Final Post

Today I finished reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. As my final blog post in this series, I will be answering another two questions by my teacher.

Question One: choose a character who is starting to change and explain how the change is being made and what purpose it serves. Are the changes the character is making, plausible or realistic (could/would actually happen in real life)? Why/Why not?

I have chosen to write about June, I feel she is an important character in the story because of the role she plays in Lily’s life. June is one of the beekeeping sisters even though she is actually a school teacher. June was to be married at a young age but was left at the altar which hardened her. When Lily and Rosaleen first come to the “pink house” June was severe and disrespectful towards Lily. 

Picture source

“When the door opened, it was not the woman in white but another one wearing red, her hair cut so short it resembled a little gray, curlicue swim cap pulled tight over her scalp. Her face stared at us, suspicious and stern. I noticed she carried a musical bow tucked under her arm like a riding whip. It crossed my mind she might use it on us.”

After August invited Lily and Rosaleen to stay with them June voiced her opinion. June was very unhappy with Lily staying with them, partly because of Lily’s skin colour, but also because they didn’t know Lily. 

“The intake of Junes breath nearly sucked the air from the room. But August−”

“But she’s white, August.”

June continued to be rigid and callous towards Lily and we see that on page 87 when August and June are talking outside. 

     “I don’t see that we owe her anything, June said.”

As the story progresses we see that June has been struggling with things in her own life and after some time she begins to soften towards Lily. 

Picture Source: ©bigstockphoto.com/Grisha Bruev

“August laughed, and I saw the softening come around in Junes eyes, how she was trying not to laugh, but it was like the Dutch boy pulling his finger out of the dike − the minute she softened her eyes, the whole thing collapsed.”

“She let go and sprawled back on the grass in convulsions of laughter. I plopped down next to her and laughed, too. We could not stop. I wasn’t exactly sure of everything we were laughing about – I was just glad we were doing it together.”

As a reader, this brought me so much delight! I had become so emotionally invested in this novel, I started to well-up with tears and the strong reactions caught in my throat. Knowing that now June and Lily could finally be friends. To my great astonishment June doesn’t stop there she takes it one step further when “The Daughters of Mary,” are celebrating “Mary Day.”

“As life would have it, the one to fed me turned out to be June. Opening my mouth, closing my eyes, and waiting for the body of the Mother, I heard June’s whisper brush my ear – I’m sorry for being hard on you when you first got here.”

This passage brought so much warmth to my heart as I was reading about June going through such an amazing change of attitude towards Lily. June started off being cold and stern towards the young white teen but by the end of the book, they became great friends despite their difference in skin colour. It was very important for June to make this transformation as Lily needed her as a friend to help her navigate through life’s challenges. I know that this is very plausible and has happened in real life. Many people can have a relationship start off very much like Lily and June’s did, but they learn to put their differences and prejudice aside in order for their heartfelt connection to form. I have truly enjoyed reading about Lily and June. I have considered myself privileged to be a silent observer as their strong bond has developed and flourished. 

Question Two: Would you recommend this book to another reader? Why/Why not? What kind of person would you recommend it to? What would you tell the person about the book?

I would 100% recommend this book to women everywhere! I have really enjoyed reading it; with all the twists and turns, the intrigue, the storylines, the love, and the loss. It’s amazing how Mrs. Kidd draws you into the story and keeps you wanting for more. Once I sat down with this book, I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

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“Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.”

As soon as I read the synopsis from the back cover of the book I knew I needed to read this paperback; to dig in and explore The Secret Life of Bees. I would suggest that women everywhere read this piece of sensational literature. However, I would not recommend this book to children under the age of ten as there is upsetting content which children may not emotionally prepared to intellectually process. You will experience a roller-coaster-ride of emotions when reading this novel. Mrs. Kidd has outdone herself with this work of fiction! 

I wanted to finish off this post with a captivating excerpt that I hope this will encourage others to pick up this riveting manuscript.

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“At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin. I watched their wings shining like bits of chrome in the dark and felt the longing build in my chest. The way those bees flew, not even looking for a flower, just flying for the feel of the wind, split my heart down its seam.” 

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Cite:

“Pink house” page 67 first paragraph.

Picture of flowers spelling the word June: https://tricklecreeklodge.com/june-special-offer/

“When the door opened, it was not the woman in white but another one wearing red, her hair cut so short it resembled a little gray, curlicue swim cap pulled tight over her scalp. Her face stared at us, suspicious and stern. I noticed she carried a musical bow tucked under her arm like a riding whip. It crossed my mind she might use it on us.” Page 68 paragraph 9

“The intake of Junes breath nearly sucked the air from the room. But August−” page 72 paragraph 6

“But she’s white, August.” Page 87 paragraph 7 

“I don’t see that we owe her anything, June said.” Paged 87 paragraph 10 

Picture of the tree in a field with the sun behind it: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/facts-about-june-solstice.html

 “August laughed, and I saw the softening come around in Junes eyes, how she was trying not to laugh, but it was like the Dutch boy pulling his finger out of the dike − the minute she softened her eyes, the whole thing collapsed.” page 169 paragraphs 4 

“She let go and sprawled back on the grass in convulsions of laughter. I plopped down next to her and laughed, too. We could not stop. I wasn’t exactly sure of everything we were laughing about – I was just glad we were doing it together.” page 169 paragraphs 5 

“The Daughters of Mary” page 106 paragraph 2

“Mary Day” page 220 paragraph 4 

“As life would have it, the one to fed me turned out to be June. Opening my mouth, closing my eyes, and waiting for the body of the Mother, I heard June’s whisper brush my ear – I’m sorry for being hard on you when you first got here.” page 226 paragraph 7 

Picture of the front cover of "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd:  https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Bees-Monk-Kidd/dp/0142001740

“Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.” Synopsis from the back cover of The Secret Life of Bees.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37435.The_Secret_Life_of_Bees 

Picture of bees crawling out of bee house: http://thetopbarhive.com/bees-bearding-on-a-cool-night/  

“At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin. I watched their wings shining like bits of chrome in the dark and felt the longing build in my chest. The way those bees flew, not even looking for a flower, just flying for the feel of the wind, split my heart down its seam.” Page 1 paragraph 1