This book is truly one of the finest pieces of literature I've ever read. Again, I am amazed that no one has rated this book yet. The descriptions of the Carolina's in the 1960's made me feel as though I was right there in the middle of the story. This child's journey and her remarkable resilence thoroughly inspired me. The women of this story were eccentric, strange, beautiful and depicted the very heart of the word mother. I cannot say enough about this book. This one deserved to be a bestseller.

This was my first book club selection and still my favorite. I understand why its been on the best seller list for as long as it has. A great, easy read that reminds you the importance of family.

There are a cross references, I believe between the characters and the apiary refrences at the beginning of each chapter. After having explored the book in book club, it feels like you should do a pre- and post-read to really get everything out of this book that you can.
super good read!

I thoughroughly enjoyed reading this book. The writing was supurb and I didn't want to put the book down. I think the characters were colorful and three dimensional. The story line was believeable and thought provoking. I loved this book!

Enjoyed this book.

Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. I think this is the best book about a child trying to find love. Sue Monk Kidd's books are all amazing. Writen in a way that makes them feel more than fictional.

I thought it was a very simple read, but it was quite engaging. I very much enjoyed the discussion of bees as I don't know much bees. I bet, for a book club, this would make for great discussions on bees, the time period, and the issues of race and civil rights. Enjoy!

A compelling read. A young girls flees her abusive father and tries to find the answers to her mother's past. Which leads her to a family of women, beekeepers. This is a truly beautiful story of their acceptance of each other and the young girls acceptance of herself and her mother's past. A wonderful book.

Our book club has read seven books so far and this is the first book in which every member enjoyed this book. This was a truly inspiring and uplifting story with originality. What better for a bunch of women to read about than the coming together of woman to strengthen, enpower, and support one another.
Also the educational thread surrounding the bees throughout the story was very interesting, Excellent read!

It was ok. The book was a little slow in the middle. If you like symbolism you'll like this book.

Our Book Club enjoyed this book. It sparked a lively discussion. There were some issues with timing that bothered some of us (at one point it seemed like Lily had been with the beekeepers for weeks.. come to find out it had just been a couple days). The ending seemed sort of tacked on (Let's wrap this up!) But overall we liked it. I put 4 stars by mistake and would really rate it 3 stars-maybe 3 1/2- but I can't figure out how to change my rating.

I really loved this book. I enjoyed it the entire time and thought it was an easy read. All of the characters were enjoyable and I loved how Lily really seemed to grow up and how her relationships changed. Definitely recommend this one.

With so many wonderful books out there, I labored through this one. It took me a month to read it and I often felt bored and disinterested. I am definitely the "odd man out" in my opinion but I found it tedious and unimpressive. I eventually started skimming just to finish.

Excellent, sad story about a teenage girl who leaves home with her African-American nanny (whom she frees from jail) in search of something from her mother's past. A story about finding love from a girl who never feels loved by her abusive, neglectful father. Will have you laughing and crying with Kidd's use of language and descriptive images.

I'd actually have to agree with 'julialily'

I was rather bored by this story. I mean, when you think about it more it's more interesting, but I had to drag myself through the book, it didn't really capture my interest much.

--error: should be 3, not 4 star.

The kindness, wisdom and love that August and her sisters shared for Lily and those around them was very uplifting. I feel inspired to do the same.

I never thought I would ever find another book like "To Kill a Mockingbird," that I would move me so much and I would want to read it over and over again. Once you pick "Bees" up, you will not want to stop reading until you have finished the last page. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

While reading this book I felt like I was there in Tiburon in the Pink house with the characters. This book will draw you in because you will want to know how the story unfolds for Lily.

Our club read this and it was a hit with all. There are some upsetting situations, but I think the author handles it well, and makes the book very readable. Really good summer book club choice.

Absolutely amazing! It had me the from the start and didn't let go until the end. It was beautifully sad and heartwarming...I couldn't have asked for anything better. By far one of my most favorite books I've read so far.

I loved the secret life of bees. Her imagery was so vivid you felt as if you were experiencing the swooping bees and unbelievable adventures yourself. This was a celebration of the power and wonder of women. The wisdom and life lessons seeped out of the pages of this book like honey between bread. So delightful that you couldn't help but lick it. Bravo!

an interesting way to see how civil rights movement affected people.

I tried to read this book a few years ago but put it down after a few pages. Upon having it as a chosen book for our book club, I was forced to forge ahead and am so glad I did. It was a wonderful story that had me rooting for the characters and sharing their pain along the way.

Very good book. Started a little slow, but after the first 50 pages, book was very good and made you think about how the world has changed.

Great read, and the discussion questions included are perfect.
Our book club took about an hour- we limited the questions to ten.

It took a few chapters for me to get hooked, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. Lily, Rosaleen, and "the calendar sisters" prove that you don't have to be blood related to be a family! This book touches your heart on so many different levels.

A wonderful coming of age story. A beautiful story about family.

This book gave us plenty to talk about, from social conflicts to family dynamics and racial issues. 90 minutes went by before we even realized it!

excellent book club choice ;_)

This book will always be at the top of my favorites. Some of the best characters ever in a book and written so it just glides from start to end. Didn't read this as a book club read but was given by another member as the one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received.

This made for a great read. We are a South Carolina based club, so the "locality" of the book hit close to home. Also, our group is older (avg. age 70) so the time period and some of the "controversial" topics made for great discussion in our group because they could related to the events that took place.

Our first book club selection for our new book club! We all really enjoyed this book.

Our group loved this book. We had an interesting discussion about our favorite characters in the story.

This one just wasn't for me though I hoped it would be since it was the first one our book club read. I found it hard to get into and never really got there.

Overall I enjoyed it, short book and quick read

No one in our club liked this book we were very surprised when they made a movie of it

I loved everything about this book. The setting, the characters, the story. I didn’t know anything about it before I started reading, and I think it’s best that way. All I’ll say is that it is about a girl named Lily and that bees play an important part of the story. If you’re one of the few who haven’t read it yet, you’ll be in for a treat when you do.

It was a very good book club book. We had a good discussion.Is a good book for women to read. Quite inspiring.

Not many books inspire me to read them again. This one did.
When the weather turns hot. I want to pull this book
out and get lost again. It never gets old.

Reminds me of other stories I have recently read...The Help and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Just as good.

Loved it, read it a few times and still love it. BRILLIANT!

The Secret Life of Bees was very beautifully written. Kidd illustrates bees throughout the book in such a symbolic way and it always comes back to how bees love. This book has humor, drama, tragedy, and quite a bit of language...but I highly recommend this for a book club to read and reflect on. I also recommend renting the movie to this book because it was very good! It stars Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah...etc

I was moved by May and her wailing wall. Lily's oblivion to racial differences was inspiring, especially during a time when discrimination was rampant.

Lily is 14 years old when the book begins and has been brought up by her father T-Ray who is a tyrant, never showing any affection for the girl. She is a constant reminder of his wife and the strange circumstances surrounding her death.
Lily runs away from home on a mission to find out more about her mother and the journey she takes, along with their black housekeeper Rosaleen, leads her to a honey farm and the three black sisters who keep it in business. There is emphasis on the importance of Christianity in the life of the sisters and their iconic ‘Black Madonna’ that features on the labels for the honey.
May Boatwright is the most sensitive and fragile of the sisters. Her twin died and she has found solace from the pain she feels personally and for others by building a wailing wall to post notes. August Boatwright, the eldest of the sisters at the honey farm, binds the women together. She understands her family and the weaknesses of human nature. We discussed the interpretation of ‘Queen Bee’. Was August, as the matriarch of the family keeping everyone focussed on their responsibilities ‘Queen Bee’ because people automatically did what they were asked by her? Or was it her position because she was the one responsible for the productivity of the family unit/the hive. Perhaps there is not really much difference?
We also talked about the tendency for women to gather in insular social groups and get to know each other very well. It was felt that men were probably more competitive by nature and generally interested in discussing a limited range of subjects such as sports.
Lots of ‘firsts’ in the story make extremely convenient highlights: votes for blacks, colleges for blacks and the forbidden fruit - Lily’s first love, a crush on August Boatwright’s godson, Zach. Our group all perservered with this book to the end and most of us agreed that it was worthwhile. With stereo-typical characters, a methodical & predictable plot it could have been just another novel about a tortured, adolescent genius during the racial disharmony of 1960s southern states of America.
We ended by talking about the possibility of a future relationship between Lily and her father. It would probably hinge on them forgiving each other for huge mistakes in their past. T-Ray not only tormented his daughter physically, but he said that she was abandoned by Deborah before her death and makes the accusation that, as a four year old, Lily pulled the trigger that caused her mother’s death.
Our average vote gave this book 6/10.

Great book around the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Our book club enjoyed it.

ONE of the best books I've ever read.

The book was very well written. You could picture the bees, smell the honey, and feel what they were going through. I laughed, cried, and sang! Now I am in search of a Black Mary!

The story grabs you in right from the beginning because you find out right away about the main character's tragic loss. Overall, I liked the book and the Calender sisters and their interesting and sometimes humerous Marion interpretation. The storyline has a lot of sadness and dealing with loss. Dealing with the emotions of the characters keep you turning the pages.
However, I thought so much of it was cliche and I didn't like how the story ended really.
I wish there could have been some better closure with the father.

This book has well developed characters that are interesting and multi-sided. It is a testament to the human need to find our place in this world and a lesson in recognizing how humans need one another one that journey of discovery.

For the most part I enjoyed this book, however I struggled with the spiritual/religious aspects of it.

I have realized I enjoy books that take place years ago in the south. I liked the strong women and their relationships and support with one another.

It was a quick read & quite interesting. Loved the bee quotes that related to human behavior. Good story about the importance of mothers & women & how people are people, regardless of race.

Very enjoyable read.

Well written and enjoyable to read.