"The Secret Life of Bees" Book Review

Well, I said I was going to read more. You had to expect a book review was coming. In fact, I have to do. So, perhaps obviously, the first review will be on the book I finished first, Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. Stay tuned for a review of The DaVinci Code, which I finished about four days ago. I am currently reading Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation. The reading with that one is a bit slow going at the moment, it is a memoir. But all of this has not a single to do with bees.

So, my mom got the book as a Christmas present from my brother's girlfriend. It was, as she said, her type of book and one of select few she has read recently. She asked if I would like to read it and I said sure. It arrived just in time for Lent. The book apparently is in its second year (yes, that's right year) in the top ten of trade paperback bestsellers. That's got to mean something, right?

First a summary. The story follows a freshly turned 14 year old girl thrust into womanhood named Lily Owens. Lily has essentially grown up without her mother (who died when Lily was young) and in none too pleasant circumstances. She ekes out her existence in 1960's South Carolina. She is left in the care of a servant of her father's, Rosaleen, a "fierce-hearted" (as the back of the book says) black woman. After the Civil Rights Act is passed Rosaleen and Lily take off to get Rosaleen registered to vote. That is where the real journey begins. Rosaleen manages to insult some huge racists and get arrested and, perhaps not surprisingly, beaten. Lily, being just as fierce hearted Rosaleen decides to spring Rosaleen from her confines. They follow a trail based on a few of Lily's mother's mementos. The trail leads to a trio of bee keeping sisters and a journey of love and discovery.

Whew. If that doesn't cover the gist of the book, then ... well I don't what more I can do for you. Now the question remains, "Is the book good?". Quite simply, yes. More so, the book is excellent. Kidd's rhythm and imagery drew me in almost immediately. The story itself is compelling. This is a book perfect for any mother or daughter, regardless of your relationship with the other. Kidd's compelling tale made me really feel every pain, anger and joy of Lily and the people she meets. The best books are the ones that make you almost completely unable to put it down, one that simply keeps making you turn the pages. This book certainly is one that I did not want to put down.

In addition to being a generally good read, the book also stands as a great testament to a few things. First and foremost it is a testament to the power and unexpectedness of love. Love, as Lily and I learned is found in many places and changes everyone it touches. Similarly, the book is a testament to the uniqueness of families. Like love, families can be found in many places with many faces. Families too can be unexpected. Finally, I saw the book as a testament to the strength of good people. Kidd touches on the effects of racism and other such adversities ... as well as what it takes to survive. Strangely enough, it all points back to love and family.

Last Words: I loved the book, I recommend it, I don't think my mom will get it back (so I technically own it now, right?)