A quintessential novel for mothers and daughters, “The Secret Life of Bees,” transcends the traditional to tackle interracial and childhood trauma issues.
Author Sue Monk Kidd, hailed as truly original Southern voice, captures the tumultuous year 1964 through the eyes of a young girl named Lily in South Carolina.
Lily is the daughter of an abusive father and a deceased mother. Lily is partially responsible for her mother’s death. Her only affection comes from the black housekeeper Rosaleen, and as a result the boundaries between black and white blur for her during her emerging adolescence.
When Rosaleen is arrested and beaten for insulting a racist, Lily helps her escape and runs away with her. The only possession Lily has of her mother is a card of the Black Virgin Mary with the word Tiburon(the name of a South Carolina town) written on the back. So they head there for lack of any other options.
When they arrive, fate intervenes and directs them to a house of bee-keeping sisters. They lie about who they are, but cannot shake the feeling that the sisters know the truth. Over the course of their stay, the truth is revealed and Lily learns more about herself and her mother than she ever expected.
The novel truly captures the essence of being Southern in a racially divided time. Kidd’s writing flows beautifully, keeping the novel accessible to people of all ages.
The book has been and is currently on the New York Times Bestseller list. There is something about this book that makes it more than a typical woman book about prejudice and coming of age. There is a unique, convincing reality in this book and the simple beauty of the story can capture and hold any reader’s attention.
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