The Secret Life of Bees

Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK
Review: I have VERY picky taste when it comes to books. When i read reviews, i think: "oh well the people who wrote these are some of the few who actually enjoyed the book", but with this book, i was enthralled by every detail, and couldn't put it down for a second! i reccomend this book to anyone, from someone my age (14)and adults. GO GET IT!

Rating:
Summary: An exquisite & poignantly written HONEY of a Southern Novel!
Review: It's an old story: Sweet young girl raised in an abusive home by a sadistic redneck father not only prevails but flourishes. It's the telling of this lovely story that has people falling in love with Lily Owens, the fourteen-year old girl who never felt loved or wanted. As a result of her journey to discover something about her mother, Lily realizes that she is not only loved, but cherished.
Sue Monk Kidd's words will tug at your heart. Certainly a gifted writer, Kidd is able to portray the deep pain and anguish people have to go through during their passage to adulthood. Her descriptions of Southern Life during the tumultuous civil rights era are incredibly haunting. I loved this book so much that I was sad when I finished it! Please Ms. Kidd, write a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: A lesson on living
Review: I LOVED this book!!! The characters entered my heart and have lingered on. The characters are wonderfully developed, the writing style is beautiful, the description of beekeeping is interesting, but most importantly, the message about familiy and living and the importance of relationships is inspiring!! Maybe I loved it because it is what I deeply believe, but I think anyone yearning for that connection will "feel" this book in their hearts.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: When I picked up this book at the library, no less than 3 women standing around the counter cood "Ooooh, that's a wonderful book!" I couldn't wait to read it. I'm very disappointed with this unbelievable and often silly story.

Rating:
Summary: Charming, Wonderful, Inspiring
Review: This was my 'bedtime' book but I found myself snatching it during the day and had a hard time putting it down. The gentle story grabbed me from the start. I found the information about honey interesting also. I'll read this one again one day - something I almost never do.

Rating:
Summary: A Mesmerizing Story
Review: I really enjoyed this book. The constant flow of bee information made it a bonus learning experience. The detail in which the author wrote made the scenes very vivid. I would highly recommend this book. It's a treasure to keep.

Rating:
Summary: An absolutely fabulous book
Review: This is a great book. I love the characters, the story line, everything. It is well written and I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but women in particular will enjoy it, from early teens through senior citizens. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: A comforting read
Review: I loved this book! Especially the beginning of each chapter and the references and analogies about the "bee world"... I was able to anticipate what actions the characters would take in each chapter. The characters grew more and more interesting as the book went on, and I loved the line by one of the sisters, "People can start out one way, and by the time life gets through with them they end up different."

Rating:
Summary: Beach Reading
Review: A sweet but superficial and sentimental story. While it has enough plot interest and character development to pull you along comfortably I found that it is a totally "forgettable" book. I agree with another reviewer that this book is similar (in evocative plot-style )to writing Kaye Gibbons but I feel it lacks her grace & wit.
This is a v.good book for airport or beach reading....I wish I had saved it for that!

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous read!
Review: Several friends told me about "The Secret Life of Bees", and I can say is, "Wow! I loved this book!" I enjoy Southern fiction, and this novel did not disappoint. The author did a fantastic job creating such an interesting plot and unique characters in this unusual setting and time period. The reader could just feel the depth of the characters' emotions. Definitely a female bonding book - this book portrays the bonds between daughters, mothers, and mother figures. I agree with a previous reviewer in that a sequel should be in the works, and I hope this author continues to write. I love to discover new authors. Next, I plan to read "Conquest of Paradise", another book I've heard great things about. I hope it can live up to the hype of this one. Sue Monk Kidd is certainly a talented writer!