5 Minutes For Books

Secret Life of Bees, Special Edition, with Giveaway

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I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but I love giving books as gifts. There are a few ways to take giving a book up a notch:

  • Select the perfect book. Fans of the total blockbuster The Help will love The Secret Life of Bees. That book convinced people who are generally non-readers to read! If that’s the case, it’s unlikely that they’ve read The Secret Life of Bees. Synopsis from the publisher: This is the story of Lily Owens, a girl who has shaped her life around one devastating memory—the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Besides her harsh and unyielding father, Lily’s only real companion is Rosaleen, a tender, but fierce-hearted black woman who cooks, cleans and acts as her “stand-in mother.”

    One summer afternoon in 1964 in South Carolina—a place and time of seething racial divides—violence explodes and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten. Lily is desperate, not only to save Rosaleen, but to flee from a life she can no longer endure. Calling upon her youthful daring, she breaks Rosaleen out of jail and the two escape, into what quickly becomes Lily’s quest for the truth about her mother’s life.

    They are taken in by three black, beekeeping sisters, May, June, and August, and Lily is consumed by their secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Lily’s journey is one of painful secrets and shattering betrayals but it is a passage that ultimately helps her find the thing her heart longs for most.

    In a strong, irresistible voice that catches us up and doesn’t let us go, The Secret Life of Bees takes us into a world apart— into a mesmerizing story about the divine power of women and the ability of love to change one’s life.

  • Give them a favorite book in a new form. I often suggest audiobooks as an entirely new way to experience a favorite book, but a collectible version such as this The Secret Life of Bees 10 anniversary special edition would definitely replace the dog-eared paperback in their collection (and the price is great!).
  • Make a themed gift pack. What about including this beautiful version with a jar of honey and some nice tea (because books and tea go so well together)? Or maybe even the DVD of the movie version?
  • If one book is good, several is better. Why not upsize the gift of the novel with another novel by the same author (or in the same theme). I appreciated Sue Monk Kidd’s bestselling novel more after reading Traveling with Pomegranates, a memoir where she discusses the origins of the book (as well as some great mother/daughter stuff). This much less well-known book would go great with the anniversary edition of Secret Life of Bees.

Have you ever given or received a book in a creative way? I’d love to know.

I’d also love to know your thoughts on the anniversary of this book. Have you read it and loved it? Did you miss the boat and look forward to reading it now?

Leave a comment, and you’ll be entered to win a copy. We’ll announce the winner January 4. The giveaway is closed.

Jennifer Donovan is so happy to be able to share fun books like these with you. She also blogs at Snapshot.

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Comments

  1. Yes, I missed the boat. Maybe I wasn’t reading your blog yet at the time. Now i want to watch the movie, read the book and maybe the memoir as well.
    Thank you.

  8. I have only read good things about this lovely book! I appreciate the opportunity to win your
    special giveaway…
    “Happy Holidays!”
    Many thanks, Cindi

  10. I have read it, and really enjoyed it. I borrowed it from the library, and would love to have my own, gorgeous Anniversary copy!

    Thanks!

  11. I once gave a gift of a book along with a cuddly blanket to curl up with when she read the book. I missed the boat on this book and have never read it but I would love to have the chance to read it!

  13. I don’t think I’ve done anything especially creative with a book gift, but I like the idea! I read The Secret Life of Bees when it was first published. It is one of my all time favorites! I loved the movie, too 🙂
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

  15. I have heard great thing about THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. I did miss the boat, but now I am on board.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  16. This book is on my TBR list. I have heard good things about both the book and the movie.

    I like to give books in a creative way…usually in a basket with a bottle of wine and some bubble bath…put all three together and you have a little bit of heaven on earth!
    I always give a bookmark of some kind with my gift books too.
    Have a Happy!

  17. I love The Secret Life of Bees! I read it about 4 years ago and then had to see the movie with Dakota Fanning. I fell in love with Alicia Keys in this movie. I then went on to read The Mermaid Chair. This year, I book talked The Secret Life of Bees to the theater students who had to read and perform a book for a class project. Mrs. Fuller, who had also read the book, asked me if I thought Lily killed her mother. She thinks so, but I’m not so sure. Anyway, hope to win! Thanks for listening! Deri

  25. Heard excellent things about this book but have not had a chance to read it. Thanks for the chance to do so.

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