THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
By Sue Monk Kidd
Penguin, 2002
Catgeory: Adult Novel
I might be the last person on Earth to read this book. And I didn’t even read it, I listened to it on CD. But it is so very good that I have to sing its praises here. Better late than never, you know?
First, a word on audiobooks. Listening to the marvelous Jenna Lamia read THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES has won me over completely. While I will always prefer curling ‘round a book and experiencing it wholly, I discovered that listening has its own appeal. I was amazed at Ms. Lamia’s ability to inhabit characters by voice alone, and at how comforting it was to be read to.
As for story, I was swept away. Fourteen-year-old Lily Evans journeys so very far in this book. She overcomes grief and guilt, she lets go of ignorance, she embraces family in the strange form it finally comes to her. By the end of the story, I loved Lily Evans, and I hated to see her go. And then, just this morning, I learned I can look forward to seeing her again, this time on the silver screen. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES movie will be released on October 17, 2008. Just look at this cast:
Lily is played by Dakota Fanning;
Rosaleen is played by Jennifer Hudson;
August is played by Queen Latifah;
June is played by Alicia Keys;
May is played by Sophie Okonedo.
I can hardly wait.
A final word … on bees, of course. (Duh!) I was struck by how subtly the author instilled her novel with ‘bee love’, the comfortable feeling–familiar to those with a passion for raising bees–that comes from being close enough to see and smell and hear and taste and touch the hive. It added so much to the story.