings to a beautiful ending. Amazing women in this book – portrayed with humor, and strength. The combination of special relationships, a great plot, and a mystery to solve will keep you turning the pages. If you liked “The Help” then you will probably like this book as well – it’s got some similarities with the dynamics and the time period. 🙂
I absolutely loved this book. Having lived in the South for a time as an adult it was interesting to read about what it was like there when I was coming of age up North. I loved the relationship between the two major characters.
This is a wonderful book. I’ve had it on my ereader for months and for some reason I kept putting off reading it. I don’t know why, because as soon as I opened it up I knew I was in for a treat.
The time is the 1960s. Lily Owens is a 14-year-old girl living in South Carolina with her father, T-Ray. Lily’s mother died when Lily was four, and Lily is convinced she killed her when a gun accidentally went off. T-Ray is a sadistic bully, and Lily’s only comfort as she grows up is their black maid, Rosaleen. It’s the time of the Civil Rights movement. When Rosaleen goes to register to vote, she’s beaten up by a set of thugs and arrested. Lily springs Rosaleen from her hospital bed, and they go on the run.
The bees of the title come from the three bee-keeping sisters who offer Lily and Rosaleen sanctuary. With these eccentric, strange, and wonderful sisters honey is the balm for all life’s ills – as well as being the secret of silky hair 🙂 Lily begins to heal.
This is a magical, gentle, and inspiring read, and as sweet as honey. I can’t believe I left it so long before reading it.
I loved this book. Great characters with depth. Looking forward to more books by this talented author!
The Secret Life of Bees
bzzz
Wonderful book! I learned alt about news too!! It’s fun!! History is great
Great book with wonderful characters and loved the story
This book has become one of my all-time favorites, and I’ve purchased copies for most of my family and friends at one time or another. Great characters. Great story that fluctuates the emotions. It’s the story of one young girl’s search for her deceased mother’s history, and her escape from an abusive father, in the south, where all sorts of prejudices hold sway. It’s also an endearing tale of love and friendship and… bees.
This book is a must-read, delightful story!
One of my all-time favorite books.