Sunday 12 January 2014

The Secret Life of Bees



I have struggled to think of something to blog about and finally it hit me. Before Christmas I was pointed towards The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (thank you, Deb).

I’d never heard of it, nor had I heard of the film of the book. But it was one of those novels that as soon as I started reading, I just knew I was going to love it. I couldn’t put it down and when I finished it, I was so disappointed – that it had to end.

What a lovely book, brimming with real characters that you can see and hear. I will take character over plot any day, but this book has both. I shan’t summarise it here as I’m not great at reviewing books, but you can read more about it on Amazon.

It has certainly rekindled my love of reading which has been dwindling in recent months. It is the quickest I’ve read anything in a long time.

And I love bees. Once a swarm of honey bees descended on our house and set up shop in the firethorn in the front garden. A local beekeeper collected them – he got them to move into a box which took a few hours. He said it was a big swarm with up to 50,000 bees.

I’m reading currently reading a book about a bird flu pandemic hm! Not a good choice when I have a cold, sore throat and cough!!

* * *  

I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who left messages here and also emailed and sent personal messages about Indy. I was completely overwhelmed by your kindness. It is sadly something we all go through and it never gets easier. It was a blog post I had dreaded writing, but knew the day would come and I knew in my heart before Christmas that we didn’t have long.


We had a card from our vet, Tom in which he said Indy was one of the gentlest dogs he’d ever had the privilege to treat. What a lovely tribute to him.


32 comments:

  1. Aww, feel better soon, Teresa.xxx
    Licks from T&T
    Lovely card from Tom (HUGS)

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    1. Thank you Pat and please give Tim 'n' Ted an extra big cuddle from me x

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  2. Bees are nice little things - and very useful of course. The book sounds good too. I'll put it on my list, which is long despite reading a couple of books a week.

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    1. Yes put it on your list, Patsy, I know you'll enjoy it x

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  3. I've recently read Small Island and To Kill a Mockingbird, both of which cover racial tensions at that time. This theme seems to be very popular at the moment. I have a few other books to read first, but may come back to this theme in the future. Lovely to hear from you again Teresa.

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    1. One of my favourite books, Maggie - To Kill a Mockingbird. I liked Small Island too x

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  4. Thanks for the tip Teresa. I'm hooked on M.C. Beaton books at the moment. I'm reading 'The Adventuress' in A House for the Season series. It's funny and quick to read.

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    1. My husband enjoys M C Beaton - perhaps I should give her a try too x

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  5. To me there is nothing more lovely than to hear the happy buzz of a bee as it flits from one flower to another. It's as if its humming away to itself content in its own little world!

    Hugs on the cold, Teresa. Maybe you should read another book for now! And how lovely that Tom sent you a card. Caroline x

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    1. There is something very calming about buzzing bees isn't there and it's the sound of summer sunshine I think x

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  6. Hope this finds you feeling better, Teresa. Ah bees. Immediate thoughts of summer. Not long now. Well I can dream can't I. :o) xx

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    1. Summer is in sight, Sue - even if it's off in the distance! Keep dreaming x

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  7. I loved this book too, Teresa. I once had a swarm of bees fly into my house... I ran out the front door screaming!

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    1. I would have been terrified if they'd come in the house too x

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  8. Great to see you blogging again, Teresa. I love bees. What would our gardens be without them? How about some lemon, glycerine and honey for that cold? Rx

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    1. Thanks, Rena. I've had some lemon, glycerine and honey this morning and I must say it eased the cough a bit - wish I'd tried it sooner x

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  9. What a lovely tribute to Indy from your vet, Teresa. Words like that are a great comfort during sad times like this.
    I read The Secret Life Of Bees last year and I love it too. It's a beautiful book and the gorgeous characters, including the amazing bees themselves, come alive from the first page. I would be interested in seeing the film, but I think I loved the book too much to want to picture it any differently.

    Look after yourself, Teresa, and get well soon. xx

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    1. It made me cry all over again, Joanna, but in a nice way because it was a comfort to know that Indy was special to them at the surgery too.

      I would lke to see the film, but I don't think it can be as good as the book x

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  10. I am glad that you found something positive while you are grieving. I have never looked inside this book, although I saw it in the bookshop the other day. I'll take a look now, it sounds interesting.

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    1. Thanks, Jenny. I'm sure you'd enjoy the book x

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  11. Lovely to see you back blogging, Teresa - Indy will always live on in this blog. I loved The Secret Lives of Bees which I read a few years ago. I also loved another of her books, The Mermaid Chair - and I can't find either on my shelves at the moment! Would like to re-read both.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary. I plan to read The Mermaid Chair soon. I know I will want to read the Bees book again x

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  12. I must look that book up - it sounds great! Nice to see you back Teresa! Keep on keeping on and entertaining us. I really love your blog - its so heart-warming and sincere.

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    1. What a lovely thing to say, thank you, Pat x

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  13. I've not read that one Teresa, I will look it up as I'll soon be finished my current read, A Matter of Blood, by Sarah Pinborough, a supernatural crime which I'm enjoying, even if a little 'gory' in places. So something lighter will be a refreshing change.

    Thank you.

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    1. That sounds interesting, Maria, I'll look it up! I don't think I've ever read a supernatural crime and it's always good to try new things isn't it x

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  14. A book I want to read having read your blog Teresa. I haven't done as much reading this month though have lots of books to enjoy from Christmas still. This will be added to the list. The tribute from your vet for Indy was really lovely. We lost Theo, my late sister's Old English Sheep dog on 15th December. He was old for the breed and had had a good life since we rescued him from my nephew's dubious care. In the end, James got to see him regularly and my other sister had the company of a dog she said could talk to her, for the last six months. I'm not sure he could talk but he was a character! LOL! X

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear about Theo. It sounds as if his last few months were happy ones though and I think it's so nice when you can keep them in the family when they lose their own loved ones. I bet he could talk - and they are wonderful company aren't they x

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  15. I loved that book, Teresa, and have just read her latest (The Invention of Wings) for Amazon. It's just as good - do read it!

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    1. I'm going to, Frances! But I'm going to have to ration myself and keep something to look forward to x

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  16. How lovely of your vet to send a card: a tribute to a very special dog. Take care.xxx

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    1. Thanks, Lydia - it was very moving. He'd written a lot more besides and the card is something I will always keep x

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