The Mysterious Life of Birds

The novel “The Secret Life of Bees” by American writer Sue Monk Kidd was published in 2002 and immediately became a bestseller. The novel depicts the process of spiritual formation of a teenager - a theme that, thanks to Jerome Salinger and Harper Lee, has a rich tradition in American literature. Fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, whose mother accidentally died in early childhood, tells her story. Together with a black servant, Lily runs away from home to escape her father’s despotism. She experiences loneliness, learns the truth about her mother, and, finally, after falling into the family of humane and wise beekeepers, finds spiritual peace. An interesting plot, psychologism, and original symbolism make the novel especially attractive.