"Secret Life of Bees"

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2003
Pages: 336

Synopsis: Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina—a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love—a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

Review: If we're comparing debut novels (and it's hard not to since I read these back to back), The Help was a better written, more interesting story. However, I enjoyed this and at times found it hard to put down. On the other hand, I don’t feel compelled to watch the movie.