Journal Entry 1 by siriradha from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Wednesday, January 07, 2004

Paperback. Liked this book so much that I bought another to share through bookcrossing!
From the Publisher
Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh, unyielding father, Lily Owens has shaped her entire life around one devastating, blurred memory - the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Since then, her only real companion has been the fierce-hearted, and sometimes just fierce, black woman Rosaleen, who acts as her "stand-in mother."
When Rosaleen insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily knows it's time to spring them both free. They take off in the only direction Lily can think of, toward a town called Tiburon, South Carolina - a name she found on the back of a picture amid the few possessions left by her mother.

There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters named May, June, and August. Lily thinks of them as the calendar sisters and enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Maternal loss and betrayal, guilt and forgiveness entwine in a story that leads Lily to the single thing her heart longs for most. 

Journal Entry 2 by siriradha at on Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Released on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at N/A in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailed to first bookring member.
Secret Life of Bees BookRing #2
Mlbish IL no international
Ladybug01 VA
Tabby90 NC--has since dropped out of ring; skip her
Cyberkedi GA
loves2readalot FL
Epopp CA
Jamesmum CA
Kellyhp TX
Glasgowgal Glasgow UK
Fuji Australia
Buzzgirl Canada
Rhythmbiscuit CO
Ghaweyn CO leave her last so she can bring to meetings.
 

Journal Entry 3 by mlbish from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, January 22, 2004

Received yesterday. Thanks, siriradha! I can tell from the way you taped up the book that you are a bookring *expert*! I never would have thought of that. This is perfect timing because I finished the one I have been reading last night. I will pass this one along promptly. 

Journal Entry 4 by mlbish from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, January 23, 2004

I finished this book last night, and it was great! It was so poignant and, well, for lack of a better word, thoughtful. I thought the author did a great job of capturing the emotions the characters would and should have. One of my favorite bits was on maybe the second page of the book. Lily was thinking about what she'd do when she saw her mother in heaven. And she said she'd spend the second 10,000 years having her mother fix her hair. I just thought that was so insightful. I never really thought about it, but it's true that a girl without a mother would really feel that lacking in her life.

Thanks, siriradha, for sharing that touching, beautiful book with us!


I pm'ed Ladybug01 so I can pass it on to her. 

Journal Entry 5 by mlbish from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, January 29, 2004

Mailed on to Ladybug01. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 6 by Ladybug01 on Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Got this from the mailbox Friday evening---just in time for weekend reading! I thought this book was well written with beautiful language, with great characters. Liked the strong coming of age journey for Lily. Looking forward to my bookclub reading this together later in the year.
Will send this to Cyberkedi next.

Thanks, siriradha, for sharing this book. 

Journal Entry 7 by Cyberkedi from Atlanta, Georgia USA on Thursday, February 19, 2004

Just received this as part of a book ring. I started reading it, and next thing I knew I had put away two chapters. The characters are very human and very alive. I really feel as if I have been transported to South Carolina in the mid 1960s. 

Journal Entry 8 by Cyberkedi from Atlanta, Georgia USA on Thursday, March 04, 2004

This is such a wonderful book! I had a hard time putting it down. The characters are so vivid, so human. It is a great affirmation of the power of women and how we all have inner strength upon which we can draw in difficult times.

I highly recommend reading the interview that comes afterwards, as well as pondering the review questions.

Now to pass this on to the next reader in the Book Ring-- 

Journal Entry 9 by loves2readalot from Webster, Florida USA on Friday, March 12, 2004

Just recieved today. It is going to be read right away and passed on to the next in line.
Sent it to next in line. not my cup of tea. 

Journal Entry 10 by epopp from Berkeley, California USA on Thursday, March 25, 2004

Received from loves2readalot -- looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 11 by epopp from Berkeley, California USA on Monday, March 29, 2004

It's funny, my memory was that I signed up for a bookring for _Bee Season_, not _The Secret Life of Bees_! But I loved this book. Short but engrossing coming-of-age story about finding mothers (and oneself) in unlikely places. The strangest thing happened last night after finishing the book -- I found lying on the kitchen table a small black-and-white snapshot of a youngish woman, smiling, wearing a plaid wool coat, taken maybe in the 1950s. On the back is written in fountain pen, Mary Osborn Haye. I have no idea where it came from, or who it is. Could it have been in the book? What's it's story? A suitable end to the evening! 

Journal Entry 12 by epopp from Berkeley, California USA on Monday, March 29, 2004

On its way to Jamesmum... 

Journal Entry 13 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, March 30, 2004

It arrived today, and I plan to dive into it tonight. Thanks!

Finished the book today. I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would - the writing is crisp and fresh, and it wasn't as melancholy as I expected it to be. I'd just love to know how Lily's life turns out! Thanks for a good read. Off to KellyHP tomorrow.

4/7/04: Sent to KellyHP. Delivery Confirmation number 03040370000161171006 

Journal Entry 14 by AnonymousFinder on Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Received yesterday as part of a bookring. Looking forward to sinking myself into it this weekend.

CAUGHT IN SAN ANTONIO TX  

Journal Entry 15 by kellyhp from San Antonio, Texas USA on Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Received it in yesterday's mail. I plan to get started on it this weekend. 

Journal Entry 16 by kellyhp at Postal Release in San Antonio, Texas USA on Thursday, May 13, 2004

Release planned for Friday, May 14, 2004 at Postal Release in San Antonio, Texas USA.

I finished the book today. I absolutely loved it. The author's rhetorical technique is beautiful. This is an extremely moving novel and I am thankful I for the opportunity to read it. I will be mailing it off to Scotland to the next in line tomorrow.
*****************
I didn't end up getting to the post office to release this book until 5-19. It is being sent airmail to Scotland. Per post office should be there in 8-10 days. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 17 by BC-08041015142 on Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Received in the mail this morning. Thanks kellyhp!
:-) 

Journal Entry 18 by BC-08041015142 on Sunday, June 27, 2004

I finished reading this today and thought it was an enjoyable, if not entirely moving, read. It's a nice "coming of age" story, and the history and stories about bee-keeping really added an extra dimension to the book. The racial relations examined were also very interesting and opened my eyes to the history of 1950s America.

I was slightly disappointed that the writing didn't "move" me more, and in comparison to Maggie O'Farrell's "After You'd Gone" the "journey of life" story pales in comparison. I found it difficult to relate totally to the main characters, and didn't get quite as involved in the novel as I could have.

However, overall it was an interesting read. Thanks to siriradha for sharing this (I'm very impressed with your Bookring damage preventions! I'll definitely be copying that idea for the future)

:-)

 

Journal Entry 19 by BC-08041015142 at on Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Released on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 at BookRing in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Sent airmail to Buzzgirl
:-) 

Journal Entry 20 by buzzgirl from Dunnville, Ontario Canada on Friday, July 16, 2004

In my mailbox this morning YAY!!! Thanks for the beautiful postcard from Glasgowgal too! My mom's family is from Scotland, and I have got to go there...someday ; ) 

Journal Entry 21 by ghaweyn from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Friday, September 10, 2004

I will start this book today or tomorrow. Thanks for the opportunity. 

Journal Entry 22 by ghaweyn from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Monday, September 13, 2004

I really loved this book. Perhaps that's why it only took 3 days to read. I highly recommend this to others. I think it's good enough to be an Oprah Book, but without the intensity in subject matter. I will give the book back to its owner at the MeetUp. 

Journal Entry 23 by siriradha at Coffee Warehouse, 526 S Tejon in Colorado Springs, Colorado USA on Thursday, September 16, 2004

Released 7 yrs ago (9/14/2004 UTC) at Coffee Warehouse, 526 S Tejon in Colorado Springs, Colorado USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I received my book, home from it's long trip, and released it again at the meeting.