The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
"Standing there, I loved myself and I hated myself. That's what the black Mary did to me, made me feel my glory and my shame at the same time."
Loosing her mother ten years prior to when the story takes place, 14-year-old Lilly is left feeling completely empty and alone. She fantasizes about the type of relationship her and her mother could have had, while dealing with abuse from her negligent father, T. Ray. The only light she has in her life is Roseleen, her 'stand-in mother'.
Set in 1964, in the near height of the civil rights movement, Rosaleen (who happens to be African-American) is harassed one day while walking with Lily into town so she can register to vote. In retaliation, she pours her snuff juice all over their shoes, and then is beaten. Twice. Lily gets her past security, and together they run away to Tiburon, only because that is the town that was printed on the back of a Black Madonna photo belonging to Lily's mother.
It was a beautiful story of love, loss, empowerment through female bonding, and growth ... but I still found it a little dull. It started out wonderfully, but once I got about 2/3 of the way through, I found myself struggling to find motivation to continue with it.
I would reccomend it, just don't expect the same amount of energy you receive in the beginning throughout the entire book. Because you won't get it.
PS. As much as I want to see this movie, if they have Dakota fucking Fanning play Lily, I will never watch it.
Loosing her mother ten years prior to when the story takes place, 14-year-old Lilly is left feeling completely empty and alone. She fantasizes about the type of relationship her and her mother could have had, while dealing with abuse from her negligent father, T. Ray. The only light she has in her life is Roseleen, her 'stand-in mother'.
Set in 1964, in the near height of the civil rights movement, Rosaleen (who happens to be African-American) is harassed one day while walking with Lily into town so she can register to vote. In retaliation, she pours her snuff juice all over their shoes, and then is beaten. Twice. Lily gets her past security, and together they run away to Tiburon, only because that is the town that was printed on the back of a Black Madonna photo belonging to Lily's mother.
It was a beautiful story of love, loss, empowerment through female bonding, and growth ... but I still found it a little dull. It started out wonderfully, but once I got about 2/3 of the way through, I found myself struggling to find motivation to continue with it.
I would reccomend it, just don't expect the same amount of energy you receive in the beginning throughout the entire book. Because you won't get it.
PS. As much as I want to see this movie, if they have Dakota fucking Fanning play Lily, I will never watch it.