A review by dani_readz_bookz
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.25

I wanna start off by saying this isn't my usual book I normally read. My gran gifted it to me and I thought I'd give it a try. At first the sprinkle of racial slurs got to me and they still do, one of the reasons the book doesn't have a higher rating, but it makes sense looking at the time and place in the book. The author really did a good job putting us in the mind of a 14 year old. There were times I wanted to yell at her and times where the 14 year old I was a while back would have thought and done the exact same thing. It's not a perfect book, but it doesn't have to be perfect to be a favourite. Topics of grief, loss, abuse, religion, found family and love are so well written, it's like you are Lily in that moment. 

"People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard, if God said in plain language, " I'm giving you a choice, forgive or die." A lot of people would go ahead and order their coffin."

"It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening."