Sunday, February 18, 2007
Book Club Food: The Secret Life of Bees
The premise of Secret Life of Bees is pretty simple, so there isn't much need for plot explanation. One of the nice touches of the book, though, is that it's peppered with superstition about bees and honey, of which there is much given their complicated lives and societies. It seems that to properly care for bees, one must have a little faith and a little mysticism to truly understand their nature, both insect and tribal.
Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a beekeeping book, introducing the theme for that chapter's human drama. It seems bees have long been associated with the crossing point between life and death, messengers that understand something about what we are not yet ready to see. In essence, by looking into the tiny world of bees, we learn to take the leaps of faith necessary to be at peace with our own lives and losses. In honor of that literary conceit, my favorite feature of the book, here is my own bee story.
When our 21-year-old dauschund Max died, my family reeled from the loss of our friend who was so much a part of our lives. He'd been a constant companion to anyone doing anything in his little kingdom, watching the world from one of his many beds with his expressive eyes and telling you all about it in his doggie-speak. Mom talked to him about everything while she did her chores. He sat with me in my long hours at the computer, sometimes 16 a day, building the family business. He kept Dad company in the yard, and supervised Joshua's homework. He was precise in his schedule down to the minute. By the time he became our "Little Old Man" it was only natural that we'd care for the end of his life as any other family member. Everything revolved around Max, which could be incredibly frustrating since you never really knew how to help or what he'd need. Eventually, it was just his time, and when he passed away, I couldn't stop thinking that I should have done more.
A couple of days later, in an incredibly vivid dream, I saw Max sitting on his pillow in the dining room. I was so happy to see him again, that I scooped him up and ran to put him in the sunniest spot of the yard, under our giant philodendron and next to a pretty group of wild lilies. The sun was so warm I could feel it. I told Max I loved him and that how ever many times he wanted to go out in the garden, that was fine with me. He looked at me with his sweet little eyes, like he understood and always had. Suddenly, a bee came between us and started circling him. I tried to get closer, but the bee was guarding him. More bees joined the circle and I called for Max, who looked at me contentedly but a little sad. I grew so panicked trying to reach him that I woke myself up crying.
I was so disturbed by the dream that I wrote a group of INFJ's I chat with online about it. As an English major, I'm usually pretty good at picking out symbolism in dreams, but I couldn't figure out the bees, because they seemed so threatening but hadn't hurt him. Then one of my friends wrote to say bees had often appeared in legends about saints, hovering over bodies that were "sweet". I was so comforted by that thought that I was able to let my guilt of not "saving" him go.
Incidentally, if you found my story too sentimental, dramatic, emotional, overly personifying of animals, or sacreligious, you will probably not enjoy The Secret Life of Bees, because it's all of the above. My only beef with it was that it was yet another book featuring the voice of a 14 year old (you'll that our next book was as well) who was preternaturally wise (though her emotional state was right on) with an accepting attitude towards the world that seemed anachronistic (ditto with the next book). Nevertheless, it was enjoyable and a good summer read. It's also a good excuse to have an old fashioned Southern themed book club meeting!
Food Mentioned in the Book:
Quaker oats
Blackberry jelly
peaches
chicken
grits*
buttered bread
graham crackers & marshmallows*
angel food cake & milk
red Jell-O
sweet potatoes
cataloupes*
barbeque pork and Coke
honey*
orangeade
raspberry tea & biscuits
banana everything
pancakes
ice cream cone
corn
bologna sandwiches
green Kool-Aid ice cubes
sliced tomatoes
3-tiered chocolate cake
pork chop sandwich & slaw
orange juice
grape juice
banana cream pie
Mary Day cakes* - small 1 layer cakes drizzled with honey
Rice Krispies, milk, and raisins
PB sandwiches
corn fritters
tomato sandwiches
hot dogs
coffee
Menus in the book:
in addition to the food mentioned above
fried okra, pork chops, fresh tomatoes, and sweet tea
sliced ham, fried chicken, deviled eggs, green beans, turnips, macaroni & cheese, and caramel cake
smothered chicken, rice & gravy, butter beans, sliced tomatoes, biscuits, coke and peanuts
Recipes in the book:
Manna*
Equal amounts of the following:
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Pomegranate seeds
Salt the mixture (or choose salted seeds). Drizzle in honey until just sticky, but not large clumps. Spread on a baking tray and bake until just brown.
Candlestick Salad*
Turn banana upright in a pineapple slice and add a maraschino cherry on top
Our menu:
fried chicken
biscuits
deviled eggs
green beans & almonds
tomato salad
rice & gravy
banana pudding
We also served a honey margarita, similar to this recipe.
Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a beekeeping book, introducing the theme for that chapter's human drama. It seems bees have long been associated with the crossing point between life and death, messengers that understand something about what we are not yet ready to see. In essence, by looking into the tiny world of bees, we learn to take the leaps of faith necessary to be at peace with our own lives and losses. In honor of that literary conceit, my favorite feature of the book, here is my own bee story.
When our 21-year-old dauschund Max died, my family reeled from the loss of our friend who was so much a part of our lives. He'd been a constant companion to anyone doing anything in his little kingdom, watching the world from one of his many beds with his expressive eyes and telling you all about it in his doggie-speak. Mom talked to him about everything while she did her chores. He sat with me in my long hours at the computer, sometimes 16 a day, building the family business. He kept Dad company in the yard, and supervised Joshua's homework. He was precise in his schedule down to the minute. By the time he became our "Little Old Man" it was only natural that we'd care for the end of his life as any other family member. Everything revolved around Max, which could be incredibly frustrating since you never really knew how to help or what he'd need. Eventually, it was just his time, and when he passed away, I couldn't stop thinking that I should have done more.
A couple of days later, in an incredibly vivid dream, I saw Max sitting on his pillow in the dining room. I was so happy to see him again, that I scooped him up and ran to put him in the sunniest spot of the yard, under our giant philodendron and next to a pretty group of wild lilies. The sun was so warm I could feel it. I told Max I loved him and that how ever many times he wanted to go out in the garden, that was fine with me. He looked at me with his sweet little eyes, like he understood and always had. Suddenly, a bee came between us and started circling him. I tried to get closer, but the bee was guarding him. More bees joined the circle and I called for Max, who looked at me contentedly but a little sad. I grew so panicked trying to reach him that I woke myself up crying.
I was so disturbed by the dream that I wrote a group of INFJ's I chat with online about it. As an English major, I'm usually pretty good at picking out symbolism in dreams, but I couldn't figure out the bees, because they seemed so threatening but hadn't hurt him. Then one of my friends wrote to say bees had often appeared in legends about saints, hovering over bodies that were "sweet". I was so comforted by that thought that I was able to let my guilt of not "saving" him go.
Incidentally, if you found my story too sentimental, dramatic, emotional, overly personifying of animals, or sacreligious, you will probably not enjoy The Secret Life of Bees, because it's all of the above. My only beef with it was that it was yet another book featuring the voice of a 14 year old (you'll that our next book was as well) who was preternaturally wise (though her emotional state was right on) with an accepting attitude towards the world that seemed anachronistic (ditto with the next book). Nevertheless, it was enjoyable and a good summer read. It's also a good excuse to have an old fashioned Southern themed book club meeting!
Food Mentioned in the Book:
Quaker oats
Blackberry jelly
peaches
chicken
grits*
buttered bread
graham crackers & marshmallows*
angel food cake & milk
red Jell-O
sweet potatoes
cataloupes*
barbeque pork and Coke
honey*
orangeade
raspberry tea & biscuits
banana everything
pancakes
ice cream cone
corn
bologna sandwiches
green Kool-Aid ice cubes
sliced tomatoes
3-tiered chocolate cake
pork chop sandwich & slaw
orange juice
grape juice
banana cream pie
Mary Day cakes* - small 1 layer cakes drizzled with honey
Rice Krispies, milk, and raisins
PB sandwiches
corn fritters
tomato sandwiches
hot dogs
coffee
Menus in the book:
in addition to the food mentioned above
fried okra, pork chops, fresh tomatoes, and sweet tea
sliced ham, fried chicken, deviled eggs, green beans, turnips, macaroni & cheese, and caramel cake
smothered chicken, rice & gravy, butter beans, sliced tomatoes, biscuits, coke and peanuts
Recipes in the book:
Manna*
Equal amounts of the following:
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Pomegranate seeds
Salt the mixture (or choose salted seeds). Drizzle in honey until just sticky, but not large clumps. Spread on a baking tray and bake until just brown.
Candlestick Salad*
Turn banana upright in a pineapple slice and add a maraschino cherry on top
Our menu:
fried chicken
biscuits
deviled eggs
green beans & almonds
tomato salad
rice & gravy
banana pudding
We also served a honey margarita, similar to this recipe.
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