The Secret Life of Bees Paperback – January 28, 2003

The Secret Life of Bees is a beautifully written novel that captivated me from beginning to end. The author’s storytelling is immersive, making me feel as if I were living within the pages alongside the characters. The narrative flows effortlessly, keeping me engaged with every twist and turn.What stood out most was how deeply moving the story was. The emotional depth and well-developed characters made for a powerful reading experience. Every moment felt authentic, pulling me into the characters’ struggles, joys, and triumphs.If you’re looking for a book that is both compelling and emotionally resonant, I highly recommend this book. It’s a story that stays with you long after the final page.

Nice story, beautiful characters, light and easy to read.

The Secret Life of Bees written by Sue Monk Kidd is amazing story of a young girl's journey to find out the truth about her deceased mother. The story follows fourteen year old Lily Owens, a young girl living in Sylvan, South Carolina during the civil rights era. She is raised by her father T.Ray, a peach farmer, who has been anything but fatherly towards Lily. Her mother, Deborah, passed when Lily was a young child. Lily knows very little about the death of her mother, expect for the fact that it was she who took her life. The only mother figure in her life is their African American housekeeper, Rosaleen. After a terrifying altercation while Rosaleen attempted to register to vote, both Lily and Rosaleen are forced to flee Sylvan. Lily takes along with her a few of her most prized possessions that once belonged to her mother, including a photograph of a Black Madonna with the town of Tiburon, South Carolina written on the back. Lily, longing to know the truth about her mother sets out with Rosaleen to Tiburon. Once in Tiburon they meet the three Boatwright sisters who take in Lily and Rosaleen. Lily spends the summer learning the ins and outs of beekeeping from August Boatwright the eldest of the three sisters. As it turns out Lily learns more than just about bee keeping in that summer, she learns about life, spirituality, love, strength, acceptance, and most importantly she learns the truth she`s been longing for.Sue Monk Kidd does an amazing job of creating an emotional connection between the reader and the story. She writes with such vivid description and emotion that you as a reader cannot help but feel Lily's pain. She finds a way to tell such a sad story in a beautiful and eloquent way. The Secret Life of Bees is complex and the characters have many layers that keeps the story interesting. As a reader I felt just as anxious as Lily did to learn the truth about what had really happened to her mother. You also develop personal connections with the story and its characters. We all know someone like August who is caring and compassionate for all people, and we can all relate to the grief felt when we lose someone we love. As readers we get to see Lily grow and blossom right before our very eyes. I can almost certainly guarantee you will fall in love with this emotional story and grow very fond of it's characters. Sue Monk Kidd also does an amazing job at connecting the life of a bee to situations taking place within the novel, it all really comes full circle once you've completed the book.I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories. Women and girls will find a deep connection to this book, especially those who have experienced the loss of a mother or someone close in their lives. The Secret Life of Bees empowering, inspirational, and a good and easy read. I found myself at times unable to close the book wanting to know more. However, I would not recommend this book particularly for a male audience. The main characters are primarily women and the issues they face are often not relatable to the average man. Overall, it's a great and enjoyable book, so get out there and read it!

The novel captivated me completely, with its richly developed characters and exquisite prose that wove an intricate narrative tapestry. Each page was a delightful exploration of storytelling, and I found myself deeply immersed in the world created by the author. The emotional depth and nuanced character interactions were so compelling that I desperately wished the story would continue, feeling a profound sense of connection and reluctance as I approached the final pages.

Came in smelling brand new !! I love it. Very amazing price considering quality. 0 problems with seller, it actually came EXTREMELY EARLY. I ordered on sunday and it said itd come THE NEXT monday but it actually can saturday!

I liked this book, thanks to the colorful descriptions of Lily's life and the trials she faced. Like life, most things are not alk "sugar and spice" and yet we learn, adapt, and survive and even thrive. An excellent read.

This book was wonderful. First, it was creative - such rich, original characters that feel like they couldn't possibly have been made up. Second, the human stories are original, individual, and yet--if this is possible--universal at the same time. Third, the whole thing is woven into the story of the bees, and the details of beekeeping, which is richer and more fascinating than you might imagine.This book is realistic. Things don't always turn out well, the truth is not always good. But there is healing.I read a lot and see lots of movies, and I didn't see anything simple, cliched or hackneyd about The Secret Life of Bees (I'm referring to the tiny number of not so good reviews). On the contrary, before I even read a single review, one of my key thoughts was "how original." If there are lots more books like this out there, where have I been, and more importantly, where can I find them?The only thing that struck me as strange, and maybe I'm missing something here, was the lack of "Southern speak" -- the characters are all southerners but didn't seem to speak like southerners. Thus the loss of one star.