Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Publication Date: 2002
Length: 336 pages
The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of a young white girl named Lily Owens, living in South Carolina in the 1960s, whose mom died when she was young, and whose father is abusive and just all-around horrible. When one of the family's black servants, Rosaleen, goes to jail for insulting the town racists, Lily breaks her out and they run away to Tiburon, South Carolina, a location chosen by Lily because it was written on the back of a picture of the Black Madonna that belonged to her mother. Once in Tiburon, the two are taken in by three black sisters who keep bees.
I liked this story a lot more than I expected. I feared a book steeped in White Saviour crap, ala The Help*. Instead, Lily is saved by the black women she meets. She's an interesting character, because she's too young and sweet-hearted to really be a racist yet, despite her home town, but she does realise along the way that she has prejudices she wasn't even aware of.
This is an interesting story about a key moment in African-American history (black people have just won the right to vote, but trying to actually register to vote can still get them killed). It's also a beautiful story about a family that's been through a lot of pain, but still find strength in each other, and in their somewhat-Catholic-somewhat-Goddess-worshiping religion.
4 stars.
*To be honest, I haven't actually read The Help. My negative opinion on it is based entirely on reviews and whatnot that I've read about it.
Yes! I read this YEARS ago, but really loved it. I should find a copy for a reread this year ... I seem to have misplaced my copy, but maybe that means someone else is enjoying it. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked this! I actually really liked The Help, too ... I hope you can read it sometime.
I doubt I'll give The Help a chance... With books like that, I try to listen to what black readers are saying about it, since I know as a white person I'm not always aware of when things are problematic. Based on their overall reaction, I'll probably stick to stories about black people written by black people.
DeleteI haven't read this one and I haven't read The Help but I'm glad to hear that it isn't the same (though neither of us have read The Help). I've heard the same thing about The Help
ReplyDelete