by Sue Monk Kidd
I had the pleasure of acquiring The Secret Life of Bees, six-months ago from a
co-worker.

Reflecting back on my thoughts and my facial expression as the book
was handed to me I glanced at my new co-worker—all I could think about was
hmmmm could this book captivate me enough, for me to even take a stab at the
Acknowledgments? I was indeed skeptical. My life was busy- having recently
relocated and not to mention a new challenging position. Did I really have time
to read this novel? Needless to say, I placed the novel on my list of to-do’s.
Days and then months passed and the novel totally slipped my mind. Until one day
I found myself confined to bed not able to put it down.

The Secret Life of Bees takes place during the early 1960s in South Carolina.
The novel revolves around Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by the circumstances
behind her mothers accidental death. Lily’s father T. Ray is unbelievably
cold-hearted and much the disciplinarian. When Lily misbehaves she is forced to
kneel on grits. The only mother figure Lily has in her life is Rosaleen, a
robust black woman who has been present since Lily’s mothers death.

The day Rosaleen decides to exercise her right to vote spawns a turn of events
that traps the reader. Using only a picture and a model figure of a black
Madonna to guide her and Rosaleen, Lily shows up on the door steps of three
honey making sisters. Lily takes refuge with the sisters of the pink-house not
knowing they will share pieces of her mother’s past that she so longs to
discover.

This novel bears two main themes throughout the novel grief and love.

Lily longs for the truth and on her journey to closure, understanding and the
events that lead up to her mothers death, Lily encounters grief of unimaginable
proportions and love of a desperate shade.

Follow Lily on her honey-making journey as she conquers unexpected grief, and
the truth she never expected to find. Her innocent lies will have your stomach
in cramps as you try to control your laughter.

Reviewer Rating: 10—Using my resting time—I enjoyed every word completely
engulfed by each page, it was truly hard for me to put down. This book has it
all: love, struggle, truth, lies and the unexpected. The descriptive detail left
my eyes begging for more. Once you’re inside the big Pink House you’ll never
leave