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Summary: In search of a mother
Review: Lily Owens is a young girl who has had a difficult life. She hardly remembers her mother who was killed by unfortunate circumstances when she was small. Lily knows that she had a part in the murder, but she's not quite sure what it was. She is left in the care of her father, a hard man who is unable to show any affection towards his daughter. The only loving person in her life is Rosaleen, a black servant, who treats Lily in a more kindly manner than her father does. Lily is with Rosaleen when she is assaulted by some white men and then is put in jail for striking back at them. While Rosaleen is in the hospital getting her wounds treated, Lily manages to sneak in and spirit her away. They run away to Tiburon, the name of a town that her mother had written on the back of a picture of a black Madonna. When they reach Tiburon, they discover that the black Madonna is the label from a certain brand of honey, so they go to the home where the honey is made. There, they are taken in by 3 kindly black beekeepers--May, June, and August. It is there that Lily is able to heal from her unhappy childhood and to come to terms with some of the longings in her life. There are several themes in the book, the most obvious one being the pursuit of a mother by Lily. Mothers are compared to the queen bee, who is an integral part of the honeymaking of the three sisters. Madonna, another mother figure, is revered by the Catholic ladies of the household. There are also common references to race relations when outsiders criticize Lily for staying in a home with black people. There are regrets and there is redemption. This is a multi-layered debut novel which holds a lot of promise for future work from this author.
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Summary: School Reading
Review: I chose to read this book over three others in a class assignment for my junior year english class. At first I didn't know if I wanted to read a book about an abused girl in the 60's. It turned out that I recieved the book the friday before Spring Break (which last a week)and finished it the wednesday of the next week. That was only 6 days to read! I loved the book very much but I was a little dissappointed with the ending. I'll admit that I cryed when I read a "certain" part ;). I got very involved in this novel and definitly recommend it to other young readers(12-whatever) as it strikes deep to the teenage mind of closure and independance.
Don't pass up a chance to read this novel. It doesn't take long and it will give you some inspiration for keeping your attitude to the general public good.
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Summary: Nice light read
Review: Although farfetched in some places the story was a lighthearted tale of a daughter's search to understand her dead mother. I find myself wanting to read the next book about what happens next.
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Summary: A Must Read for Mothers & Daughters, Dads and Sons Too
Review: "...Bees" tells the story of Lily Owen, age 14, living on a peach farm in the South when the Civil Rights Act is passed. Told in the first person, we quickly learn that her mother is dead and her father is...complicated. What I really loved is how poignantly and accurately Ms. Kidd captured the tortures of adolescence, of trying to fit in with one's peers, which is never easy and for Lily, nearly impossible. My favorite line is when Lily, describing high school, says "I might as well have had a sign stapled to my back stating 'I AM NOT POPULAR AND NEVER WILL BE.' " The book is divided between filling in the back story (why did the mother die? How?) and what happens after Lily leaves home. It is funny, sad, suspenseful. The writing is lucid and elegant. Truly one of the best books I've read in years.
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Summary: A great read
Review: Lily's innocent and untainted view of the world is the underlying theme of here life-changing adventure. The author takes the complex world of the segregationist South and turns it upside down in an enchanting book that my 25-year-old book club buddies enjoyed as much as my 70-year-old mother did. With the same power and conviction as "towanda" in Fried Green Tomatoes, August leads her beehive through many of life's difficult times.
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Summary: This is one book that hit the mark!
Review: This was a fun book to read. The story and characters were believable, a little larger than life of course, but to me that makes a good novel. I liked the characters I was supposed to like, I disliked the characters I was supposed to dislike, and I UNDERSTOOD THEIR MOTIVATION which is sooooo lacking in many other novels I have read recently.I also enjoyed the first person narrative -- it worked in this book and made it charming! A fast, memorable read that I wholehearted recommend. Although more geared to women, I believe that men will enjoy the story as well. READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: One of the best books I have ever read!!
Review: This book is a wonderfully heartwarming story. It is so colorful with amazing characters. A true tribute to women. So many good messages. I highly reccomend this succulant story.
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Summary: Let it Envelope You
Review: I felt wrapped up in Southern Comfort while reading this book. The strength of the language and sheer heart of the story will take you in. If you have enjoyed books like "Ellen Foster," "How to Make an American Quilt," and "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood" I think you will feel at home with this work.
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Summary: A TOUCHING STORYABOUT A GIRL IN SEARCH OF FAMILY LOVE
Review: WOW! This is a story about a girl in the 1960's, during the Civil Rights Act. I could not put this book down! Kidd has done an excellent job on this fantastic novel, and I plan to read more of her's. I would reccommend this to anyone from 13, to above and beyond! Lily Owens has run away from home. Reason? She has just broken her black nanny out of jail, she has an abusive father, and is in search of the history of her dead mother's past. She ends up on a bee-raising "farm," with three black old maids. Secrets of her Mother are revealed as she stays with these ladies, and parts in her she discovers along the way. I loved this book sooo much! I would put it at the top of the New York Bestseller's list in no time if I were the judge!! READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: Heartwarming and Uplifting
Review: I laughed, I cried, and I felt joy reading this book. I've passed it on to several friends, they've in turn bought it as gifts for their daughters (or mothers), and I recommend it every chance I can. This is a book about mothers, daughters, loss and hope. Hope reigns triumphant in this delightfully written novel. The protagonist, Lily, is a girl in a bad situation but her spunk and drive erase any trace of woe-is-me that might be found in other books on a similar subject. The cast of characters in this heartwarming book will delight you, enlighten you, and make you wish you could spend your days with them. Kidd should write far more fiction; I'll be lined up waiting for her next novel. I read to senior citizens every week and I just finished reading the entire book to them (a chapter at a time) and they were mesmerized and delighted with the book. Each week they could hardly wait for the next instalment to be read. Read it to someone you care about. Enjoy! (btw, it's a great gift book for any mother or daughter)
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