The Secret Life of Bees

“I hadn't been out to the hives before, so to start off she gave me a lesson in what she called ‘bee yard etiquette'. She reminded me that the world was really one bee yard, and the same rules work fine in both places. Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don't be an idiot; wear long sleeves and pants. Don't swat. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates while whistling melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.”

When I arrived on the Goodreads page for The Secret Life of Bees, I was amused to find that I'd marked it as ‘want to read' eleven years previously. It was worth the wait. This was a well paced, easy read, touching on themes of racism, motherhood, the power of female community, and the divine feminine.

As a beekeeper I was always going to be somewhat biased towards this book so it will come as no surprise that I absolutely loved it, particularly the way that facts about bees and beekeeping folklore mingled with the storytelling throughout. Sue Kidd's writing is dreamy, almost fairy tale esque, and does a fantastic job of evoking the heat and tension of the American south in the sixties.

Another five star read. What a month!