The Secret Life of Bees

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Summary: A Novel of Comfort
Review: My English teacher recommended the book and I absolutely loved it! The book is full of unexpecting surprises and really focuses on the need for compassion and love. Readers follow Lily on her journey for truth and freedom from her cruel father, T-Ray. She finds this truth and escape in the Boatwright's home, living with May, June, and August. THe novel is truly uplifting and genuine. Definitely a must read.

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Summary: The Holiness of Bees
Review: I think that Sue Monk Kidd is a wonderful writer--intent on the natural world around her and open to wisdom and holiness where ever it may be. Having lost a mother myself, though I didn't shoot her!, there were moments in Lily's sweet wisdom that caught in my throat. However. Something fizzled out. The story lost it's sheen and Lily became the teenager that she was, not the enlightened story teller she'd started out to be. I think that the story would've been much more interesting had more been written about the Boatwright sisters, the bees, Zach, and even Lily's mother. Instead it felt like Ms. Kidd ran out of ideas and sought a hasty retreat from Lily's whining. But the holy moments you'll encounter in Bees, and to spend time reading about such magnificent creatures, is well worth your time. I look forward to more of Ms. Kidd's writing...she's got a lot more to say, I'm sure.

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Summary: Such a GREAT book.
Review: This book was lovely to read. Great characters - you can't help but to root for them! I can't wait for another fiction book from Kidd.

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Summary: A joy to Read in an afternoon!
Review: The Secret Life of Bees is a wonderful story about a girl who just wishes to find a place to be loved. A book that seems to melt time, Sue Monk Kidd tells a captivating story of a girl who manages, through a series of strange events, to find a band of sisters that need her as much as she needs them. The story brings listeners in, and keeps them hanging on to every word. I have a greater appreciation for bees after this story.

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Summary: Relaxing Read
Review: I was dreading pages of violence, a huge dose of civil rights education or a very depressing read. But my friend insisted I would enjoy the book, and I did. I found it uplifting and not "too heavy." Perfect summer reading.

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Summary: This story kept my attention...
Review: I kept waiting on something fantastic to happen. sometimes the book was too predictable. I think it is a good effort but wasn't deep enough. I liked the characters in the story and would not mind sitting down with them for a glass of sweet tea.

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Summary: a honey of a bee book..........
Review: Very good read, believable, enjoyable, good characterization, and lovely details. I learned alot about bees and wise women.

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Summary: One of the greatest books I have ever read...
Review: This book was absolutely wonderful! I chose this book because it was on the bestseller list and I read all the reviews. This is the first review I have written, and I am happy it's about this book! I couldn't put it down, I was taken in by this girl who survived an unloving start in life. It was depressing in the beginning, I just wanted to reach in and grab T.Ray by the neck and ask him why he had so much hatred towards his daughter. Of course when you read on, you learn exactly where that anger comes from. I also learned a lot from this book, I feel as though it taught me about unconditional love and acceptance. It feels good to have read a book that not only I could enjoy but feel as though I can walk away and help make a difference in this world.

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Summary: As Sweet as Honey
Review: This was an absolutely wonderful book. I related to the emotional ups and downs, in so many ways. The protagonist, Lily, runs the gamut of emotions in this novel. From isolation, bewilderment, despair, sadness, betrayal and finally love. A young girl finds herself unable to connect and relate with her father, and it leads to a path of discovery and eventually contentment through the memory of her mother. Kidd does such a wonderful job with the prose that the story just envelops you. It's not a perfect novel, the beginning tends to lag in areas, but once Lily and Rosaleen make their way to Tiburon, South Carolina, the story moves right along. Pick it up; it will be well worth the read, particularly for mothers and daughters.

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Summary: Interesting but lacks some development
Review: Sue Monk Kidd creates a world for Lily that is soft and likeable. However, it seems like some of the characters lack life or a successful outline. T Ray is passionless and seems to fizzle out due to his flat history that we never get to discover. The three calendar sisters appear to be several sides of one full woman. They bleed together without enough qualities to separate them. Also, I find it hard to believe that Lily's first romance would not cause any turmoil.
The entire story seems to go buy in haze that matches the pink colored house. The plot screams to be developed into a full fledged journey. Instead, it is shortchanged for a shorter tale that lacks a complete climax and full characters. I wished Monk Kidd had taken this to the drawing board one more time.