The Secret Life of Bees

Set in South Carolina in 1964 just as President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act allowing black people to vote, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a novel about a fourteen year old caucasian girl's search for her mother. Her travels, with her black nanny, lead her to live with a trio of bee-keeping black women. Prejudice is a major character in the book. And a strong one.

The young girl’s voice is authentic and consistent throughout. The author clearly and intriguingly portrays the feelings and impressions that come with adolescent yearnings and frustrations. Although the book was an absorbing and enriching experience, there were times when I had a hard time suspending disbelief that this could really happen, that the story I was reading about was genuine.

The main problem for me was the overall quality of “teaching lessons” at the ending, where one of the women “preaches” to Lily about what a mother is, where to find her. As Tamar has said in her December 19 entry, See It, Don't Say It, I personally, do not want to be “told” in a novel how to feel, but want to experience the awakening knowledge that unfolds. I had a mother. She was not me. I have had years of learning that lesson. By myself. Although I know it has been a helpful tool for many people, I have never been a fan of “inner child” and “inner adult” concepts. I don’t like to be divided into pieces. I want to be whole. Obviously, I am simplifying. And the book is worth reading.