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Title: I tried...
Review: The Secret Life of Bees was a wonderful, beautifully nuanced work of modern fiction, blending Southern gothic with mysticism and a modern look at the dynamics of family. This novel was, despite my best efforts to see otherwise, a somewhat beautiful mess. I applaud her effort, but to me, the characters never rose above the level of facile caricature, and at times I almost laughed aloud at the silliness of both the style and dialogue. Here's hoping the next is better. This author is truly gifted, but this novel is a well-intentioned flop.
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