The Mermaid Chair ranks extremely high on my list of all-time favorite books. It's the second book by Sue Monk Kidd, who thrilled readers with her first book, "The Secret Life of Bees". Jessie Sullivan is leading a "normal" life with her rather boring husband Hugh when she is called home to Egret Island to see what's up with her mother, who has reportedly been exhibiting some very odd behavior. Once there, she is drawn to a beautifully carved chair which resides inside the Benedictin monastery. The chair is carved with mermaids. The chair, it is said, is dedicated to a saint who was a mermaid before her conversion. On the Island, Jessie is also unexpectedly drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk. Are mermaids real? Jessie finds herself drawn in to the island's mysteries, all the while trying to figure out what is going on with mother, and what to do about her attraction to Brother Thomas, despite her love for Hugh. I didn't read this book. I devoured it.

***Spoiler alert***
I read The Mermaid Chair coming off a string of bad books I couldn’t finish. Even though I did finish The Mermaid Chair I have mixed feelings on how to rate it.

I love Sue Monk Kidd’s writing – her examination and insight into human nature, her complex characters.

I could relate to Jessie, the main character, which I think is what kept me going. I understood her relationship with her husband. Even though he was a good man, she had lost herself in their relationship. I saw her love affair with the monk as her quest to get in touch with her own spirituality.

But the book had nagging flaws that kept it from becoming a more worthy story in my mind.

The mother’s alarming behavior was the inciting incident that sent Jessie on her journey back home. As a writer with a fascination with what drives people to make curious, dangerous, or bizarre choices, more than anything I wanted to know what drove her mother to such extreme measures as chopping off her fingers.

And this is where the story fails, at least for me. After I finished the book, for the life of me I could not remember what compelled her to lop off two appendages.

I had to return to the book and re-read the end. Although several theories were presented, Jessie never really understood what made her mother do it either.

What? I’m flabbergasted. I can’t fathom how the pale conclusion for this aspect of the story managed to make it through the final edits. Did I miss something?

Then there was the centerpiece of the story, the Mermaid Chair, which just seemed odd. If it had just been part of the town’s history, it would have made delightful sense.

But as part of some strange folklore the Catholic monastery had adopted, this seemed very far-fetched. I had to force myself to sweep aside my protestations in order to stay with the parts of the story I was interested in.

I neither loved nor hated this book. But I don’t think I’ll forget it either.

With touches of Southern Gothic, this one had most of what I enjoy including psychological angles, family dynamics, and religious insights. I cried, several times, toward the end. Extra star for that!

Dear Sue,

What were you thinking? I don’t want to be mean, but “The Mermaid Chair” isn’t your best work. Your first novel, “The Secret Life of Bees” was wonderful – full of imagery and emotion. I was expecting more of your magic, but “The Mermaid Chair” is just another novel about a middle-aged woman in a rut.

You explore some compelling ideas: marriage, infidelity, betrayal, guilt, forgiveness, grief and faith, but you don’t really add anything to that oh-so-told story. You wrap the issues in a story so farfetched that it reads like a poorly-made TV movie. Without going into every detail look at the story:

Jessie Sullivan - forty-something wife, mother, artist - living comfortably but without great passion. Suddenly, a family emergency throws her into a period of self-reflection. Her mother chops off a finger - intentionally. As Jessie goes to help her mother, a woman with whom she has a strained relationship, she questions her marriage, starts an affair with a Benedictine monk, and discovers secrets from her past.

The story starts as clich�, veers into absurdity (not just a crazy mother, but a crazy self-mutilating mother – not just an affair, but an affair with a monk) and ends with the too-familiar new beginning where nothing is the same, but our heroine has found peace. You ask us to accept this as a vehicle to explore deep emotional and personal choices; it just doesn't work.

Don’t tell us a story – let us feel something. Let us get into the characters’ heads and understand their emotional journey. Everything in “The Mermaid Chair” was a narration – something to be told, not something to experience. I didn’t get to know any of the characters. I didn’t get to feel their emotion. I certainly didn’t like any of them, except, maybe, Max the dog who seems like a really good-hearted fellow.

You worked in some legend and mysticism. The imagery and symbolism of mermaids was nice, as was much of your descriptions of nature, but when it comes down to meat and potatoes, your novel was rather bland. Readers who want another story of female mid-life angst can get their hit from an hour of Oprah; they don’t have to invest time in your book.

Lately it seems like several of my favorite authors are resting on their past success, spitting out mediocre novels knowing that their name will sell the book. You’ve proven that you’re a writer with a unique vision and voice. We, your readers, want more of the magic that you shared with us in “Bees”. Don’t be afraid to challenge us with new ideas, and don’t be afraid to challenge the stereotypes of women’s literature.

Love,
Wormie

WBS!

I picked this up at the faaaaabulous Reno book sale, and I'm not sure why. I really hated this same author's "The Secret Life of Bees," but I figured it'd be worth a try.

I was surprised to find that I liked it, even if it read like a mixture of the Thorn Birds and a Lifetime movie. It's about a woman in her forties who is bored with her life. Her mom, who lives back on ye olde island that the daughter never goes back to (her dad died, all kinds of bad memories, yada yada), has cut off her finger with a meat cleaver. She goes back to take care of her mom, deal with the island, deal with her husband's death, and, oh yeah, have daily sex with a monk who's questioning his relationship with God.

Kinda trashy but the writing is actually pretty decent, and it was enjoyable to read. However, the author likes to use symbolism but doesn't trust that her readers understand it, so a lot of time is spent telling us things we could probably figure out, for example, that water is a symbol of sensuality. Even if you didn't know that in the beginning, you'd know it after ten pages of reading about the intensely erotic relationship the main character has with it and the many erotic paintings she has created in an erotic, watery, sensuous kind of way. Because the water, you see, is erotic. And sensuous. And it makes her sensual and whole again. In a very erotic way. Like water.

That said, it's enjoyable book to read. I applaud the author trying to get deep, and there's some nice writing, but gawd, someone tell her to stop hitting her readers over the head with the metaphorical stick. Or maybe it's an erotic stick. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

The reviews I read on this book ranged from luke warm to hated it and I was hesitant to read it. I decided to find out for myself and the story got off to a slow start. I can't pinpoint the exact moment but eventually I came to identify with Jessie, the main character. I also enjoyed the vivid description's of life - sights, sounds, smells, sensations - on Egret Island and the surrounding estuaries and creeks So. Carolina's barrier islands. Some of Jessie's inner struggles mirror my own and it was enlightening to see them outside of myself on paper. She's confused about who she is and wants to reconnect with a passion and love for living life. She seeks to redefine herself and connect with the raw, innate form of the person she was born to be and often relieves her childhood by exploring the barrier islands and visiting places from her childhood.

One defining moment for me came when she and Whit discussed how no one understands their need to be alone and dig deep within themselves. Whit said the monks call it a 'solitude of being' (pg 216-217) and that was my "ah-ha" moment. I totally understand what that means! The relationship between Whit and Jessie was adulterous and I don't support that, but I also understood their relationship and why they connected so deeply and instanteously. Through all of this, Jessie was dealing with a dysfunctional mother who cuts off her fingers, as well as her mother's somewhat eccentric friends. Eventually the truth comes out, Jess helps her mom deal with her issues and in the process, also finds healing for herself. When Jessie is finally ready to leave the island - her childhood home - everyone is able to face their future - whatever it may be - healed and stronger in mind and spirit. (I know, long review) I ended up really liking this book and thought it ended well.

I was so disappointed in the story-line of this book. I mean, come-on. Woman, tired/bored of her 20 year marriage, meets and falls instantly in love with a MONK, has an affair, etc, etc. blah, blah. I thought it was well written, had some beautiful language, but I just hated the story. I agree with this review: "the overall plot frustrates me. It presents a stereo-type of women that doesn’t sit well with me. It is possible to “find” yourself while still honoring your commitments and keeping your integrity intact. And that’s a plot line I’d like to see more of!" Amen to that.

I am disgusted and tired of how our culture idolizes sex and adultery... This book angers me deeply in its effort to paint fornication and adultery as something GOOD, when it is actually utterly EVIL and brings destruction and deep, deep heartache to SO many people. There is nothing beautiful about the illusion of love within an illicit relationship- all lies, deceit and counterfeit "love." LUST- EVIL EVIL lust is what adultery is- there is no way to make it something other than absolutely devastating and repulsive and destructive... although our culture tries very hard to make it goodness and light. Don't fill your mind with this darkness coming as "an angel of light!" REPUGNANT!

After glancing over the goodreads reviews of this book, and seeing how negative they were, I was expecting to dislike, or simply feel apathy for, this book. But I really loved it, surprisingly so. I enjoyed "The Secret Life of Bees", but I didn't connect to the characters as much as I connected to Jessie in this story. This book tackles a difficult subject: how can you fall in love with someone else while still married to a wonderful man who hasn't changed? The goodreads complaints were that Jessie has no reason to fall for another man--her husband is seemingly perfect, and she's just selfish and awful for not wanting him. But I loved the gray areas of the story, and I didn't find myself able to judge her easily (and I'm pretty judgmental!)

The story is this: Middle aged artist and housewife Jessie returns to her childhood home off the coast of South Carolina to care for her aging and depressed mother. She has avoided home because of the sad memories she has of her father being killed in an accident when Jessie was a child, and she blames herself for his death. While there, she falls for a Benedictine monk who turns Jessie's life upside down. Kidd writes beautifully, and I read this faster than a lot of other recent novels. I thought she explained (but never excused) Jessie's confused emotions and behaviors realistically--nothing is ever black and white, even love. Especially love. And what she (and the reader) realizes at the end is how much she has closed herself off--from her mother, her husband, and especially herself. I was touched by the character's honesty and her humanity, and I thought it was a beautiful story of how a person has to sink to the very bottom before they can climb their way back to the surface.

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.

I read this back during my early days of college and remember making faces during the most inane parts.

Our main character Jessie decides to go back to her childhood home after her mother has some sort of mental breakdown and chops off her own finger. What follows is a journey with pretentious symbolism, pretentious characters, BS logic, and nothing of value gets resolved.

Remember that mother who's suffering a mental breakdown? We find out she's actually suffering from major guilt after she performed a mercy killing on her husband years ago. Does she get any actual psychiatric help? No. Help from God? No. Does she go to the police to relive her guilt? No. So what happens to her eventually? Dunno, it's left on a vague note.

Now, throughout the book we're reminded of Jessie's lovely marriage to her husband of many years and of the daughter she bore him. This is a very lovely marriage. They obviously love each other, they respect each other, and everything is awesome. So what does Jessie do to prove her love to her husband? Have an affair of course! With a monk!
WHY does she have this affair? Fuck if I know. The monk is apparently good looking and is rather sweet to Jessie, but was that really enough to justify cheating on your husband of 20+ years?
EVEN MORE, her 'FRIENDS' ENCOURAGE her to cheat. Why? "Because he's her true love". These are the same friends who knew AND participated in the mercy killing.

Now, I am not about to get into a debate whether or not if the mercy killing in this book was indeed a merciful act. But guess what, neither do the characters. There's no anger over this revelation, no debate, no screaming, no accusation, no demand for straight answers. Everything is left vague.

That's the main problem of this book. It's vague on EVERYTHING. Nobody asks the hard questions, nobody acts like a human being, nobody suffers the consequences of their actions. Except the mother, of course, but Mom's journey to recovery is non-existent in this story. Very little is devoted to her mental health.

So after Jessie has her affair with the monk, she goes home. We don't get to see the consequences of her affair. Everything is fed to us within a few short sentences, barely a single paragraph long. The daughter is devastated and her husband is upset, but where's the all the raw anger? Where are the questions of why? Jessie, why did you cheat on me with some young monk? Why did you throw away 20 years of marriage? How can I trust you again? These should be asked and answered. THEY'RE NOT.

The final page ends with Jessie expressing how her husband is indeed her true love and wants his face to be the very first thing she sees when she goes to heaven. This could've been romantic had she not have that affair with some young punk she barely knew for a month.

Ok this one is going to be hard to review. A year or so aga I heard some spoilers from an interview with the author of this book. I thought it sounded really psychotic. For some reason I picked it up this year. There are some elements that really bothered me. For example why does one have to have an affair to "find" yourself. On the other hand I really related to some of the emotions that the main charecter experienced. She created some art work that was her awakening and for some odd reason I really connected with that. Maybe I should start painting (j/k). There are some really strange elements, yet it was not as psychotic as I thought it would be once I read it. I would not highly reccomend this book. There are many other books out there that teach the same self-discovery themes with out the psycho stuff and affairs. This affair to "find" ones self seems to be a common theme. This lady even had a really good husband (not that it makes it ok when the spouse is horrible, well maybe j/k). Maybe I should write her (except for the small little detail that she isn't real)and tell her what it is like to not have a spouse in your life who loves you. I also gained a realization that we all have such differing trials, for some the trial is to have someone who loves you.