The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (2003, Paperback, Reprint)

This is a good book that delves into motherhood, biological and those that step into the role. Also delves into mid-century racial issues. Moderate language. i would not hesitate to recommend this for book club reading.

This novel is quite good and very entertaining. I am an avid reader and this was a suggestion from a friend. The plot and characters are very remarkable and not anticipated. There were a few scenes that were a bit clique but overall it was a very good read and the average reader will enjoy this novel much!

This page turner, The Secret Life of Bees, grabs the reader from page one and holds on real tight. It squeezes at your insides and tugs at your heart.
Sue Monk Kidd has written on of my favorite novels of all time. Her characters are fun, complex and jump off the pages.
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of a young Lily Owens. This crisp story evolves around her and her stand-in-mother ,Rosaleen, the trouble they get into and how they must leave town.
Rosaleen insults three racists and with Lily's help she busts out of jail and into the arms of three eccentric black beekeeping sisters, named May, June and August.
Much of Lily's story and the reason she stays with the sisters is centered around her dead mother and her quest for answers. Like many great novels before this one, the reader is taken away into world of the novel. In this case a world of bees, honey and the mysterious Black Madonna.
Lily disappoints on more than one occasion, (I found myself thinking- get over yourself (about Lily)) and then remembered she is a young child who does not understand loss, rejection and fear as much as an adult might.
The book reminds me of vacations as a youth, when you stop your worrying for a few weeks and you explored nature, life and the people who loved you- and who loved you unconditionally.
But as time passes and life goes on- the realities of life and adulthood always return- Often unlike some novels, the ending may not be so sweet and the problems seem worse when you return. This book got me through a tough time in my life and this world of Bees, Honey and Friendship shall always hold a place in my heart.
Two words - solitude and perseverance- we choose how to survive and how to look back at our own history and possibly say, "Thanks for the strength." We say it to God, The black Madonna or to anybody who will listen.

For Christmas of 2006 my mum bought me "The Mermaid's Chair," which I read...it was OK. She read it after I did and felt it was "OK" as well. When it ended I thought there much ado about not too much and when it ended it all I felt was, "That's it???" I didn't hate it but I wasn't moved by it either. But for some reason I decided to try "Bees" and found an inexpensive used copy for sale on Ebay. This one I let my mum read first, and she loved it so I gave it a whirl. I couldn't put it down. It is as lovely as the other one, well, isn't. It is warm and wraps itself around you like a cozy shawl. When it ended I felt as though I'd been someplace new (especially since I'm a "Yankee"/"northener" and have been all my life). This one will stay on my library shelf. I have no trouble recommending "Bees".

I usually read suspense, fiction but this was given to me by a friend as a must read. So I read it, could not put the book down.

A wonderful story of a young girl trying to find a mother after the death of her mother.

Set in the South - get a taste of what the South can be like.

A story for all women.

Linda Nash

It's been a long time since I've read a "can't put it down" book, until I came across Sue Monk Kidd's, "The Secret Life of Bees". The book is beautifully and almost poetically written about a teenage girl's quest to feel the reassurance of her mother's love and she winds up finding it and feeling it through some unexpected, difficult circumstances and a variety of mother figures.

I bought this book for my wife and I because it was recommended to her by her sister.
This book was a fast read mainly because it was hard to put down. Its interest to us was magnified because it covered an era of difficult times with integration which we lived through.
Mildly adventurous and philosophical with lessons learned from the social bees,
it continually piqued our interest from start to finish.
We recommend it for family reading. It is a truly heartwarming story.

it was summer reading for my daughter, she liked it so much i read it also. great story, made me want to keep reading

This is a well-written book and I like many others couldn't put it down. My mom read it first and passed it along to me. I have since passed it along to co-workers who have also enjoyed it. Definitely a chick-book and well worth the time to read.

I saw the movie first, and the movie is super duper fantastic!! But this book is 100 times better than the movie. Go figure! I recommend seeing the movie first, then read the book.

This is my favorite book. I have already read it twice and I bought it so that I can read it again in the future and have it available for my children to read someday. The story is just so sweet and interesting. The main character, Lily Owens, is someone you can relate to, and you want to watch her grow up. Overall just a great, entertaining read.

Enjoyed reading and it was a quick read. Bought it because I heard a friend talk about it and because the local book club hosted by our local news station raved about it. A very entertaining tale of the life of a young girl during the civil rights era of the 1960's.

I enjoy reading books about the south being from there my self.It's a story that I know all too well about racism,cruelty and hatred.
It's redeeming in it's light and acceptance.The idea that you can live the life you never even dreamed possible.Finding acceptance in yourself as well as others.It's about balance.The good along with the bad.

It was hard to put down. I've read other things from Sue Monk Kidd that I enjoyed. Very believable characters.

Excellent read! This book is phenomenal. The book was hard to put down upon the first pick up. I will keep it to read it over and over again. If you have the opportunity, grab this one!

THis bbok was fantastc. I bought it as a book club selection and this book is incredible. Not only did I learn a lot about bees, this was a great story of proud African Americans.

One of the best novels I have read in a while. It is well written and I was totally absorbed into the characters. It is a story of love and hope. A must read!

Loved the story! I had to buy it for a religion class, but I wish all my classes included reading for enjoyment like this one!!

THe story is delightful. I recommend the Mermaid Chair by same author. The seller was average. It took quite a while to arrive and then a few spots showed the wear of the book. But the story is delightful in any case.

I bought this book off of the recommendation of a friend - and it was worth it! Kidd takes you through the segragated south to show female bonding and that color really doesn't matter. An excellent read for anyone! You will cry and laugh throughout this book as the main character tries to find her place and rediscover herself. I loved the book, it really was good!

Great book to read. There are so many important lessons to learn in life and this book gets those lessons across well. This is a book you will read and pass on to a friend to be enriched as well.

Excellent book ,. Gave it as a gift and the price was great since it was a "used" book. It was in excellent condition.

I received the book in good condition , I haven't read it yet.But I have been told it is a real good book