Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

36 reviews

jinglebellyee's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I have a random lady on TikTok to thank for this book recommendation… good read! Loved the bees, the calendar daughters, the relationship between Rosaleen and Lily, how Lily found strength and love and courage from the calendar daughters she sought refuge with, and the mystery behind what happened to her mother.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence

anilourengo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

El libro cuenta la historia de Lily en el verano de 1964. 
Refleja con mucho éxito el trato que se le daba a la gente de color en 1964 y cómo la sociedad estadounidense reaccionó cuando se les permitió votar y terminar con la segregación.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Suicide, Mental illness, Death of parent, Racism, and Police brutality

sauvageloup's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

a really beautiful read with a lot of poignancy.
pacing felt a little slow in a couple of places but that was part of the charm.
loved the mix of depicting the time periods racism, lily dealing with the loss of her mother, the goings on with August, may and June, and the beautiful descriptions of them and the surroundings and the bees.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Racism, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

schorlett's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness

Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Pregnancy

rogier_vdw's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Child abuse

theabee's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Death of parent

sari_lyr's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse and Violence

itsy719's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Gun violence, Slavery, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Vomit

zombiezami's review against another edition

5.0

This book left me almost about to cry. I realize from reading this and The Color Purple years ago: I'm a sucker for books about women and girls coming together to heal themselves from the pain of patriarchy. They build a form of spirituality that centers and affirms them. They learn to value themselves, their wants, and their perspectives. And then the healing they are able to do simply radiates outward, and it causes a reaction in everyone around them to witness that healing taking place. Some don't understand what's happening and they hate it. They mock or terrorize them for daring to live differently, to think that they can excuse themselves from the patriarchal structure they accept unconsciously. Others realize by their example that they don't have to accept patriarchy either, and they can find their own ways to be whole. 

I also especially loved the author's approach to grief, especially the importance of feeling it fully and creating rituals and remembrance about it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Grief, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Racism, Hate crime, Suicide, and Confinement

Moderate: Misogyny, Child death, Slavery, and Sexism

Minor: War and Animal death

abbyvee's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It's so fitting that March is International Women's Day and this is the first book I finished this month. I am so glad I decided to read this book that is about women solidarity and empowerment. I love how Lily was characterized. Most often than not, characters who undergo the things she did (especially young characters) are portrayed, cynic, cold hearted or toughened by life. But Lily, with Kidd's amazing writing, still remains a child who says hurtful things without a second thought, is curious and wonders numerous things that make you also take moment and ponder about, whose imaginations run wild, and above all, a child that explores life and comes to realize that some of her personal biases and prejudices need to be corrected. And I love how she was able to do it, especially the last thing, by immersing herself in the lives of the strong and amazing group of women.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Violence