Lily suffers tremendous guilt for killing her mother. The secret life of bees is a book that you will not want to put down. Activity list classroom materials supporting web resources standards student projects. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The secret life of bees essay questions gradesaver. Lily relies on the rhythms of the river to guide her through the trauma. Her first novel, the secret life of bees spent more than 2. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the secret life of bees and what it means. Our 23 hour meetings are primarily a social gathering with a mere 10 minute discussion. The multimillion bestselling novel about a young girls journey towards healing and the transforming power of love, from the awardwinning author of the invention of wings and the forthcoming novel the book of longings set in south carolina in 1964, the secret life of bees tells the story of lily owens, whose life has been shaped around the. Although the history of a desegregating south churns in the background with occasional intrusions on lilys world, the secret life of bees is primarily the story of lilys comingofage.
It was a school holiday and madeleine joined us, since we had previously read the book with her book club too. Two of her short stories, including an excerpt from the secret life of bees, were selected as notable stories in best american short stories. The secret life of bees motherdaughter book club meeting. Reading guide for the secret life of bees by sue monk kidd discussion guide for book clubs. The story is intriguing because it captures the essence of what human beings desire to have love, appreciation, and respect. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Set in the american south in 1964, the year of the civil rights act and intensifying racial unrest, sue monk kidds the secret life of bees is a powerful story of coming of age, of the ability of love to transform our lives, and the often unacknowledged longing for the universal feminine divine. The secret life of bees guide novel gobblers book club.
I chose this book because it kind of reminded of another book i read called the help. I finished this book in two days over new years break i took a day off work on friday. Although the history of a desegregating south churns in the background with occasional intrusions on lilys world, the secret life of bees is primarily the story of lilys coming of age. The invention of wings is sue monk kidds third novel. It won the 2004 book sense book of the year awards paperback, and was nominated for the orange broadband prize for fiction. About the author sue monk kidd the secret life of bees.
Dec 14, 2017 in one of my past book clubs, we literally only read books that included discussion questions at the end of the book because we wanted to be certain wed have a meaningful discussion. Mar 28, 2019 the secret life of bees by sue monk kidd reading club session. The secret life of bees, her first novel, was nominated for the prestigious orange prize in england. Before each chapter, monk kidd includes a fact about bees life cycles or honey production, taken from various resources. The secret life of bees cliffsnotes study guides book. Its a pretty formulaic tale of a young, southern girl whose daddy abuses her, so she decides to run away with her black servant and find solace in an unlikely place. Sue monk kidds debut novel, the secret life of bees, is a comingofage story about feminine spirituality, racial tension, and maneuvering through love, loss and change.
This study guide consists of approximately 60 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the secret life of bees. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd discussion guide. The secret life of bees, by sue monk kidd, was published by viking press in 2002. Both characters deal with their hardships in very different ways. The secret life of bees was a new york times bestseller for more than 125 weeks, a good morning america read this book club pick and was made into an awardwinning film starring dakota. Need help with chapter 1 in sue monk kidds the secret life of bees. Does the secret life of bees fall into the same traps or avoid them. The secret life of bees is a novel by sue monk kidd that takes a realistic view of a teenagers experience in the south in the 1960s. She begins the novel feeling lost and lonely, getting little to no parental guidance or involvement in her life beyond her fathers fits of anger.
This lesson will guide classroom discussions about this novel. The legend of the black madonna and the brave, kind, peculiar. The secret life of bees sue monk kidd, 2002 penguin group usa 336 pp. A summary of chapter 1 in sue monk kidds the secret life of bees. On one hand, she loves her mother dearly and misses her constantly throughout the novel. Chapter 4 begins with an epigram that describes the female establishment at the home of the. Get an answer for what are some discussion questions for the secret life of bees. Lily, in finding herself, finds the divine archetypal feminine, the great universal mother who resides within and empowers each of us. The secret life of bees, her first novel, was nominated for the. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd book club discussion. The secret life of bees questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the secret life of.
Yesterday catherine and i went to see the secret life of bees with our book club. Steps for youth to take with the secret life of bees. Nov 12, 2008 yesterday catherine and i went to see the secret life of bees with our book club. Whats with lilys story about the swarm of bees invading her room at the beginning of the novel.
In the invention of wings, kidd returns to issues of race and a southern setting, this time tackling slavery in the early nineteenth century. The secret life of bees kindle edition by kidd, sue monk. The secret life of bees is a great choice for womens book clubs, and has the potential to promote lively discussions. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd reading guidebook. Read free book excerpt from the secret life of bees by sue monk kidd, page 4 of 15. Lily suffers tremendous guilt for killing her mother, and at night she dreams of dying, meeting her mother in heaven, and asking for her forgiveness. In mourning like the river moves, she lets the pain, anger, guilt, and frustration flow downhill and out of her life. It received critical acclaim and was a new york times bestseller. Use these book club discussion questions to guide your group through sue monk kidds touching tale. The secret life of bees questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the secret life of bees. A bestseller, the novel has become a favorite of book clubs. Sue monk kidds debut novel, the secret life of bees, is a comingofage story about feminine spirituality, racial tension, and maneuvering through love, loss, and change. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd goodreads. The secret life of bees is a great choice for womens book clubs and has the potential to promote lively discussions.
Set in the american south in 1964, the year of the civil rights act and intensifying racial unrest, sue monk kidds the secret life of bees is a powerful story of comingofage, of the ability of love to transform. The secret life of bees was a new york times bestseller for more than 125 weeks, a good morning america read this book club pick and was made into an awardwinning film starring dakota fanning, queen latifah, jennifer hudson and alicia keys. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd reading club session. Aug, 2018 the secret life of bees is a great choice for womens book clubs and has the potential to promote lively discussions. It was the first novel by kidd, who had already found success writing inspirational personal memoirs such as the dance of the dissident daughter 1996. Her first, the secret life of bees, was a book club favorite that gave groups a chance to discuss race issues in the south in the 1960s. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. My first impressions are that so far the book is really good i especially like lily.
The secret life of bees is a book by author sue monk kidd. The secret life of bees by suemonk kidd reading guidebook. In the very first chapter of the secret life of bees, lily describes her mother, beginning what will be an overarching theme throughout the novel. My current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so. We enjoyed the movie, and there were quite a few tears flowing during the show. The secret life of bees discussion questions thoughtco. It received numerous awards, including book sense book of the year and a nomination for the orange prize. What are some discussion questions for the secret life of bees. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for the secret life of bees.
Set in 1964, it is a comingofage story about loss and betrayal. This past sunday catherine and i went to our motherdaughter book club meeting to talk about the secret life of bees by sue monk kidd. The secret life of bees, sue monk kidd the secret life of bees is a book by author sue monk kidd. Although the plot threads are too neatly trimmed, the secret life of bees is a carefully crafted novel with an inspired depiction of character. Discuss the reasons why you think this book was added to the. Sep 14, 2015 book club discussion questions for laline paulls the bees.
Set in 1964, it is a coming of age story about loss and betrayal. The bees was short listed for the baileys womens prize for fiction. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and. Jan 28, 2003 set in the american south in 1964, the year of the civil rights act and intensifying racial unrest, sue monk kidds the secret life of bees is a powerful story of coming of age, of the ability of love to transform our lives, and the often unacknowledged longing for the universal feminine divine. The secret life of bees is a best book club book for discussion, a novel about divine female power and the transforming power of love set in south carolina in 1964. The multimillion bestselling novel about a young girls journey towards healing and the transforming power of love, from the awardwinning author of the invention of wings and the forthcoming novel the. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. In these two chapters, the epigrams about bees sum up what is about to occur.
Sue monk kidd goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. It was the first novel by kidd, who had already found success writing inspirational personal memoirs such as the dance of. The secret life of bees is a cliched soap opera, the sort of book that would provoke rave responses at book clubs composed of mostly bored housewifes. Discussion and activity guide step 1 read the book and see the movie the book. Shared discussion inquiry and the choice to work in pairs or groups promote cooperative efforts in all activities. The legend of the black madonna and the brave, kind, peculiar women who perpetuate lilys story dominate the second half of the book, placing kidds debut novel squarely in the honored tradition of the. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd summary by. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Nov 08, 2001 the secret life of bees, sue monk kidd the secret life of bees is a book by author sue monk kidd. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. In sylvan, lily feels her mothers presence when swarms. If your book club has had the pleasure of reading the bees this month youll find some great discussion starters below. Set in south carolina during 1964, the secret life of bees tells the story of a fourteen year old white girl, lily owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed.
The secret life of bees tells the story of a 14yearold. I like the writing style, i like how its told in lilys perspective but i think it would have been cool if told in rosaleens perspective. Curriculum for youth leaders, educators, and families to. At the beginning of chapter 3, the circle of attendants refers to the boatwright sisters, and lily believes she will find out. The secret life of bees intertwines historical events with a study of honey bees. Lily has a very complicated relationship with her dead mother.
The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd set in the american south in 1964, the year of the civil rights act and intensifying racial unrest, sue monk kidds the secret life of bees is a powerful story of coming of age, of the ability of love to transform our lives, and the often unacknowledged longing for the universal feminine divine. Book sense book of the year, 2004 good morning america read this book club pick. Reading guide for the secret life of bees by sue monk kidd. Use these book club discussion questions to guide your group through sue. The secret life of bees tells the story of a 14yearold white girl, lily melissa owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. Before each chapter, monk kidd includes a fact about bees life cycles or honey production, taken from various resources she lists at the end of the book.
Book club discussion questions for laline paulls the bees. At the beginning of chapter 3, the circle of attendants refers to the boatwright sisters, and lily believes she will find out about her mother, the queen bee, through them. Her debut novel the secret life of bees showed just how powerfully the gift of storytelling charges through kidds veins. Set in the american south in 1964, the year of the civil rights act and intensifying racial unrest, sue monk kidds the secret life of bees is a powerful story of comingofage, of the ability of. The secret life of bees by sue monk kidd book club. After coming to terms with her mothers life, lily must come to terms separately with her death. The bees book club discussion blog the secret life of bees is a great choice for womens book clubs and has the potential to promote lively discussions. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. What qualities did lily have that allowed her to survive, endure, and eventually thrive, despite t.