Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #933 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

The Times
'Kidd's first novel is well placed, gentle and deeply moving' The Times

Review
'Kidd's first novel is well placed, gentle and deeply moving' The Times (The Times )

Woman & Home
'Superb'

Customer Reviews

As sweet as...
What a fantastic novel! Narrated by Lily, who at fourteen has grown up believing that she accidently killed her mother, this is the tale of how Lily comes to terms with her feelings, her guilt and her loss...
Set against a backdrop of racial tension in the deep South and the gently, dedicated tending of bees in a bustling pink house, 'The Secret Life of Bees' hums with life. What I found most impressive was Lily's voice - that SMK manages to capture so perfectly the confused and tangled thoughts of a typical adolescent while at the same time being wry and witty. This novel throws up many issues for discussion, making it an ideal choice for a book club but I would also recommend a read purely for pleasure as that's essentially what it is - utterly pleasurable, the writing enchanting, I loved it!
There are certain American authors for whom I have so much admiration - including Fannie Flagg, Sue Miller, Alice Hoffman, Adriana Trigiani - and Sue Monk Kidd now ranks amongst them, I cannot wait to read more of her work...

The Secret Life of Bees
Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four years old and at fourteen, lives with her father, a man who shows her no love.

Set against a background of racial unrest in South Carolina, Lily and a black servant, Rosaleen suddenly find themselves fugitives from justice and find sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, which eventually helps Lily understand what happened all those years before.

This is a lovely book which I thoroughly enjoyed, I found it heartwarming and uplifting and would highly recommend it. I enjoyed learning about bees too and particularly liked the bees quotes which appeared at the start of each chapter.

Love and Forgiveness
Imagine growing up thinking that you accidentally killed your own mother when you were four years old. It is enough to send shivers down the spine.

What a beautiful story about love and forgiveness in a still racially prejudiced USA in the 1960's.

Highly recommend this one!