Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Jessie Sullivan is trying to figure out where her life is going. Her marriage to her husband Hugh and taking care of their daughter Dee has been her main focus. But now with Dee off to college, she is wondering what she will do now. Getting a phone call from her mom's best friend Kay, Jessie goes back to Egret Island to take care of her mom. But when she gets there, she is finding out that the death of her father Joe was not as simple as she thought. Along the way she meets a monk by the name of Brother Thomas and finds she has feelings for him. She is getting confused and needs to know what she truly wants for her life. Jessie has some very tough questions ahead of her and wonders if the answer she needs will be found sitting in the Mermaid chair.

Ms. Kidd knows how to express emotions in a way that grips you from the beginning. She never says what is right or wrong but shows you the process that the characters have to go through. I really liked that! Now mind you, her characters express their beliefs but I really felt like she left it up to me to decide what to think. Her descriptions put you right there beside the characters.I was truly impressed with how she worded everything.

Jessie was truly struggling with everything. Going back to the island almost seemed to make it worse. There were a few timesthat I wanted to hit the woman up side the head for not talking to her hubby. But I know so much was going on inside her that she could not think clearly if she tried. I really liked her mom's friends Kat and Hepzibah. Kat ran a gift shop and Hepzibah did Gullah tours. They were both so different from Nelle but the three of them really were great friends! Kate and Hepzibah wanted to see Nelle get out again and try to recover her lost spirit.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to watching the movie that was done on Lifetime since I recorded it. I give this booka 4/5 because it kept me turning pages. I thought it was a very insightful book and I look forward to reading The Secret Life of Bees.

338 pages/TBR Challenge/New Author

Well I have another two books to read and review so off to reading I go. :)

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I thought this one was just so-so but I LOVED The Secret Lives of Bee's

Lover of Books said...

I will most likely buy that one too. :) We'll see though.

Literary Feline said...

The Mermaid Chair has gotten such a mixed reaction, but I definitely fall on the same side as you do. I really enjoyed The Mermaid Chair. I couldn't get through the movie though - maybe it just wasn't the right time? I hope you will enjoy the movie when you see it!

Lover of Books said...

I plan on watching The Mermaid Chair today. :) I'll post my comments after I am done. :)