The secret Life of Bees
By Sue Monk Kidd
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lilly Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lilly’s fierce-hearted black “stand-in-mother,” Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lilly decided to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina – a town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lilly is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.
Secret Daughter
By Shilpi Somaya Gowda
On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian Village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favours sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter’s life is to give her away. It’s a decision that will hurt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.
Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Somer knows life will change with the adoption but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles.
Interchanging stories of Kavita, Somer and the child that bonds both of their destinies, secret daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood , loss, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families-one Indian, one American and the child that indelibly connects them.
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who’s always taken orders quietly, but lately she’s unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town…
Review
The Secret Life of Bees was at the top of my list because it was a feel good story targeting the power of the human spirit (yes I know that was cheesy but I couldn’t think of anything that described it better :p )
Rating ****
Secret Daughter was an amazing story beautify written and completely inspiring. It kept me up reading till late at night. I personally felt a strong connection with the characters but I think that most readers my age would find it difficult to get wrapped up in this book.
Rating ***1/2
The Help has to be one of my favourite books of the year for sure. Everybody loves to cheer for the underdog and the main character, Aibileen, takes us on this incredible journey with her. A Fabulous feel good story laced with humor and determination kept me wishing it wouldn’t end.
Rating ****1/2
These three books just scratch the surface of the number of books my mom and I have shared together over the years. Starting from when I was really little sitting on my mom’s lap listening to her as she read me some of my favourites likeGuess how much I love you, or Goodnight Moon, to now where we read in different rooms at different times, but our love of books is still shared through everyday conversation and constant casual book recommendations to each other.
Let me know what you think of these and send me some of your favourite mother daughter books!
Till next time,
~Novel Girl
It was the perfect book for my mom and I to read together as well. My dad and I watched the movie together but the book is always better!
I read The Help with my 13 year-old son. We both LOVED it!