The Secret Life of Bees

by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd is actually amazing. "The Secret Life of Bees" is heavy in subject matter, but Kidd makes the book so readable that the experience is entirely enjoyable.

Kidd is one of those amazingly multitalented authors who does not rely on her plot to sustain her weak characters, or vice versa. The plot concerns itself with a 14-year-old girl, Lily, who breaks her black nanny, Rosaleen, out of prison after Rosaleen insults three dangerously racist men. Lily and Rosaleen follow a name on the back of a photograph -- Tiburon, SC -- that Lily's dead mother left her, eventually ending up in the home of three eclectic black female beekeepers. Lily learns about bees, race, religion, and love during her time in Tiburon.

What really brings the book to life, however, is the characters. Lily is such a full character that she could sustain a book on her own -- but she doesn't need to. She is accompanied by August, May, June, and Rosaleen, all of whom are nearly as dimensional as Lily herself. Although there are a few disappointing moments (the men of the novel, most notably Lily's father T. Ray, seem to have basically one defining characteristic and no shading), the novel is stunning overall. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the '60s, the South, race relations, or love. I recommend this book even more highly to anyone in search of a good story told well.

Rating: 7/8

Tea: Something robust and feminine. I recommend vanilla black tea, with honey of course. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try oolong tea. However, the oolong-honey combination is a decidedly unusual taste, and is only for those who venture beyond Tetley on a regular basis.