In June our book club was able to review "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. This well written story about a teen girl working through her personal trials is set South Carolina with the volatile era of the 1960's and the racial tensions in the south as a backdrop. Lily Owens runs away from the peach farm where she is being raised by her father to help her nanny, who has run into trouble with local white racists over the right to vote. They flee to a town where Lily suspects has something to do with her mother who died when she was a young girl. There they are taken in by three black women who run a honey farm. Lily finds comfort, friendship and answers to many of her questions and thrives under the loving care of the women.
It is a tale full of heartache for this young girl, but one filled with wisdom and kindness expressed in times of turmoil and violence. Struggles with internal conflicts as well as trouble with family, problems and issues of society in the era are well handled and addressed. There is uplifting and calming messages in the book about compassion, how to live as well as how to help those around you. The story is one that is sure to stay with you and our book club members enjoyed it very much. The sweetness of honey only with a few stingers, and an overall wonderful choice to read.
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