The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

Jan 2003 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jenna Lamia

About this audiobook

An intoxicating debut novel of "one motherless daughter's discovery of...the strange and wonderful places we find love" —The Washington PostSue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina—a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love—a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

Ratings and reviews

I borrowed the audio book version of this book a long time ago from public library it was a good storyline and I learned a lot of things about the year/time/century it was based on was very interesting.

Love this story. It's better than the movie imo.

Great book & the reader is excellent!

About the author

Sue Monk Kidd is the award-winning and bestselling author of the novels The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair. She has also written several acclaimed memoirs, including Traveling with Pomegranates, and serves on the Writers Council for Poets & Writers, Inc. Kidd lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, Sandy, and dog, Barney. To learn more, visit suemonkkidd.com.

Jenna Lamia has appeared on- and off-Broadway, as well as on television in Law and Order: SVU, Strangers with Candy, HBO's Oz, and MTV's Awkward., of which she is also the coexecutive producer. Her film credits include The Fighter and The Call.