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  • 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 (7,977 ratings)

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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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Highly recommend

This is the best of many ebooks we’ve listened to. Story is profound on many levels and the performance is outstanding.

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Amazing book!

I loved this book because the reader acts out every word and the story is beautiful. It is about women supporting one another around the main character, Lilly, a 14 year old runaway - and is set in 1964 South Carolina. It is a touching story. You will be happy with this book for sure!

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Completely taken in

I got completely absorbed by this story. I so applaud Sue Monk Kidd for her imagination and the way she makes it come to life. She is phenomenal in her ability to bring you into the story, to make you feel like you are there, and Jenna Lamia gave all the characters their perfect voice. I was deeply moved by the faith, strength and fortitude that stood against the racism and hate that sickened me. Everyone should read this book.

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Really excellent story!

I lost my own mother a year and a half ago and even though I'm 47 years old this has put so much into perspective for me and his helped me with my grief.

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Great story! Great narration.

I loved this story! The narrator made all the more magnificent! It didn't feel like narration it felt like the reader was actually in Lily's head looking through her eyes. It didnt seem as if the narrator was reading at all. I would recommend this book to everyone hands down!

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loved it

good heartfelt story.
Lilly has done mighty gumption.
narration was great too.
I would recommend this listen.

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An Honored Place on the Shelf of my Heart

This was my second time reading this phenomenal book. It will remain an all-time favorite, inspiring me each time I return to it.

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Honey for the soul

I’ve always loved this book but to experience it through the storytelling voice of Jenna Lamia added an emotional element that brought the book to life in new and unexpected ways. The story is filled with lyrical writing and authentic voices and characters. I will confess to picturing in my mind the faces of the actors from the movie (how can you not?) but that simply intensifies the beauty and sadness and joy of their journey. It is life. And for a brief moment I was there to watch the story unfold.

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Loved it

This may be my.new favorite book. It's a beautiful story and the narrator was absolutely perfect.

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Contender for favorite of all time

‘The Secret Life of Bees’ is now a contender for my favorite novel of all time, right up there with Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’ and Barbara Kingsolver’s ‘The Poisonwood Bible’. And Jenna Lamia is absolutely amazing as narrator of this audio edition! I can’t imagine anyone else reading it so perfectly. Highly recommended!

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