The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd: A Book Review

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Book Review of the Secret Lives of Bees
Synopsis
Kidd Sue is the author of The Secret Lives of Bees, a book that was first published in 2002. She is a renowned writer who talks about everyday issues while drawing from her experiences, a strategy that makes her works relatable. Sue tells the story of Lily, the main protagonist, who believes that she might have shot her mother accidentally when she was a little child. She does not remember holding a gun and only depends on her father’s account of the fateful day (Kidd 62). She is now fourteen years old and wishes her mother were alive to embrace and forgive her. Lily lives with her T-Ray, her father on a South Carolina farm, and has a friend called Rosaleen, a black and tender-hearted black servant. Set in the sixties, the story reveals deep segregations in then, culminating in the arrest and beating of Rosaleen when she wanted to vote. Lily is not impressed by the oppression and decides to act, but her father does not support her. Together, they follow in the footsteps of run away and find solace in the home of three beekeeping sisters. For Lily, she is on a journey to understand her world and solve the mystery surrounding her mother. While people are likely to commit costly mistakes in life, they should confront their problems to overcome guilt and live happily.
Throughout the text, Lily strives to overcome the guilt of shooting her mother and wants to know what happened. When the story opens, she is wondering about Deborah, and in her dreams, she apologizes to her. In the end, August has told her about her mother and T-Ray confirms that Lily indeed killed her mother. She cannot easily accept it and becomes angry, blaming her mother for ignoring her and not caring about the family (Kidd 241). Eventually, she admits who she was and that she killed her, albeit by accident. She also feels guilty of keeping secrets and lying to the sisters about her past and thinks that she will never truly connect with them. She also fears to tell the truth because she is a runaway fugitive escaping the police. She believes that if she confides in them, they will hate her. However, towards the end of the story, she decides to tell August the truth that Deborah is her mother. While Li...