The Secret Life of Bees Final Post

I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees. I liked the first person perspective of Lily and really connected with the struggles she was going through. I felt really bad for her having to live with T. Ray but also amazed that she was still so kind and loving.  I also admired how brave she was busting Rosaleen out of jail and traveling to Tibourn hoping to get some answers about her mother. I think Sue Monk Kidd did a good job of capturing a teenager's voice.  

I also thought Kidd did a great job of creating some well rounded characters. I loved May and was sad when she killed herself. I think Kidd foreshadowed this with April's story but I was hoping nothing would happen to her because she has this innocence about her.  It made me think of Beth's death in Little Women.

I loved the relationship between Lily and Zach.  Race wasn't a barrier for either of them and they loved each other for who they were. I really hope they did stay together and that Zach did become a kick butt lawyer.

I was really happy with the ending of the book and that Lily got to stay with August. I think its obvious that T. Ray is not father material, but I did like the last scene with Lily and T. Ray because it explained why T. Ray is terrible to Lily.

Bees, Bees and more Bees!

I'm not really completely sure how I feel about Secret Life of Bees. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really love it either. After seeing the movie years ago, I've thought about the book regularly, and I'm glad I was able to finally read it.  From what I remember of the movie, I don't think it deviated from the book terribly much. Obviously Lily's physical appearance changed, since she and her mother had black hair, but that's Hollywood for you.

I loved that Lily ended up having so many women care for her and become her mothers. It was great that she was able to get away from T-Ray once and for all. August is a woman full of wisdom that I would love to know. Everything she was able to tell Lily about her mother was a great way for Lily to know her mother. Finding out that her mother had indeed left her, even though it was a severe case of depression from the way August described, was pretty hard for Lily. It sucks to have to deal with that knowledge, and the knowledge that T-Ray could indeed be right in that Lily was the one who killed her mother, even if it was an accident.

 The moment May died was pretty sad. I felt bad for all of them losing someone they loved so much. Rosaleen seemed to have found a friend who she could lean on. Lily had someone who told her, with actions, things about her mother. I do wish June might have been able to tell Lily some about her mother, but the way August explained things, June was unlikely to say anything nice about Deborah.

Overall, the incorporation of Lady Mary and the Beekeeping made me feel like Lily was on a spiritual journey. Whenever Lily was out helping with the bees, I got the impression of something therapeutic going on. It was amazing how much honey was incorporated into their lives, even when it came to Lady Mary. I found the most poignant moment was August telling Lily, "Not to love- to persist in love." That was evident with the way August treated everything. She was a strong woman, but she loved deeply.

 August really good at letting Lily come to her instead of forcing her to talk when she wasn't ready. Lily's growth into just seeing everyone and not by color was definitely a moment I liked. I have to admit, I really liked Zach and Lily's relationship, especially when he said one day he was going to come back then they'd be together. That had me rooting for them. There's a lot to overcome for them that way.

So, I'm still not sure about how I feel towards the book. I do want to re-watch movie to see how close to the book it is.

Of Princesses and Pirates

My favorite quote from the book, "Because the Prince is a fiend. And Rugen is his twin in misery. And this is their masterpeice."

I've been eye-balling the book since I bought the really pretty hard cover edition from work, lol. I have to say I enjoyed Goldstein's style quite a bit. He threw me off a bit with his fictional life, so well that I had to look him up, haha.

I enjoyed the book, partly from years of watching the movie, so I had all the actors in my head with their voices. I didn't realize that the book was quite a bit darker than the movie. Humperdink is a bigger jerk in the book than he was in the movie. His Zoo of Death creeps me out and, like Katie, I'm glad it wasn't in the movie. I really liked learning more about Fezzik and Inigo's backgrounds. I just wanted to hug Fezzik a lot!

Now, I particularly enjoyed the author's interruptions in the story for this simple reason: the weekend we went to visit Katie in Houston to celebrate our birthdays, we sat at the outdoor theater with Dracula, and Katie took the book and skimmed the part we were at going, "Blah, blah, blah...okay, here's what you need to know." :-) The first time Goldstein did that with the packing and such from Humperdink's stepmother I thought of that, and afterward, every time I read it I thought of that night (and also our cold, wet bottoms since the blanket soaked through on us!).

Goldstein has said he wants to finish writing Buttercup's Baby, so I'm hoping he'll come through and finish it some day. But if not, I've got the imagination to decide what happens at the end of Princess Bride.

The Princess Bride

Things I loved from the movie, found their way into the book! And here are a few for you:

Fencing.

Fighting.

Torture.

Poison.

True Love.

Hate.

Revenge.

Giants.

Hunters.

Good men.

Bad men.

Beautifulest ladies.

Snakes.

Spiders.

Beasts of all natures and descriptions.

Pain.

Death.

Brave men.

Coward men.

Strongest men.

Chases.

Escapes.

Lies.

Truths.

Passion.

Miracles.

I am one of those people who LOVED the movie, and I can honestly say that I never knew it was based on a book. Shocking I know. I always wanted to read it, but I have a hard time reading the book after watching the movie. I either love the movie and hate the book, or love the book and hate the movie. This is one of those rare occasions where I loved both equally.

I love that I got back stories to some of my favorite characters, and it just gives the movie versions more depth. I tried very hard not to but I was hearing the voices from the movie while I was reading this. And it made me laugh a few times.

The best part is that I feel like by reading the book I have questions answered from the movie! I wanted to know how Inigo became the best fencer in the world, and now I do! At first I didn't really like the little author side notes, but as the novel went on I did enjoy them. It kind of gave an insight into the mind of the author, which is always a plus.

I am so glad that Allyssa chose this book, because I have seriously always wanted to read it, I just never got around to it!