According to Sue Monk Kidd, author of the New York Times #1 best selling novel, The Secret Life of Bees, “Bees [are] considered a symbol of the soul—of death and rebirth.” The complex society of Bees depends solely on “communication” within the hive in order to achieve the ultimate goal of honey making. Their lives are a remarkable lesson on the importance of effective communication. If only we, as humans, could do as well as Bees!
Rarely does a fictional story touch me as much as this particular one did. The symbolism of the bees are woven intricately throughout the book, creating a magical narrative of a mother’s love—lost and found, and finding forgiveness. The book boldly explores life’s wounds as a young girl forges her journey toward healing, ultimately revealing the deeper meaning of home and the redemptive simplicity of “choosing what matters.” It is a story about searching for truth and healing the past.
The novel is set in South Carolina in 1964, when intensifying racial unrest and the Civil Rights Act dominated our nation’s history. Lily Owens is a 14-year-old girl being raised by her verbally and often physically abusive, neglectful father. The only mother figure in Lily’s life is her loving, yet strong-minded black housekeeper, Rosaleen. Isolated on their South Carolina peach farm, Lily spends hours imagining a blissful infancy when she was loved and nurtured by her mother, Deborah, whom she barely remembers. Lily’s memories are haunted by images of a four year old Lily holding the gun that ended her mother’s life.
The Secret Life of Bees is a powerful coming-of-age story, the often unacknowledged longing for the universal feminine divine, and the ability of unconditional love to transform our lives. While addressing the deep wounds of loss, betrayal, and lack of love, this book demonstrates the power of women coming together to heal those wounds.
“When women bond together in a community in such a way that ‘sisterhood’ is created, it gives them an accepting and intimate forum to tell their stories and have them heard and validated by others. The community not only helps to heal their circumstance, but encourages them to grow into their larger destiny.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd
Critic Luanne Rice said, “The Secret Life of Bees proves that a family can be found where you least expect it—maybe not under your own roof, but in that magical place where you find love. The Secret Life of Bees is a gift, filled with hope!”
I highly recommend it! It's truly a magical worthwhile book! Here are a few of my favorite book quotes:
“The world [is] really one big bee yard, and the same rules work fine in both places: Don’t be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don’t be an idiot; wear long sleeves and long pants . . . [Remember] every little thing wants to be loved!” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
“Some things don’t matter that much . . . But lifting a person’s heart—now, that matters . . . The problem is [people] know what matters, but they don’t choose it.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
“It’s something everybody wants—for someone to see the hurt done to them and set it down like it matters.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
“I couldn’t make heads or tails of my heart. One minute I hated my mother, the next I felt sorry for her . . . I’d traded in a pack of lies for a pack of truth, and I didn’t know which one was heavier. Which one took the most strength to carry around? It was a ridiculous question, though, because once you know the truth, you can’t ever go back and pick up your suitcase of lies. Heavier or not, the truth is yours now.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
“Every person on the face of the earth makes mistakes . . . Every last one. We’re all so human . . . There is nothing perfect . . . There is only life.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
“People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It’s that hard. If God said in plain language, ‘I’m giving you a choice, forgive or die,’ a lot of people would go ahead and order their coffin.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd, “The Secret Life of Bees”
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