The Secret Life of Bees
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 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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What an exquisitely written novel! I had never previously read anything by Sue Monk Kidd but not I am definitely enticed to do so. I was rooting for this Protagonist right from the start and this story did not disappoint with its themes of female resilience, embracing the "other" and faith-based resistance against racism and discrimination. I was uplifted and felt satiated while reading this and truly appreciated the ecological spirit and sense of unity found in this story manifested by the unrelenting bees
I was recommended this book to read by my friend Kate over at the YouTube channel, The Literary Apothecary.
I had not ever read anything by Sue Monk Kidd, so I checked this one out from my library. Before I finished the first page, I was in love with the writing style and storytelling technique of the author. A few pages later and I was ordering myself a physical copy of this novel for my personal collection, because I knew it was going to be one I reread many times over the years. After Chapter 1, I was adding everything I could find by Sue Monk Kidd to my Want To Read shelf in Goodreads.
This is a heartbreaking tale of 14 year old Lily, who lives with her abusive, hateful father. Her mother died when Lily was 4 years old in an accidental shooting...by Lily. Lily has so much to deal with: feeling responsible for her mother's death, not understanding why her father doesn't love her, his only child - so when the Civil Rights act was signed and her black nanny, Rosaleen got brutally beaten FOR SIMPLY GOING TO REGISTER TO VOTE, Lily breaks. She busts Rosaleen out of jail and they hightail it.
The two fugitives make it a town or so over where they end up at a beekeeper's home, August Boatwright. August lives with her sisters, June and May. All of our characters suffer some sort of turmoil and we get to see the love, hate and healing take place through the pages of this story.
I cried my eyes out. I highlighted what feels like two-thirds of the book. It felt like so many things said, were said for MY benefit, straight to MY heart....I didn't know I had a few things harbored in myself until they were brought to light from reading this story.
It is absolutely heartbreaking, but beautiful. Cannot recommend enough!
I had not ever read anything by Sue Monk Kidd, so I checked this one out from my library. Before I finished the first page, I was in love with the writing style and storytelling technique of the author. A few pages later and I was ordering myself a physical copy of this novel for my personal collection, because I knew it was going to be one I reread many times over the years. After Chapter 1, I was adding everything I could find by Sue Monk Kidd to my Want To Read shelf in Goodreads.
This is a heartbreaking tale of 14 year old Lily, who lives with her abusive, hateful father. Her mother died when Lily was 4 years old in an accidental shooting...by Lily. Lily has so much to deal with: feeling responsible for her mother's death, not understanding why her father doesn't love her, his only child - so when the Civil Rights act was signed and her black nanny, Rosaleen got brutally beaten FOR SIMPLY GOING TO REGISTER TO VOTE, Lily breaks. She busts Rosaleen out of jail and they hightail it.
The two fugitives make it a town or so over where they end up at a beekeeper's home, August Boatwright. August lives with her sisters, June and May. All of our characters suffer some sort of turmoil and we get to see the love, hate and healing take place through the pages of this story.
I cried my eyes out. I highlighted what feels like two-thirds of the book. It felt like so many things said, were said for MY benefit, straight to MY heart....I didn't know I had a few things harbored in myself until they were brought to light from reading this story.
It is absolutely heartbreaking, but beautiful. Cannot recommend enough!
I loved this book. The scattering of bee facts through the story is fun and the story of this girl and her "stand in mom" is just beautiful. The things you will do for the family you choose.
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