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Secret Life of Bees

By Sue Kidd

(92)

| School & Library Binding | 9780613583862

Book Description

Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother wasContinue

Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

14 Reviews

  • 3 people find this helpful

    I had a hard time getting into this book, but when I finished I did enjoy it. I look forward to reading it again for a book discussion.

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    SheReads said on Mar 6, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    Nella calda estate del 1964 in Sud Carolina, una bambina, Lily, scopre la verità sul passato della madre, uccisa quando Lily aveva appena 4 anni.
    Storia toccante raccontata in prima persona di una bambina, che impara non solo a perdonare, ma soprattutto a perdonarsi.

    "I guess I've forgive ... (continue)

    Nella calda estate del 1964 in Sud Carolina, una bambina, Lily, scopre la verità sul passato della madre, uccisa quando Lily aveva appena 4 anni.
    Storia toccante raccontata in prima persona di una bambina, che impara non solo a perdonare, ma soprattutto a perdonarsi.

    "I guess I've forgiven us both, although sometimes in the night my dreams will take me back to the sadness, and I have to wake up and forgive us again."

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    Chocaholic said on Aug 26, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed ... (continue)

    Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

    Is this helpful?

    meganzing said on Sep 30, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • At last this reached the top of MT TBR, only sorry now that it took so long to get there! What a beautiful story about love and forgiveness in astill racially prejudiced USA in the 1960's.
    Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
    Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was fou ... (continue)

    At last this reached the top of MT TBR, only sorry now that it took so long to get there! What a beautiful story about love and forgiveness in astill racially prejudiced USA in the 1960's.
    Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
    Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father's account of the event. Now fourteen, she yearns for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice and from Lily's harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother.
    Highly recommend this one!

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    Lindyloumac said on Dec 4, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

    A young girl struggles with knowing that her mother deserted her,that she accidentally killed her mother, that her father doesn't love her, as well as with issues of racial discrimination (she's white but sees black people she cares about treated unfairly). She finds solace in what the author calls ... (continue)

    A young girl struggles with knowing that her mother deserted her,that she accidentally killed her mother, that her father doesn't love her, as well as with issues of racial discrimination (she's white but sees black people she cares about treated unfairly). She finds solace in what the author calls the "feminine devine".

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    Missmath144 said on Nov 11, 2009 | Add your feedback

  • Combine humor, tragedy and a bit of mistery and you have this book. Fast paced. I also enjoyed reading the bits of facts on bees, such interesting little creatures...

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    VeraHuff said on Oct 3, 2009 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

  • Rating:
    (92)
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  • English Books
  • School & Library Binding
  • ISBN-10: 0613583868
  • ISBN-13: 9780613583862
  • Publisher: Rebound by Sagebrush
  • Pub date: Jul 01, 2003
  • Also available as: Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD and Audio Cassette
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ISBN Edition List Sale Seller
9780613583862 School & Library Binding $27.00 $27.00 Amazon US
£18.16 -- Amazon UK
$31.71 -- Amazon CA
¥2749.00 -- Amazon JP
Other editions
+ 4 copies tradable: 1 in USA
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