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Welcome to WELL REaD, the reading blog of the Niles West High School IRC. We want to hear what our students and staff have to say about books. To comment about anything you read here, click on the comment link at the bottom of the post.
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18 comments:
In The Secret Life of Bees, Lily Owens is always harshly punished by her father. She is forced to kneel on grits and other types of painful materials when she makes mistakes her father doesn't approve of. Lily gets sick of how she is being treated after her mother's death, so she runs away with her stand-in mother, Rosaleen. They both live in a honey maker's home to be safe from Lily's father and to find out more about Lily's mother.
I think it was the right thing for Lily to run away from her home. She had more freedom and she was treated much better at the new location; the African American women were very nice and caring. They made an impact on Lily's life because they made her feel more at home. Lily learned many new things, like about Black Mary and how to take cares of bees and make honey. Everything she did at their house was much better than what she did at her own home (selling peaches, and being restricted), which is why at the end, she refused to go back with her father. I am glad she stayed with the boatwright’s. :)
Tiffany Trinh
In The Secret Life of Bees I feel really bad for Rosaleen. All she wanted to do was register to vote, and she ended up getting really badly injured. I cannot imagine being taken to jail and then having the police officer who took me there watch as people hurt me. It's so sad. But at the same time, sometimes I agree with Lily and wish that Rosaleen had some manners. When she was walking into town to register she could have ignored the three men, but she had to pour her snuff juice on their shoes. I also agree that she can be kind of embarrassing because she doesn't have good manners. Like the time Rosaleen and Lily were talking about June and Neil and Rosaleen didn't try to hide the fact that they were talking about them. Rosaleen could have better manners, but I still really like her, she is an interesting character.
Allie Coursey
One part that really touched me in "The Secret Life of Bees” is when Zack and Lily are talking, and Zack says, "Lily, I like you better than any girl I've ever known, but you have to understand, there are people who would kill boys like me for even looking at girls like you". (pg135) I thought how painful it must be for them to have that between them. Lily talks about always wanting what she can't have. She wants a sign of her mothers love, Zack, and even love from T-ray. In the end she realizes that she isn't missing a mother, and in fact she has more than one. She and Zack also see that they want to make changes in the world and want one day to be together. As for T-ray, Lily debates on whether he ever cares about her; she wants him to love her. Everyone she has met on her journey helped solved the mystery of her mother, and helped shape her into the girl she has become.
(Tracy A)
In The Secret Life of Bees, I am so proud of Lily when she leaves T-Ray and breaks Rosaleen out of the hospital/jail. That takes so much courage and I think it is great the she just took off and tried to figure out more about her mom. The way August and the sisters take in Lily and Rosaleen was really sweet. I really want Zach and Lily to be together because two people of opposite races that are attracted to each other was not something that happened back then so they could change things by being together.
Michelle P.
In The Secret Life of Bees, Lily is faced with so many problems that she seems to over come at such a young age. I dont believe at 15 I could have broken anyone out of jail, run away from my home, work for strangers, and fall in love. Lily is like the little girl in all of us. She doesnt understand everything but is a strong powerful young lady. The relationships she forms with each character in the book is something that people in real life should take in to consideration. Lily likes them for who they are and what is inside of them. She gets to really know and understand each person which is something everyone should do.
McKenzie Gacki
in the secret life of bees, may is a very complex character. she feels the pain of others as if it is happening ot her as well as them. this makes it so hard for her to live life happily and peacefully. her sisters, as well as lily and rosaleen do their best to keep her happy and emotionally intact, but theres always a little thing to send her over the edge. shes the kind and gentle person i nthe story who has her heart on the outside of her chest for all the world to hurt. in the end, the world and all its sadness and hurt becomes too much for may. shes a very special character for whom i felt alot of empathy for. she tried hard to life a normal life, but losing her sister changed her drastically, and she just couldnt be the same girl after that. you cna see how much her sisters love her because of the way they accomadate to her needs and go out of their way to make her happy (like august painting the house a bright pink that may loved). she has am impact on lily by giving her love and nurturing in the simplest way and giving her a clue about whaty kind of person her mother was.
olivia coss
Lily Owens is a girl full of mysterious questions. Why does her father despise her? How did her mother die and what was she all about? Why is she ignored by all the other girls? She tries to answer these questions as best she can and finally decides to take a stand. After years of trying to win over her father's affection, she packs her things and leaves follwing a town name on a back of a card that used to be her mother's. Desperate for answers, Lily travels with her nanny, Rosaleen, to the town hoping that someone would know her mother and give her some sense of who her mom was. All her life Lily wanted to fill that motherless space in her chest and she's determined on getting her answers to her questions.
Erika E.
In the Secret Life of Bees, Lily Owens has a brave heart. She goes out of her way for survival but doesn't put herself first. I was extremely impressed when she gained the courage to just runaway and leave T.Ray wondering what happen. But on her way to Tiburon, she helps rosaleen escape trouble and has her accompany her on this "journey". I would been terrified not knowing whats going to happen, where i'm going to stay. I was happy to see that August and her sisters were kind enough to help her without even knowing her. Lily Owens had mentioned a question, about how she wondered if T.Ray was pacing on the wood floors or if Mary was taking her place and he didn't notice her gone? It would have been interesting to see T.Ray respond to the situation after lily being away for some time and him having no clue.
Jenilee Rojo
when i started to read this book it surpsrised me how T Ray treated Lily and i thought that no girl should be treated like that. I thought when her housekeeper Rasoleen was sent to jail and beaten up and sent to the hospital, was very unfair and it was brave of Lily to go get her and hep her escape. The thing that touched me the most was when August accepted Lily into her home and making her feel like a daughter. This book was very intense and really really good.
This book i think was based on loyalty and friendship because Lily no matter what happened was always there for Rasoleen and helped her through everything in spite that she was white and Rosy was black. August was a great friend in giving Lily and rosy a place to stay and She was very helpful with taking care of them. The end surprised me how T Ray let Lily stay with August.
I really enjoyed reading “The Secret Life of Bees”. I think this book is insightful and brings up many things that are not often spoken of. Seeing Lily’s life through her eyes, and reading of her life style shows how hard it is to find out the truth of matters. She was on a mission to learn about her mother, and what she was about. She wanted to know if she loved her or if she was just as bad as T-ray. I really liked all the characters because they each were so unique and individual in their morals and beliefs. Meeting people along her run away, Lily begins to find herself, and experience feelings she has never felt. After finishing this novel I could only imagine her success in the future, and that she becomes the writer she’s always wanted to be. One of my favorite things in the novel was the wall that May stuffed letters/prayers into, I thought it was very fascinating.
(Tracy A)
I loved the book The Secret Life of Bees because it brought so much emotion to me just reading it. August and the sisters were so good to Lily and Rosaleen and how they let them stay with them was generous. I believe Lily grew so much throughout the book with her views on the world and how there is racism. In the end Lily lived with a black family, and kissed and went to school with a black boy and saw how other white people viewed her. I think she is very strong to stand up to T-Ray the way she did and in the end was happy where she was. Lily discovered the mystery of her mother and I think she was very happy that she lived with the people that her mom grew up with which means a lot to her. I would recommend this book to everyone because it is amazing.
Michelle
one memorable moment in the secret life of bees is the final confrontation between t ray and lily. lily made the mistake of making a collect callfrom the lawyers office so t ray was able to find out where she was by looking at the phone bill and seeing where the call came from. when liliy answers the door, t ray is there and was every intention of taking her hom kicking and screaming. liliy resists, stating that he cant push her around anymore and that she is staying with rosaleen in the pink house. during their arguement, you get a glimpse of how t ray associates liliy leaving him with his wife trying to leave him all those years ago. he doesnt want to let her go, because that makes him feel like he couldnt control her, just like he couldnt control her mother. in the end, t ray lets go and leaves, and in some samll way,shows liliy that he loves her
olivia c.
I really liked this book. I would recommend this book to anyone. Some parts of the book were a little bit predictable, like I knew Zack and Lily would end up liking each other. But some parts of this book really surprised me, like I didn't really think Lily killed her mom. My most favorite character was August. She was really nice to Lily, and it made me happy for Lily. The character I least liked was June, but in the end she became nice. I was so happy when T-Ray came and told Lily she could stay with the Boatwrights. This book was very interesting, I think everyone should read this.
I really enjoyed reading The Secret Life of Bees. I felt bad for Lily in the beginning because she was treated so badly by her father. When she ran away, I was scared that the police or her father would find her leaving with Rosaleen. I really liked how the Boatwrights were so welcoming; they were kind enough to allow two complete strangers stay at their home. When Lily and Rosaleen first stayed there, I agreed that Rosaleen should have been a little more respectful; she burped loudly and spit. Lily felt that she had no manners, but Rosalern didn't know what to act like around others.
I really liked when Lily and Zach had a crush on eachother; it was nice to see that Lily was not racist like most of the white folks back at her home. I also loved when he gave her a journal to write her stories in, it was very thoughtful of him. They got along very well and they promised eachother they would be together after he went to school. When Zach was put in jail, I assumed that Lily would immediately go and break him out, just like what she did with Rosaleen, but I knew it would have been difficult.
After becoming familiar with the Boatwright sisters, I felt bad when May killed herself. I already felt bad that she was different from everyone else because she made everyone's problems hers and suffered because of it. It was sweet how she thought of her sister's from her death note; she said that they should live their life to the fullest without her keeping them from it. Even though she put herself out of misery, it was still sad that she chose to kill herself.
In the end, when Lily's dad found her, I was terrified. I thought he was going to bring her back home and ruin her life by torturing her daily. He seemed very scary though because he brought out his knife to frighten his own daughter. At that moment, I thought he would try and kill her, but I was glad that Rosaleen and August stepped in to defend Lily. I was also very surprised that her father left and allowed Lily to stay with August and June.
Tiffany T.
I'm so glad I was told to read this book. It truely is one of my favorites. Learning Lily's emotional story was so touching. After being so filled with doubt and uncertainty about her life and where she came from, it was a relief for her to finally find out the truth. After all the torture she had faced and expirencing all the hostility from her father she found happiness. She developed a sense of peace within herself knowing that her mother loved her, along with finding love from Zach and the calendar sisters. The book was written so well with details that really captivated the moment and put you there. I actually ended up renting the movie the night I finished the book and, even though the movie was a bit off, I was able to watch it knowing everything Lily was thinking when she did something. I laughed out loud and even cried while reading this book. I only hope to wish that Lily continued on to become a writer and be together with Zach. Even through the deaths and unfortunate events, this book still had a happy ending.
I think The Secert Life Of Bees was an excellent book. It's plot is realistic for many people today. Lily amazed me with her determination for survival. She wanted to know everything about her mother and nothing was going to stop her. Althoug, T.ray was a major distraction. He was brutal, hostile, and it almost seemed like he didn't love her. I was amazed and happy that August took Lily and Rosaleen in. And i'm glad that Lily was able to put the pieces together with the picture of the black mary, almost as if her mother left it for her as a hint for escape for the future. It was nice to see everything work out in the end, how Lily now had a male figure to love her, and how June finally gave in to marrying niel and became a better person. The book was closed in a beautful way with happiness and a raod of success for Lily.
Jenilee Rojo
The Secret Life of Bees was very enjoyable to read. I read about half of it in one sitting. It got me so into it that I didnt want to stop. I never would have thought it would end the way it did. I thought from the very beginning that T. Ray would find her and take her back home. The way she described her feelings for Zach was very adorable but it was also sad to see them in a situation where they had to hide how they liked each other because of their skin color. I enjoyed the book so much that I rented the movie too after I finished reading the novel. Although the movie was a little bit different, much of the main events were the same. The worst part was actually seeing the effects those grits had on Lily's knees. They were bruised and would bleed and in the movie you can see that clearly. I would say my most favorite part of the book was when Neil asked June for the hundreth time for her to marry him and then when she finally said yes, he thought she was fooling him. I also really liked the part where Zach told Lily that he will find her when they get older and they will be together. I recommend this book to anyone!
Charlene Vidican
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