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eleganz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent
whoopsiepoopsie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Classism
nenah_elizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
kbooks2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
the_castle_library's review against another edition
medium-paced
5.0
This is such an amazing story! I can't believe I've never read it or have even watched the movie! This is a book of finding yourself, trying to belong, dealing with grief, guilt, racism, love, acceptance, and making your own family.
It is 1964, the start of the Civil Rights Movement and Fourteen year old, Lily Owens, runs away with her Nanny, Rosaleen. They were in their way to town for Rosaleen to register to vote for the very first time. On the way, they ran into some no-good racist bastards who started harassing Rosaleen when they found out what her mission was. She retaliated against them, which ended with her being beaten and hauled off to jail. While in jail, the men came back to beat her some more and landed her in the hospital. Lily went to the hospital and broke Rosaleen out. They left and hitchhiked to a town on the back of a picture that belonged to her deceased Mother.
When they arrived, she immediately got a sign that led her to the owner of the picture, August Boatwright. August is a beekeeper who lives with her two sisters, May and June. August opens her home to them and asks Rosaleen to help around the house and Lily to assist in her beekeeping in exchange for her hospitality. They aren't there long when they start to blend together as a family.
It is 1964, the start of the Civil Rights Movement and Fourteen year old, Lily Owens, runs away with her Nanny, Rosaleen. They were in their way to town for Rosaleen to register to vote for the very first time. On the way, they ran into some no-good racist bastards who started harassing Rosaleen when they found out what her mission was. She retaliated against them, which ended with her being beaten and hauled off to jail. While in jail, the men came back to beat her some more and landed her in the hospital. Lily went to the hospital and broke Rosaleen out. They left and hitchhiked to a town on the back of a picture that belonged to her deceased Mother.
When they arrived, she immediately got a sign that led her to the owner of the picture, August Boatwright. August is a beekeeper who lives with her two sisters, May and June. August opens her home to them and asks Rosaleen to help around the house and Lily to assist in her beekeeping in exchange for her hospitality. They aren't there long when they start to blend together as a family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Violence
hannahes0423's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bmpicc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bees. Check. 1960's. Check. Coming of age. Check. Family mystery. Check. This book is like sprinkles of all my favorite things. I opted for the audiobook and I'm glad. I liked the voice of the narrator.
"I laid my head on his shoulder and wondered how he could stand me. In one short morning I had exhibited insane laughter, hidden lust, pissy behavior, self-pity, and hysterical crying. If I'd been trying to show him my worst sides, I could not have done a better job than this."
"I laid my head on his shoulder and wondered how he could stand me. In one short morning I had exhibited insane laughter, hidden lust, pissy behavior, self-pity, and hysterical crying. If I'd been trying to show him my worst sides, I could not have done a better job than this."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Violence
palmsygal's review against another edition
3.5
I did enjoy this book, but felt I just could not focus on it for long periods of time. Regrettably, this took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would.
I would like to say that Sue Monk Kidd’s writing style is something I liked a lot: her use of bee facts at the start of each chapter resonated with me as I was able to relate a lot of that chapter’s unfolding to that small piece of knowledge. She uses simple imagery and metaphors, and yet they paint a picture you can see vividly. I always engage more with books that I can see in my mind fully, and I couldn’t stop myself from using her words to have a clear view in my mind of what she was telling.
Reading this book for March was perfect, due to Mothers Day. I have read a review recently that pointed out this book’s main point and focus is on mothers, and I could not agree more. Throughout Lily’s life so far, she holds guilt towards her mother’s death and always ponders on what could have been (in her early life when she was still alive and in present day where she should have been). We also see Rosaleen, a worker for Lily and her father, who holds another load of mothering qualities - she cares for Lily as if her own daughter, advises her as a mother would do, and shows love and compassion throughout. With Lily’s own doings, we see this reflected back as a daughter would do, as she continuously protects her, looks to her for guidance, and quite simply loves her back. The Boatwright sisters are just another example, with August providing the utmost mothering care, May providing both the laughter and empathy a mother should share with her daughter, and June providing the carefulness and stern attitude that a mother must sometimes have.
There is so much love in this book, which is what I wanted to focus on in this review. We, of course, have to mention this tale provides context into racism in that era and shows a true replica of how people were treated in those days - I am glad Lily was not portrayed as totally innocent in this, as she has grown up in this world and has had to tackle her own naivety and privileged opinions. I commend the author for this, as I feel it is sometimes easy for their own main characters to be seen as perfect and can do no wrong.
Overall, this is a story I recommend reading for all. The only thing I wished for is more detail to some things(eg: Zach and his release from jail, it would’ve been interesting to read this fully; T.Ray and Deborah’s story, what happened between them for things to go so sour seemingly suddenly?)
I would like to say that Sue Monk Kidd’s writing style is something I liked a lot: her use of bee facts at the start of each chapter resonated with me as I was able to relate a lot of that chapter’s unfolding to that small piece of knowledge. She uses simple imagery and metaphors, and yet they paint a picture you can see vividly. I always engage more with books that I can see in my mind fully, and I couldn’t stop myself from using her words to have a clear view in my mind of what she was telling.
Reading this book for March was perfect, due to Mothers Day. I have read a review recently that pointed out this book’s main point and focus is on mothers, and I could not agree more. Throughout Lily’s life so far, she holds guilt towards her mother’s death and always ponders on what could have been (in her early life when she was still alive and in present day where she should have been). We also see Rosaleen, a worker for Lily and her father, who holds another load of mothering qualities - she cares for Lily as if her own daughter, advises her as a mother would do, and shows love and compassion throughout. With Lily’s own doings, we see this reflected back as a daughter would do, as she continuously protects her, looks to her for guidance, and quite simply loves her back. The Boatwright sisters are just another example, with August providing the utmost mothering care, May providing both the laughter and empathy a mother should share with her daughter, and June providing the carefulness and stern attitude that a mother must sometimes have.
There is so much love in this book, which is what I wanted to focus on in this review. We, of course, have to mention this tale provides context into racism in that era and shows a true replica of how people were treated in those days - I am glad Lily was not portrayed as totally innocent in this, as she has grown up in this world and has had to tackle her own naivety and privileged opinions. I commend the author for this, as I feel it is sometimes easy for their own main characters to be seen as perfect and can do no wrong.
Overall, this is a story I recommend reading for all. The only thing I wished for is more detail to some things
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, and Violence
rubberrosebooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
shanti_anna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Violence