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This is a truly inspirational novel. What a touching story this is. It is rare that I finish a book feeling as though it has changed me or affected me beyond being a great read. But the story of fourteen year-old Lily Owen has certainly affected me. I've already loaned my copy to two friends and purchased one for my aunt, they agree that this is one amazing and enlightening book. I believe that I will be recommending "The Secret Life of Bees" for quite some time.
Summary: Lily Owens is 14 in 1964 in the South. They changed a couple of things for dramatic effect, but overall they were true to the source. It's a wonderful coming of age story and it contains so many truths about love and life.
They hit the road to escape their lives and to find out about Lily's mother, her past. All of them are intelligent and cultured; Lily had always assumed she would be the smartest in the room. She accidentally killed her mother when she was four years old, has an abusive father, and breaks her nanny Rosaleen out of jail.
Lily is confronted with her feelings about whites and blacks when she comes to live with August and her sisters. They are led to Tiburon, South Carolina and to the home of August Boatwright. Lily learns about love and life and forgiveness.I really loved this book.
Just one of the many truths she learns on her journey and at the same time it makes us the readers examine our own prejudices and long-held "truths."I also watched the movie right after reading this and was pleasantly surprised by how close they stayed to the novel. Dakota Fanning plays Lily perfectly and Queen Latifah is always wonderful.
Book was in great condition and was sent on time. And was a good deal.
I think Kidd makes the mistake of many lesser authors: in her great desire to ensure that the reader grasps the subtleties of the book, she makes the themes and the symbols of the book painfully obvious. For a book directed at a younger audience (particularly high school readers), this is a good strategy - better to assume that they'll miss those brilliant finer points and instead serve them up on a platter. But for an older reader, it smacks of condescension, and perhaps worse, it removes the magic of discovery.That (admittedly major point) aside, it is a very good book. The structure, the symbols, the themes - all are very well thought out and come together beautifully.
I fell in love with August, Lilly, and Zach. I LOVED this book. I didn't want this book to end. I could not stop thinking about the characters and hated to put the book down. This was a quick read for me. Everyone should have an August Boatwright in their life. The movie was great, too.
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