The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – To be Discussed on Wed Nov. 7, 2018, at Geneseo Public Library

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 sister, 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.

Questions:

1.       How would you describe Lily's feelings about her mother? Did they change throughout the novel? How did hearing that her mother left her to affect her perception of her mother?

2.      Do you believe T-Ray's account of what happened when Lily's mother died?

3.      Did your opinion of T-Ray change when August told Lily about how much he used to love her mother? Does Deborah's abandonment explain or excuse T-Ray?

4.      Do you agree with Lily that people would rather die than forgive? Does she forgive her mother? T-Ray? Herself?

5.      What do the bees mean to the story? What is "the secret life of bees?"

6.      Do you think race was portrayed realistically in The Secret Life of Bees? What do you think Sue Monk Kidd was saying about race in this novel?

7.      Why did Rosaleen spit on the men's shoes? What are the ways the characters in the novel confront injustice? How do you think we should deal with injustice? Do these kinds of prejudices still exist today?

8.      What was your reaction to Lily's relationship with Zach? What do you think happened to them in the future?

9.      Talk about the sisters. Who was your favorite? Do we all need a wailing wall, like May? Why do you think June was cold toward Lily? How would you describe August

10.   What role did the Black Madonna play in their community? What do you think about the legend of the Black Madonna?