Group 9 - Secret Life of Bees - Posting Spot
Posted on October 3rd, 2008 by jbuboltz
Emily, Knycki, Haleigh, and Max: Post your thoughts here about your novel, The Secret Life of Bees. Use only your first name and last initial, make each posting substantial, and proofread them before you post. If you have numerous errors, I will not approve them. You must post four times.
Filed under: Seminar Groups
I just finished reading The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. I thought that the author did a fine job of characterization throughtout the novel.
My favorite character was August. It seems to me that she is wise beyond her years. Since the time Lily Owens walked through the doors of the pink house, August had known her true identity. Even though she knew the truth, she also knew it would be best to wait for Lily to tell her herself.
I also took a liking to June. She seemed so bitter, but the way I see it is that she has been hurt once before and is scared to make herself vulnerable. I love the fact that she finally married Neil. He had been waiting for so long and he deserved it.
After reading this novel I began to realize how important love is in one’s life. Not only to be loved, but to love others as well as yourself.
I am lucky. Growing up and even now I have wonderful parents that show me love in all sorts of ways. On my birthday, the whole day is mine- from an early morning breakfast to dinner and presents. They make my day special. I also have one brother and one sister that support me in everything I do. I could never imagine what life would be like without people to comfort you and show you love.
Sue Monk Kidd did a marvelous job in creating the character, Lily Owens. She was not my favortie character but I did grow to understand her throughtout the book. I also felt pity on her. She never felt wanted as a child and thought the death of her mother was her fault. Not only did she not have a mother but she had a father who had a heart of stone. He never recognized her birthday and verbally abused her. He enforced harsh and unfair punishment upon her. T. Ray made Lily kneel on grits for hours as the sharp edges bruised and scarred her knees.
At first I did not understand why she felt the need to lie all the time. I even thought it to be quite childish. But now that I am through with the novel I feel I understand. Lily wanted to escape from her real life of terror and hate and to pretend life was joyful. To try and make all of her problems go away with one simple lie was her way out. But then she had to keep covering up her lies with more and more lies. Lily is a hurt child. Lying is just her way of coping with her feelings.
I felt that the author did a fine job in the character development of Zach. He was so easy going and care free throughtout the first part of the novel. He did as he was told and never complained. When Zach and his friends got arrested, however, he began to change. His ambitions became more evident. Now he knew what he was to do with his life, he would become a lawyer and stick up for all the people who did not have a voice. Zach wanted to stand up for what he believed in and fight join the fight for civil rights. He already took a bold stand. He began the following year attending an all white school.
I am very excited about how far we are getting with our project. Some groups have not even finished their books and we basically have our script done and our presentation is thought of. I like how we are having Lily and Zach’s child with her great aunt August. WE named her Deborah May and she is asking all these questions about her mom and trying to figure out how she is. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad this is my seminar book. I am also glad this is my seminar group because none of use really slack.
We have finished reading Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and the book has affected my outlook on life substantially. I was raised and am being raised by a single father; with no real mother figure present in my life. Although my father is NOTHING and I repeat NOTHING like T. Ray (Lily’s father), I lived somewhat like Lily most of my young life. Having no mother taught me that I should really think about what kind of mother I want to be to my future children and it has made me really appriciate the few motherly figures I have in my life that have helped to teach me how to be a good woman.
I am incredibly excited about giving our presentation on Monday, it’s a bit nerve racking but I’m excited about being able to put my (our) interpretations of Secret Life Of Bees into several scenes to be acted out accordingly. Very cool assignment Mrs. Buboltz. I hope that we have caught many if not most of the important symbols and themes in our reenactment.