Sue Monk Kidd - The Mermaid Chair

Pros: The power of Kidd's narrative

Cons: You'll have to wait a year for the next SMK book

The Bottom Line: Sue Monk Kidd's follow-up to The Secret Life of Bees is as good and better.

Review: ”Some say I fell from grace; they’re being kind. I didn’t fall—I dove. Within the unmapped pathways of the human heart there are byways upon which few among us would willingly choose to tread. Jessie Sullivan, perhaps, was one ...

Pros: Honest lives set in the islands off South Carolina dealing with love, religion and secrets

Cons: Keep a box of tissues on hand

The Bottom Line: The Mermaid Chair is a beautiful story of self lost and regained. I enjoyed it immensely.

Review: The Mermaid Chair Sue's Pre-Ramble I ordered The Mermaid Chair written by Sue Monk Kidd from the Book of the Month Club after listening to and enjoying her first novel, The Secret Life of Bees on audio ...

Pros: lots of philosophy, spirituality, interesting characters in the midst of changes

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: Much deeper than your average best-seller, makes us contemplate many aspects of our own lives.

Review: From the author of The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd hits another bestseller with The Mermaid Chair. It has the profound revelations and soul-searching qualities of the first novel with some new twists. Jessie must return to Egret Island (off ...

Pros: easy to read, beautiful descriptions, realistic characters

Cons: none at all!

Review: If you read "The Secret Life of Bees," you probably realized how much talent Sue Monk Kidd has. Her newest book, "The Mermaid Chair," does not disappoint. It is a fantastic book. It reads quickly, and emotionally impacts the reader. It is about a ...

Pros: Beautifully written, carries out Kidd's themes.

Cons: The legend is flawed, the ending unsatisfying.

The Bottom Line: When 4 stars means "above average"; I can give this book 4 stars. Kidd has more talent than this novel shows, however.

Review: Many opinions diverge on this, Sue Monk Kidd's second book. The Secret Life of Bees, her first, was a mega-hit and took the genre of "mystical fiction for women" by storm. Four years after the book was first published, it is still in the Top 30 ...

Pros: Rich imagery, great southern story, self-searching

Cons: Myth is pretty weak, but mermaids are a tough subject.

The Bottom Line: Although I'm not happy about this woman's ability to quickly have sex after meeting a man twice briefly, the story of a life of mourning and torment is well told.

Review: Although there is marital betrayal in this book, I liked it. A middle aged woman, still in her prime, believes that the gift she gave her father caused his death. For 33 years, she carries this guilt in her heart, and mother is too messed up to tell ...

Pros: Excellent character development and touching story.

Cons: None for me.

The Bottom Line: This is a wonderful tale of real life anguish and heartache. Anyone who has struggled to find themself at some point can relate.

Review: I was attracted to this book by Sue Monk Kidd because I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees. Her writing style is excellent and I looked forward to another of her tales. I was not disappointed by The Mermaid Chair. This captivating story of a ...

Pros: excellent characterizations, beautifully described locales in the South

Cons: occasionally stretches the limits of credibility

The Bottom Line: Although written with a female perspective, this book can help men to possibly realize what a woman of any age can experience.

Review: The Mermaid Chair is what would be classified as a Woman’s book but can still be read by men. In fact I would recommend that men read it as it gives us a bit of introspection as to what goes on inside a woman’s psyche and soul. Some parts ...

Pros: Interesting characters, interesting info about gullah culture and the mythical mermaids.

Cons: Some parts not very realistic.

The Bottom Line: Interesting family drama. This was worth reading.

Review: The Writer Sue Monk Kidd is from Sylvester, Georgia and is the wife of a southern Baptist preacher. She has written inspirational articles for Guideposts Magazine and personal memoirs such as The Dance of the Dissident Daughter but ...

Pros: boring life turned to romance and mystery, a questioned past and dark secrets

Cons: None that I can think of now. Very interesting and up and down book!

The Bottom Line: If you enjoy estranged love and romance, and soul searching while digging in your past, this is for you

Review: Jessie Sullivan is a married, mother of one in college, woman who has been molded to her life, but soon becomes bored and needs "something" to change. She finds herself becoming very distant and out of touch with herself and her marriage. Soon an ...