The Secret Life of Bees

Once again I found reading this novel difficult. I usually read for pleasure at night before I go to sleep. My life is so busy there is not much free time during the day for me to read at this time. I found my mind wandering probably because I was exhausted as much as anything. The literary elements were evident throughout the novel but I had to concentrate on them to understand and get the meaning behind them which made this novel more difficult for me. I also think that the underlying them of motherhood was a bit difficult for me since I have my own mother living with me at this time along with my daughter. The relationships between us can be strained at times with all that is going on in our lives. I am not just the mother to my daughter but I have found myself in the parent role with my mother as well. I can understand the overwhelming feelings that Lily's mother felt but at the same time do not understand a mother abandoning her child for any reason. I have chosen to take my mother under my roof since she is not able to take care of herself on a daily basis. I owe her that for taking care of me though as I have matured I have found that I am not the same type of mother that she is be that good or bad. I found it interesting that August knew all along who Lily was but was waiting for the right time to tell her. Lily had to come to appreciate, love and trust again before she was ready. I also found it ironical that she did not want Zach to have anger about his situation but she was full of anger herself. Aren't we all that way, sometimes we see things in others that we don't see in ourselves. I am not sure this is a book that I would recommend to someone for some light reading. I think that to understand the true intentions of the author you might need to be a parent.