Notes from Book Group December 2008

This month we discussed "The Secret Life of Bees". The group was split on their opinion of this book. Some liked it and some did not like it very well. The book was well written and had some very thought provoking elements. The main criticism was that it was a little slow moving.

This book is set in South Carolina in 1964 right after the civil rights amendment was passed giving black people the right to vote. Although the amendment was passed it was not always enforced. Lilly Owens’ mother was accidentally killed when Lily was 4 years old. Lily was raised by her black nanny Rosaleen and her abusive father. When Rosaleen took Lily into town to register to vote she was insulted by a trio of fierce racists and retaliated by spitting on their shoes.

Lily and Rosaleen escape to a town that holds the secrets of Lily’s past. Lily and Rosaleen were taken in by three sisters who had a connection to her mother. We all enjoyed the “calendar sisters” – April, May, June, and August Boatwright. Their mother sure had a sense of humor. Lily begins to work through her troubles all the while hoping not to be found by her father or the police. Lily blossomed in the company of these nurturing women and their friends. The queen bee in the story was interpreted differently by different people. Some felt it was August who always had things under control and some thought it was Lily’s mother.

This is a good read and should be looked at since the movie based on the book was just released.