brob1856's review against another edition
5.0
Well. I’m. Bawling. One of the hands down best books I’ve read in a while. “And whatever it is that keeps widening your heart, that’s Mary too, not only the power inside you but the love. And when you get down to it, Lily, that’s the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just to love - but to p e r s i s t in love.”
rebbemcc's review against another edition
3.0
A pleasant, easy read. I enjoyed Lily and May the most. Off to IMDB to see who played them in the movie.
rhiannonellis_'s review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I found this book sooo hard to get through and nearly DNF multiple times.
I found the plot really predictable and there was no real lead up to milestones - it was more like random big events happened and then were over in the space of two pages.
I wouldn’t read this again.
I found the plot really predictable and there was no real lead up to milestones - it was more like random big events happened and then were over in the space of two pages.
I wouldn’t read this again.
pandacat42's review against another edition
4.0
The swearing was a bit distracting and annoying. I know it is part of the characterization, and really it brings out some of the hostility in the characters. I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It deals with learning to grief and how teenage girls feel going through puberty and having a crush. I really like the fact that Lily is her own person. Really there is a lot to learn from this book about life. It pulls a person from their own naive world (assuming the reader hasn't experienced too much of the bad in the world) into the world of a girl who has seen a lot of the bad.
karimorton33's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was a good summer read in these winter-y times. I liked that the story was about the relationship between the women, but it also had elements of history woven in to it.
sauvageloup's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
a really beautiful read with a lot of poignancy.
pacing felt a little slow in a couple of places but that was part of the charm.
loved the mix of depicting the time periods racism, lily dealing with the loss of her mother, the goings on with August, may and June, and the beautiful descriptions of them and the surroundings and the bees.
pacing felt a little slow in a couple of places but that was part of the charm.
loved the mix of depicting the time periods racism, lily dealing with the loss of her mother, the goings on with August, may and June, and the beautiful descriptions of them and the surroundings and the bees.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Racism, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
tamara_mousa's review against another edition
5.0
The Secret Life of bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a story about a teenage girl who was physically abused since childhood by her dad after her mom's death. Throughout the tale, the author accentuated racism in 1964, the year the Blacks were given the right to vote, and parental depression and traumas when a spouse leaves his other half without a word and ghost him.
A summary is available on my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
A summary is available on my blog: www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
louisianasmith's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Another book in the feel good pantheon for women but it lacks all nuance and complexity. It reads like an unrealistic fairy tale where everything is literally black and white with no grey. The central metaphor of mother/queen bee and the "hive" of women is just too weak and obvious. I suspect women will find things to latch on to in this story but it simply reads like someone tried desperately to write for Oprah's Book Club. I prefer layers and complexity to character portrayals, regardless of the story's intent or overall bias and it's simply missing here. Cartoon cut outs, over used tropes, and a simplistic storyline. There are much better works out there on similar themes. Don't waste your time.
aaron_j136's review against another edition
4.0
B
This book was a roller coaster of emotions.
Trigger warnings/ disclaimers: child abuse, abuse, racism, suicide, death of a loved one
This book was a roller coaster of emotions.
Trigger warnings/ disclaimers: child abuse, abuse, racism, suicide, death of a loved one
mckenna_elese's review against another edition
4.0
An all around good-hearted story. There’s no other way to put it besides “good-hearted.” It’s written in a way that’s very easy to read and keeps you intrigued. The characters are wonderfully memorable and, although you don’t get tons of back story, you feel a connection with each and every one of them. The descriptions of a southern summer make you feel like you’re there, and the fun information about bees is a plus.