Hardcover, 336 pages
Published May 7, 2013 by Penguin Books.
Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. 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 "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina—a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love—a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.
This is an absolute amazing book. A wonderful story written with amazingly descriptive language. It borders on poetry at points. However, be aware that this coming-of-age story deals with childhood trauma including abandonment. It's a must read, but anyone that might be triggered, do so with fair warning. I found myself crying on multiple occasions with this book.
I listened to the audio book over a few weeks on my daily commute.
This is a beautiful book, in fact a perfect book.
Gorgeous prose that compliments rather than detracting from the story. I wasn't sure what the story would be about and the beginning seemed very dark and sad, I wasn't sure I was going to like it (in that it wouldn't make me happy) but soon the book blossomed and became a sweet story of a young girl in a world she can barely comprehend.
I loved this story was wrapped around hives and dripping with honey, filled with the buzzing of bees ; all of which are just a tiny part of the tale of the deep American south, of racism, of change, of life and death and how we are all tiny parts of a whole...just like the bees.
Read this book (or listen to …
I listened to the audio book over a few weeks on my daily commute.
This is a beautiful book, in fact a perfect book.
Gorgeous prose that compliments rather than detracting from the story. I wasn't sure what the story would be about and the beginning seemed very dark and sad, I wasn't sure I was going to like it (in that it wouldn't make me happy) but soon the book blossomed and became a sweet story of a young girl in a world she can barely comprehend.
I loved this story was wrapped around hives and dripping with honey, filled with the buzzing of bees ; all of which are just a tiny part of the tale of the deep American south, of racism, of change, of life and death and how we are all tiny parts of a whole...just like the bees.
Read this book (or listen to it - the narrator on the audio book is excellent)
