• The Secret Life of Bees

  • By: Sue Monk Kidd
  • Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
  • Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7,883 ratings)

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The Secret Life of Bees  By  cover art

The Secret Life of Bees

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
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Publisher's summary

Sue 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.

©2003 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2008 Penguin

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What listeners say about The Secret Life of Bees

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    5,965
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    4 out of 5 stars

Refreshing

Narrator was excellent Story is refreshing liked the girls spunk. Wish the father would have showed a little love to his daughter

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Loved it!!

narration was great, story is great... only thing negative i could say is that some chapters/parts do drag a little but overall... it's a MUST!!!

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LOVED it

Great audio performance
wonderful heartfelt story. Love knows no color. She found her place in the world.

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  • JR
  • 04-09-18

Love this book and Jenna's reading!

Every time I listen to The Secret Life Of Bees it warms my heart and fills it with love for the ladies. Well written and beautifully read.

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Great Read

This is an awesome book. The story line carries very well and it pulls you in!

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Revisited as an adult & it was as great as I remembered

I absolutely loved the narration of this. It was perfect and the voice and cadence fit the image of Lily I had in my mind.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Favorite narrator and great book!

What a life for a young girl to go through! Lily proves that she is smart and is a very loving, caring person. She accomplishes her travels and learns so much throughout. She is strong and determined.

Lovely book, would listen to again and I highly recommend.

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Fabulous

What a creative story and beautifully performed. I regretted that it came to an end.

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BOSS narration

Of course, the writing of Sue Monk Kidd is incredible. The way God is revealed in the subtleties of her descriptions of every day life- it clearly comes from her very soul. The narrator does every bit of justice to Monk’s words. I was impressed through the entirety of the listen. She truly brings the book to life. Phenomenal. I will check out other books she has narrated. Her performance and honoring of the book was that good.

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Dark and Deep

A dark, but poignant story. I read this with my teenage daughter. Kidd handled very difficult life situations in a thoughtful way.

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