The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

 

Characters

Lily Owens T. Ray – father Deborah – mother, deceased   Rosaleen Daise – raised Lily after mother died   Calendar Sisters: August Boatwright June – teacher, played cello May – twin sister, April, deceased   Zachary Taylor – “Zach” – main helper with bees, football player, dreams of being a lawyer   Neil – principal at June’s school, married June   Daughters of Mary: Queenie Violet – Queenie’s grown daughter Lunelle – hat maker Mabelee Cressie Otis Hill Sugar-Girl – Otis’ wife   Clayton Forrest – attorney Becca – daughter Miss Lucy

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers from paperback edition.

1.       Why did June resent Lily for most of the novel?   Could you understand why she resisted marrying Neil for so long?

2.       Discuss May’s character.   Were you surprised at what happened to her at end of novel?  Consider the following:

a.       She sang “Oh! Susanna” which “seemed to be her personal way of warding off crying” (page 85)

b.       Her morning banana had to be perfect – no bruises (page 85).

c.       The stone wall she made and then tucked notes between the stones with things that upset her.

3.       Did you ever have “day-of-the-week” panties?  Was it a good way to describe how upset Lily was after May’s death to write that “I took to wearing my days-of-the-week panties out of order?  It could be Monday and I’d have on underwear saying Thursday.  I just didn’t care” (page 215).

4.       The novel was set in 1964.  Did it give you any insights into current or previous race relations?  Consider:

a.       When Lily first came to stay with the Boatwright sisters, she felt uncomfortable around June.  Lily realized, “This was a great revelation – not that I was white but that it seemed like June might not want me here because of my skin color.  I hadn’t known this was possible – to reject people for being white” (page 87).

b.       Lily’s realization that “I’d thought that white people and colored people getting along was the big aim, but after that I decided everybody being colorless together was a better plan” (page 209). 

5.       The novel was published in 2002.  How much do you think the context of the current times influences your appreciation or what you take away from a book?  If you read this book earlier, do you think your “reading” changed due to the upheaval of the current times?

6.       Besides race relations, what were the other themes in the novel?  How well do you think the author addressed them?  Did you gain any new insights?

7.       Discuss Zach and his dream of becoming a lawyer.  Lily told him, “You’ve got to hear of these things before you can imagine them,” but Zach replied, “You gotta imagine what’s never been” (page 121).  Do you think he will achieve his goal?

8.       Did you like the comparison between a bee hive and real life?  August told Lily, “The world is really one big bee yard, and the same rules worked fine in both places” (page 92).   Do you think these “rules” are valid?

a.       “Don’t be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you,”

b.       “Still, don’t be an idiot: wear long sleeves and long pants.  Don’t swat,”

c.       ”If you feel angry, whistle.  Anger agitates, while whistling melts a bee’s temper,”

d.       “Act like you know what you’re doing, even if you don’t,” and

e.       “Above all, send the bees love.  Every little thing wants to be loved” (page 92).

9.       After learning Deborah’s story, could you understand how she could leave Lily with T. Ray?

10.   Did you feel any sympathy for T. Ray after his visit to Angela’s where he mistook Lily for Deborah?   Why or why not?

11.   Should everyone have told Lily the truth about what happened to her mother or should they have kept the truth from her?

*****

First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com and wordassociation.com.