The Secret Life of Bees

[mhamley]

So I think that The Secret Life of Bees is an amazing book for it great narrative voice, its perception of life in the South during the 60s, its unique perspective of the Virgin Mary.
What do you think about this novel?

[bookworm_girl]

I recently finished the novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and I could not help but notice several similarities. Near the beginning, Scarlett says that "she had confused her mother with the Virgin Mary" when she was young, and "she saw no reason for changing her opinion" (60). This fits in with Mary's role as a mother in SLoB. Of course, there is also the fact that prejudice is a part of both books, although prejudice is more in the background in GwtW. The two books share the same themes- growing up/coming of age/loss of innocence, education, courage, and prejudice.

[Drkshadow03]

I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees. Good book.

[Joreads]

We read this book for our book club and i think the whole group 40 in all loved it. Did you know that it is currently being made into a movie.

[PvtPyle]

Decent book that incorporated many fictional events with actual events of the 1960's. This book also has many interesting themes that correspond to To Kill a Mockingbird and the book teaches numerous morals. Overall a decent read.

[ntropyincarnate]

I got this book for Christmas and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since, i have so many books to read, i just haven't gotten to it yet. Sounds good though.

[Pecksie]

I think it's full of cheap stereotypes and oversimplifications - e.g. the warm-hearted, big-bosomed black women with their fancy hats and cheesy religion; the devoted black nanny; the talented and handsome black boy who wants to become a lawyer and... guess what?, fight for black people's rights! Come on! I'm white, but I think if I was black I'd find their descriptions offensive. The white father is also stereotypical - a cardboard villain with not one redeeming quality, completely one-dimensional in his racism and evilness.

Also, the book's full of things that are simply not believable (and the author doesn't manage to create a suspension of disbelief). For example, would a black boy and a white girl of that time and place be able to hang out together as Lily and her love interest do? Would a relationship between them be readily accepted, even by enlightened black people such as the sisters who shelter Lily? I think not.

I read the book a while ago, so I don't really remember all the details, but it struck me at the time as facile, a feel-good novel that doesn't really give an idea of what these terrible times were like.