The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
By Darnetta Frazier • Dec 21st, 2008 • Category: Book Review •
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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd has many life lessons weaved through its nostalgic pages. Lily Owens is a broken teen having tragically lost her mother. Though Rosaleen, her African American caretaker, is a small cushion to the blow, their complex relationship only minutely fills the void in Lily’s life. And T. Ray is not exactly a stand-up, nurturing, and supportive father. As if being motherless and having a father with his own unresolved issues is not enough emotional turmoil, Lily faces growing up in South Carolina in 1964. When Lily asks Rosaleen to accompany her to a voter’s rally, upon their trek they experience the lows of race relations and find something special among three African American, bee-keeping sisters. The Secret Life of Bees is a great tale of liberation, love, and sisterhood.
Kidd is an eloquent writer. I enjoyed each character’s uniqueness and appreciated the care taken to develop them that well. I loved the connectedness of the story and semi-flashbacks strategically placed reminding the reader of small, but important details. It was a well-crafted story even though I expected a more emotional read. There were scenes that grasped at heart strings, but they never quite tugged them. There was also a certain calm to the story that I did not quite buy into. I’m no history buff, but there were a few areas that should have felt more intense because of the era. Still, it was a great read and I am interested in seeing how closely the movie follows the book. If you want a quick, thought-provoking read, I recommend picking this up.
Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub
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Darnetta Frazier is an Ohio-born, spoken-word poet who has composed poetry since she was able to hold a laddie pencil. As reviewer for A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) and aspiring novelist, she dabbles in the literary scene from all perspectives. She has been published on www.thebacklist.net, interviewed on www.blogginginblack.com, and is currently submitting fiction manuscripts to publishers while juggling daughterhood, sisterhood, wifedom, parenthood, and of course, writing. Outside of family and all things literary, Darnetta overindulges in Hip-Hop, dabbles in computer graphic design, and creates handcrafted cards, candles, and jewelry.
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