The Mermaid Chair

Ick...Don't waste your time unless you are a woman having a mid-life crisis and feel the need to cheat on your husband to get over it. I didn't feel the characters or their big life-altering problems that they were supposed to be having. I have heard that The Secret Life of Bees, however, is worth reading.

Kidd ruined a potentially great modern-day version of Chopin's "Awakening" by pretentiously talking down to the reader.

Don't waste your time.

I didn't like this nearly as much as The Secret Life of Bees, but it might be an age thing-- the book is really dealing a lot with a middle-aged women sort of coming to terms with what she has done in her life.

I'm one of those crazy people who liked this one better than The Secret Life of Bees. Yes, the protagonist consistently displayed dubious moral judgment, but that's part of what makes this novel so amazing! I loved being sucked in by her flawed reasoning and was charmed by her very real desire to discover an independent life outside of her husband and child. She experiences what is the equivalent of a the typical male mid-life crisis, on a female level -- and if you can manage to step off your personal moral high-horse for a couple of hours, you'll enjoy accompanying her on the journey.

I loved this book. Women going through midlife changes would really identify with the issues presented in this book.

I bought this book when I went with my mother to go hear Sue Monk Kidd speak. Let me tell you, she speaks as eloquently as she writes. She's also just as witty. After hearing her speak, I realized that a lot of her personality comes through in her writing. Her amazing writing.

She spoke of how she felt The Mermaid Chair was going to be often compared to The Secret Life of Bees and maybe wouldn't be able to live up to the high praise it's earned so far. She also worried about the characters being too similar. I don't think Sue has anything to worry about. The only thing the two books have in common is the author's writing... a beautiful, flowing and engaging style.

I think I like Sue's style so much because it has the right amount of description for things, her dialogue is realistic, and when you think about it her stories seem so outlandish, but when reading it you can see it actually happening. Her writing is also very eloquent and deep, but fun and witty at the same time.

There are no characters in The Mermaid Chair that are reminiscent of any in The Secret Life of Bees, and specifically what Kidd was worried about was people might roll there eyes at another pack of strong female characters taking presidence in the book. I didn't and don't see any problem in that. We need as many strong literary female characters as we can get. And these women, that you grow to love, are as strong as they come.

The way the love story was written out was also so wonderful. You find yourself feeling for Jessie's dilemna of being in love with two men. Kidd doesn't write it so you're leaning towards one man over the other (well, you may be, but it's honestly hard to choose) because both men are so likeable and good-looking and genuinely care for Jessie. And though Hugh is the only one painted as having any flaws, they're pointed out to us by Jessie who, after twenty years of marriage, has come to find some things he does annoying, which she later comes to realize (and we know) are more endearing.

Personally, I liked The Secret Life of Bees over The Mermaid Chair because I just found that one more interesting... but The Mermaid Chair was just as engaging and well-written as it's predecessor. It's really up to you to choose which one you like better. The Mermaid Chair definitely holds it's own.

A beautiful and compelling book that discusses the nature of both erotic and spiritual love. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

I'd hate to donate this to the library and inadvertently influence in someone else the disappointed I experienced from this book, I regret buying it!

good read. Sad but true to life situations. Sometimes you just can't help who you fall in love with.

So far, so good. Can't wait to find out what develops between the married woman and the good-looking monk! Brain Candy, indeed.