The Secret Life of Bees Review

I read the book first years before the movie myself. The book was a part of our city's 300th anniversary as a city wide reading program for adults. I cannot say whether or not it came off or not, but I hope so because the book was a good one.I have been noticing the book around, and decided that this was as good a time to read it which I did and found it an enjoyable read;  When I found out that the movie was coming out this past fall, I anxiously waited to see it, and took myself out one evening to do so. And though I found the film good, It stuck pretty close to the book itself; but was a bit dismayed that others didn't care for it. perhaps for the fact that it was a straight laced film without the clothes dropping and such. The story of a young motherless girl in 1964 South Carolina trying to find her place in a world already in turmoil is hard enough. but not perhaps to hold ones interest. One thing I really enjoyed was watching three African American sisters(May, June and August) live in their own home, have their own business(August-honey), have their own religion, and carve their own lives in such a troubled time. It was like what Lily said they were "cultured" on the other hand, I was truly feeling for the young girl in the story. No mother, carrying the guilt of her mother's death, believing that her mother wasn't coming back for her at all, oh, that is a lot to carry for such a young child. And the father just seemed to let the chips fall where they may and do the man thing.But in spite of that, Lily played by Dakota Fanning, seemed to be quite resilient to the fact that was her life and brave to leave and make her own life. The sister May played by Sophie Okonedo brought a poignancy to her role as May, who cooked the meals but was considered slow and carried burdens of her own. Jenifer Hudson played Lilys housekeeper Rosaleen, who decided to go to town and register to vote and met some harsh consequences of her own. All around, the film was good, enjoyable, entertaining and I got a copy that I still watch. Great for the family.