‘Secret Life of Bees’ buzzes about love

All Things Literary

As a self-proclaimed Southern girl, I always have enjoyed reading books that tap into the unique culture of the region. Stories of Southern belles, Georgia peaches and Alabama accents make me feel right at home with my Virginia roots. So, when I read Sue Monk Kidd’s "The Secret Life of Bees," I immediately felt at ease with the laid-back attitude and Southern charm of her writing.

The book is set in 1964, and young Lily Owens lives on a peach farm in South Carolina with her overbearing and intimidating father. Her mother — who died when Lily was just four years old — is merely a memory. Rosaleen, a strong black woman who cares for Lily in her mother’s absence, is the closest thing to a mother Lily has ever known. Rosaleen protects Lily from her father’s violent outbursts, but when Rosaleen insults three of the town’s most prominent white men, she suddenly is the one who needs Lily’s protection.

Fearing for their safety, Lily decides the only way to protect herself and Rosaleen is for them to run away from the farm. They flee, clinging to Lily’s mother’s few remaining possessions and a faded picture with the words "Tiburon, South Carolina" scrawled on the back. The two fugitives take the picture’s advice and head for Tiburon.

In Tiburon, the image of the Black Madonna on the picture leads the runaways to the home of three sisters who take them in upon arrival. The sisters, May, June and August, are renowned beekeepers. They have secrets themselves, and a connection to Lily they initially hide from her. Regardless, the sisters welcome Lily and Rosaleen with open arms and give them a sense of family and comfort that neither of them has ever really known.

May, June and August begin to teach Lily the beekeeping trade, entrusting her with all the secrets of their livelihood. As each day passes, the bonds between Lily and the sisters grow stronger — despite the prejudices of the neighbors, who publicly frown upon a white girl in a black home. Yet Lily and the sisters understand they are each other’s family, and bloodlines simply are not important when it comes to matters of the heart.

When I first finished this book, I remember thinking what a simple, beautiful story it was. But the more I considered it, the more I realized that this author told much more than just a memorable tale. In her own subtle way, Sue Monk Kidd made resounding comments on the irrelevancy of race when it comes to family. Her characters are so full of love and life that one can’t help but be completely wrapped up in their struggles, successes and in their search for complete and total acceptance. "The Secret Life of Bees" shows in the end, family can be whatever you want it be — and that is the most valuable lesson of all.