The Secret Life of Bees
Registered by L1nda of Newcastle, New South Wales Australia on 10/29/2007
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
7 journalers for this copy...
Synopsis
A coming of age story set in the American South in 1964. Lily Owens has grown up with her harsh and autocratic father, with the devastating belief that she killed her own mother. Her memory of that afternoon when she was only four is blurred, but her father continues to reinforce her guilt. Since her mother's death, her stand-in mother and companion has been a big and proud black nanny, Rosaleen.
With the newly introduced right for African-Americans to vote - Rosaleen defends herself against some racists and finds herself in jail. Lily, determined to save Rosaleen, and they end up escaping the town together. They set out across South Carolina in search of safety and a new life away from her father.
A small picture of a black Virgin Mary, that was once her mothers, inspires Lily to head towards the town handwritten on the back of the card. They find a safe haven in the large pink house of three inspirational sisters - May, June and August. The sisters are bee keepers and have their own small church where the Black Madonna is a key figure of worship. Lily and Rosaleen find themselves in a place of security, forgiveness and love, that is only threatened by the looming Civil Rights crisis and the arrival of her vengeful father.
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I received this book from Bookmooch, when I have read it I will start and Australian ring with it.
A coming of age story set in the American South in 1964. Lily Owens has grown up with her harsh and autocratic father, with the devastating belief that she killed her own mother. Her memory of that afternoon when she was only four is blurred, but her father continues to reinforce her guilt. Since her mother's death, her stand-in mother and companion has been a big and proud black nanny, Rosaleen.
With the newly introduced right for African-Americans to vote - Rosaleen defends herself against some racists and finds herself in jail. Lily, determined to save Rosaleen, and they end up escaping the town together. They set out across South Carolina in search of safety and a new life away from her father.
A small picture of a black Virgin Mary, that was once her mothers, inspires Lily to head towards the town handwritten on the back of the card. They find a safe haven in the large pink house of three inspirational sisters - May, June and August. The sisters are bee keepers and have their own small church where the Black Madonna is a key figure of worship. Lily and Rosaleen find themselves in a place of security, forgiveness and love, that is only threatened by the looming Civil Rights crisis and the arrival of her vengeful father.
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I received this book from Bookmooch, when I have read it I will start and Australian ring with it.
I enjoyed this book so much, I thought I'd offer it up for a bookring
Please try to follow the guidelines to make it a successful ring:
1. Make a journal entry when the book arrives safely.
2. Please try to read the book within 4-6 weeks of receiving it (or make a journal entry to let us know how you're getting on if you need longer)
3. When finished, journal your thoughts about the book.
4. Please check back here for the latest distribution list. PM the next person on the list and send it to them.
If interested please send me a PM
Order so far
binkybuffy
LadyIndigo
charliewendy
HeatherA
back to me
Please try to follow the guidelines to make it a successful ring:
1. Make a journal entry when the book arrives safely.
2. Please try to read the book within 4-6 weeks of receiving it (or make a journal entry to let us know how you're getting on if you need longer)
3. When finished, journal your thoughts about the book.
4. Please check back here for the latest distribution list. PM the next person on the list and send it to them.
If interested please send me a PM
Order so far
binkybuffy
LadyIndigo
charliewendy
HeatherA
back to me
Posted to binkybuffy 7/11/2007
Received this book today thankyou Linda. I was on the way to the nursing home to see my Mother and picked this book up at the Post Office and what good timing Mum was asleep the whole time so I got to read the start few chapters. I already love it especially after the last book I read it was so full on it is nice to read this type of book.I only just finished the other one last night so perfect timing all round.
I loved this story of Lily and the three sisters and Rosaleen. Thats when life was plain and simple. Wished I could help Lily though that's how you feel like you are part of it. Really an enjoyable book to read.
Am waiting for the address to send it to LadyIndigo and will send it off this week to her
arrived safely at post office 3 dec - but not collected until 7 dec (postal workers 'forgot' to give it to me with other parcels)
so it is here - thanks binkybuffy along with your postcard ;-)
and i will read it as soon as i can, have a couple of books ahead of it in the reading order
so it is here - thanks binkybuffy along with your postcard ;-)
and i will read it as soon as i can, have a couple of books ahead of it in the reading order
what an amazing story of the strength and power that eminates from women's friendships... and what an interesting time on american history to write about- must be similar to our own indigneous people getting the right to vote- the nature/nurture debate how much determines our attitude towards difference, yet if allowed to just develop without strong prejudice or influence how accepting would we all be of that difference?
my favourite bits & bits that make me think...
*candlestick salad - p120
* Zach saying "We can't think of changing out skin.. Change the world - that's how we gotta think" -p216
*August saying "There is nothing perfect. There is only life" - p256
*People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard - p277
and i still have no idea what grits are- just have to imagine that they hurt a lot to kneel on - i often wish that writers would add a glossary for readers like me who are not native to america or england as the case may be. they mention product names (like the cockroach trail ingredients)and so on which may as well be written in hieroglyphics
Overall a good read - monk kidd's use of language is almost poetic in places, my only criticism is the use of concepts (grits, etc) well known in america, but not so elsewhere
thanks l1nda for sharing
;-)
my favourite bits & bits that make me think...
*candlestick salad - p120
* Zach saying "We can't think of changing out skin.. Change the world - that's how we gotta think" -p216
*August saying "There is nothing perfect. There is only life" - p256
*People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard - p277
and i still have no idea what grits are- just have to imagine that they hurt a lot to kneel on - i often wish that writers would add a glossary for readers like me who are not native to america or england as the case may be. they mention product names (like the cockroach trail ingredients)and so on which may as well be written in hieroglyphics
Overall a good read - monk kidd's use of language is almost poetic in places, my only criticism is the use of concepts (grits, etc) well known in america, but not so elsewhere
thanks l1nda for sharing
;-)
Received safely today.
Thanks L1nda for sharing and LadyIndigo for sending on.
Thanks L1nda for sharing and LadyIndigo for sending on.
I found this to be easy to read and enjoyable. Lots of likeable characters and warm fuzzy moments.
Mild spoiler alert.
I found the ending fell a little flat but only because T.Ray, when he reappeared, acted in a very predictable, 2 dimensional way. I think his character could have been made more complex, rather than just a brute.
I am off to pm HeatherA for her addy.
Thanks for the chance to read this L1nda.
Mild spoiler alert.
I found the ending fell a little flat but only because T.Ray, when he reappeared, acted in a very predictable, 2 dimensional way. I think his character could have been made more complex, rather than just a brute.
I am off to pm HeatherA for her addy.
Thanks for the chance to read this L1nda.
Off to HeatherA today.
Book was here waiting for me when I arrived home from holidays today, thanks charliewendy. Linda I'll get this read & back to you soon.
A most enjoyable read, I was rather sorry that it had to end. It will be going home to Linda tomorrow 26th Feb 08
Journal Entry 14 by L1nda at Oz VBB in OZVBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (3/5/2008 UTC) at Oz VBB in OZVBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to blue1236 as she has selected it from the Oz VBB
Enjoy this lovely little book!
Mailed to blue1236 as she has selected it from the Oz VBB
Enjoy this lovely little book!
Arrived today finally after some detours. Thanks so much for posting it again - I really do appreciate it. I loved this book the first time I read it and seeing as this is my year of re-reads I thought I'd read it again. Thanks L1nda!! =)
Ready to be dropped off as part of my massive book clearance.
Journal Entry 17 by blue1236 at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 1, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (8/1/2009 UTC) at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Enjoy! Thanks for helping with my clear-out. =)
Enjoy! Thanks for helping with my clear-out. =)
This is a very well travelled book. I have also read it ages ago and enjoyed it very much. I will add it to Mt TBR for an attempt at a second reading down the track.
2011 - lent to Mum's old Probus Bookclub in Sale
returned Jun-11
2011 - lent to Mum's old Probus Bookclub in Sale
returned Jun-11
Journal Entry 19 by meganh at TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (7/27/2011 UTC) at TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This book was set free to find a new reader and I'm glad you've found it!
If you're new to Bookcrossing, I hope you will take some time to explore this free and anonymous community and learn about what it has to offer. It would be great if you make a journal entry of some sort, maybe you could say where you found it (they don't always stay where they were originally left!) or what you think of the idea of travelling books.
You can keep it or leave it for someone else to find. And don't forget, if you join BookCrossing (it doesn't cost anything to join!) and make release notes (to say where you've left it, and when) next time it's journalled you'll hear from it too! Please feel free to send me a Private Message, by clicking on the name “meganh”, to ask for help with anything.
If you're new to Bookcrossing, I hope you will take some time to explore this free and anonymous community and learn about what it has to offer. It would be great if you make a journal entry of some sort, maybe you could say where you found it (they don't always stay where they were originally left!) or what you think of the idea of travelling books.
You can keep it or leave it for someone else to find. And don't forget, if you join BookCrossing (it doesn't cost anything to join!) and make release notes (to say where you've left it, and when) next time it's journalled you'll hear from it too! Please feel free to send me a Private Message, by clicking on the name “meganh”, to ask for help with anything.