The Secret Life of Bees
11 journalers for this copy...
"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." (from back of book)
This book was the "pick of the month" for the iREAD program organized by the book store Chapters in April of 2004. That is when I read the book, so I am a little fuzzy on the details. I do remember that I enjoyed the book and have since read her next novel "The Mermaid Chair".
This book was the "pick of the month" for the iREAD program organized by the book store Chapters in April of 2004. That is when I read the book, so I am a little fuzzy on the details. I do remember that I enjoyed the book and have since read her next novel "The Mermaid Chair".
I am going to set up my very first bookring as this seems to be on quite a few wishlists!!
You MUST be willing to ship internationally to sign up for this bookring.
Please try to pass on the book by the 4 week mark. If you need to be skipped/need the book at a different time, please let me know so I can change mailing order. I will basically set up the mailing list as per when you sign up so I can get the book going unless there are specific requests to be further down list, etc... Please be gentle with me...this is my first ring!!
Please journal the book when it arrives so we know it is safe, journal again with your thoughts when you have read, PM the next in line for their address, and journal when it is on it's way. Thank You!
Participants:
katfysh (Australia) - sent out October 10/06
You MUST be willing to ship internationally to sign up for this bookring.
Please try to pass on the book by the 4 week mark. If you need to be skipped/need the book at a different time, please let me know so I can change mailing order. I will basically set up the mailing list as per when you sign up so I can get the book going unless there are specific requests to be further down list, etc... Please be gentle with me...this is my first ring!!
Please journal the book when it arrives so we know it is safe, journal again with your thoughts when you have read, PM the next in line for their address, and journal when it is on it's way. Thank You!
Participants:
katfysh (Australia) - sent out October 10/06
Sent out to katfysh today.
December 6/06 - - Still has not arrived in Australia. I have decided it is lost and will buy a replacement copy to send out.
December 6/06 - - Still has not arrived in Australia. I have decided it is lost and will buy a replacement copy to send out.
The continuing saga of my first bookring....
This copy did finally arrive shortly after the replacement that I sent did!!! Figures. Anyways..a participant in the original ring has stalled it. I contacted katfysh and she is willing to send on this - the original book - so the remaining members of the ring can finally get the book. These are the participants left. I have switched the first two as the book is currently in Australia.
dopsis (Australia)
whiskeyjane (USA)
QueenSissi (Portugal)
MieLH (Denmark)
starrdust (Canada)
and back to me!! deereads ----back home now September 19, 2008
Thank you so much to katfysh for your help with this.
This copy did finally arrive shortly after the replacement that I sent did!!! Figures. Anyways..a participant in the original ring has stalled it. I contacted katfysh and she is willing to send on this - the original book - so the remaining members of the ring can finally get the book. These are the participants left. I have switched the first two as the book is currently in Australia.
dopsis (Australia)
whiskeyjane (USA)
QueenSissi (Portugal)
MieLH (Denmark)
starrdust (Canada)
and back to me!! deereads ----back home now September 19, 2008
Thank you so much to katfysh for your help with this.
Sorry, didn't get round to journalling this book when it arrived on Thursday...and now I need to journal to send it on!
What a wonderful read! To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd like it: it was part of my attempt to broaden my horizons! I really loved it! The characters were so real and my emotions went on a bit of a rollercoaster- I have to admit there were even a few tears! I'd recommend this to anyone. Thanks so much for sharing, deereads:)
Have pm'ed whiskey jane for their mailing address.
What a wonderful read! To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd like it: it was part of my attempt to broaden my horizons! I really loved it! The characters were so real and my emotions went on a bit of a rollercoaster- I have to admit there were even a few tears! I'd recommend this to anyone. Thanks so much for sharing, deereads:)
Have pm'ed whiskey jane for their mailing address.
QueenSissi now pm'ed for address!
Oops! Sorry, forgot to mail this off- finally sent to QueenSissi on Friday.
Arrived on Friday
I really liked it. I liked it so much that I thinl I'll buy it for my mom's birthday, which is coming soon. We also keep bees. Not many only for personal use (one beecomb is enough). The story was moving and once I started readin (which took me forever) I couldn't stop reading.
Thanks for sharing and I am sorry it took me so long.
Sending it forward as soon as I get an address.
Thanks for sharing and I am sorry it took me so long.
Sending it forward as soon as I get an address.
The bees are now safe with me :) I've already read the first couple of pages - I just couldn't help myself! I'll be on summer break in a couple of weeks and will have more time for reading then :)
Thanks for including me in this bookring :)
Update July 17, 2008: ekranda no longer wishes to take part in this ring. I've PM'ed the next in line - starrdust.
Thanks for including me in this bookring :)
Update July 17, 2008: ekranda no longer wishes to take part in this ring. I've PM'ed the next in line - starrdust.
I brought this book with me to Sweden for my holiday there, and I finished it some days ago.
I am sorry to say, that this book did not grab me. I felt the plot was transparent, and I knew how it would end long before getting there. I imagined alternative endings to keep myself interested, but I thought the actual ending was quite tame. I liked her writing, though :)
starrdust PMed me her address a week ago, and the book will travel to Canada in the beginning of next week :) I hope it will arrive safely soon.
I am sorry to say, that this book did not grab me. I felt the plot was transparent, and I knew how it would end long before getting there. I imagined alternative endings to keep myself interested, but I thought the actual ending was quite tame. I liked her writing, though :)
starrdust PMed me her address a week ago, and the book will travel to Canada in the beginning of next week :) I hope it will arrive safely soon.
The bees have arrived back in Canada! I picked up this book today from the Post Office - thanks MielH(I love all the stamps from Denmark on the package as well!). A lovely bookmark from Portugal is inside so I will use this one as I read. I've been looking forward to this book and plan to start reading this weekend.
Finished this book today and am so glad I joined this Ring and had the opportunity to read this one. I felt it was a beautifully written story and the author's style pulled me right into Lily's life...her anguish, her hopes, her despair, her dreams...and her depth of need for caring and family to love her. Thanks for including me in this BookRing, dee ~ I'll get the book back to you at our next Meet-Up!
Passed this little book back to deereads at the BookCrossing Meet-Up last night.
Thanks again for letting me be a part of this bookring - - I'm really glad I had the chance to read this book.
Thanks again for letting me be a part of this bookring - - I'm really glad I had the chance to read this book.
Book is safely back home now!! Thanks to all that participated and helped send it along its journies.
I am actually thinking that I may organize another ring for this as the movie will be coming out soon.
I am actually thinking that I may organize another ring for this as the movie will be coming out soon.
Ready to head out on another adventure!!!
CollegeLady (US)
HunterRyu (US)
Martjxox (Italy)
Scribacchina (Italy)
kbmarsh (UK)--- book is here!!!
scruffykaz (UK)
mucker28 (UK)
mrbaggins1 (SA)
CollegeLady (US)
HunterRyu (US)
Martjxox (Italy)
Scribacchina (Italy)
kbmarsh (UK)--- book is here!!!
scruffykaz (UK)
mucker28 (UK)
mrbaggins1 (SA)
This arrived late last week and I just opened the package. I'll PM next in line to get the address and hopefully send this on in two-three weeks.
This was a good book and quick read. Sent out today via Media Mail. Tracking ID: 9102805213907545781308
This book arrived safely in the mail! Thanks for including me in this ray. Will read and mail out as soon as I can. Happy Bookcrossing!
Finished this book yesterday. It was better than I thought it would be, but it also repeated itself a bit much in places. I've read other books that have racism as a key point and this one was definitely the best. Normally I get offended with that sort of plot point, but Secret Life of Bees presented it realistically yet not overbearingly. A very touching story. I enjoyed it, thanks for sharing with me!
I thought I had already PMed Martjxox for an address, but I don't have it saved so I'll be getting in contact now and will pass this along as soon as I can.
I thought I had already PMed Martjxox for an address, but I don't have it saved so I'll be getting in contact now and will pass this along as soon as I can.
Journal Entry 21 by HunterRyu at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, December 29, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (12/29/2008 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Will be sending off to Martjxox on my next trip to the Post Office. Please enjoy and thanks for letting me participate!
Will be sending off to Martjxox on my next trip to the Post Office. Please enjoy and thanks for letting me participate!
Got it today morning in the mailbox...Big thank you!!!!!
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January 24th 2009
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
I don't know what I was looking for in this book when I decided I had to read it; I probably had too much high expectations on Sue Monk Kidd's novel and I got somewhat disappointed. I liked it ok, 'till its half I'd say. I got utterly disappointed with the ending. I think it's not realistic, I mean I'd have rather prefferred T Ray to suddenly turn into a good man (but I agree it would have spoiilt the story to have him and Lily living together again as a loving dad and daughter, with her calling him daddy and him being caring and sensitive on her needs) or to forget about Lily and never find her! But him finding Lily and leaving her the way he did... I think at that time no man would have left his girl (no matter how little he cared about her) with some negro women. I think he'd have rather sent policemen to arrest them all. It was a matter of racial proud I think. No, I am not saying it was an ok behaviour, actually it was a terrible one, but it was the way things went... At least that's what I learn from most part of the book when characters are sent to jail for fake reasons, just because of their coloured skin. Anyway, the book is a good work, but not the masterpiece I expected it to be.
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January 24th 2009
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
I don't know what I was looking for in this book when I decided I had to read it; I probably had too much high expectations on Sue Monk Kidd's novel and I got somewhat disappointed. I liked it ok, 'till its half I'd say. I got utterly disappointed with the ending. I think it's not realistic, I mean I'd have rather prefferred T Ray to suddenly turn into a good man (but I agree it would have spoiilt the story to have him and Lily living together again as a loving dad and daughter, with her calling him daddy and him being caring and sensitive on her needs) or to forget about Lily and never find her! But him finding Lily and leaving her the way he did... I think at that time no man would have left his girl (no matter how little he cared about her) with some negro women. I think he'd have rather sent policemen to arrest them all. It was a matter of racial proud I think. No, I am not saying it was an ok behaviour, actually it was a terrible one, but it was the way things went... At least that's what I learn from most part of the book when characters are sent to jail for fake reasons, just because of their coloured skin. Anyway, the book is a good work, but not the masterpiece I expected it to be.
Journal Entry 23 by Martjxox at -- via posta o passaggio a mano --, Umbria Italy on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/3/2009 UTC) at -- via posta o passaggio a mano --, Umbria Italy
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is now travelling to Portugal... :-)
The book is now travelling to Portugal... :-)
Journal Entry 24 by Scribacchina from Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia Italy on Monday, February 9, 2009
Safely arrived today, (almost) dry despite all the rain that has been falling...
Journal Entry 25 by Scribacchina from Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia Italy on Thursday, March 19, 2009
When I signed up for this Bookring, I only knew one thing about it, its title, and it was enough to make me curious. Then, page after page, it not only lived up to its promise (how many good titles actually cover awful books?), but I discovered a great story, great narration, great characters. Despite some things feeling a bit like deus-ex-machina solutions, it was all very believable, and I did care for the characters and for what happened to them.
If you are interested, I've published a more complete review on my blog.
If you are interested, I've published a more complete review on my blog.
Journal Entry 26 by Scribacchina at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, March 19, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/19/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sorry it took me so long... but finally I mailed the bees today, they are on their way to kbmarsh.
Sorry it took me so long... but finally I mailed the bees today, they are on their way to kbmarsh.
Journal Entry 27 by kbmarsh from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, March 27, 2009
Can't wait to read this!
Sorry I've taken so long to register this. I haven't read it yet but I'll pass this on to the next person as soon as I have their address to save delaying it any longer.
**************update*********************
themucker28 is the next person on the list but doesn't have an option to pm.
I will try the next person on the list.
**************update*********************
themucker28 is the next person on the list but doesn't have an option to pm.
I will try the next person on the list.
