I have never read a book quite like "The Mermaid's Chair", ever. It is a mixture of romantic fantasy, a Catholicism intertwined with myth and superstition, and characters who are so confused with life that they can't function properly. The main substance of it is not one, but three moral dilemmas: A woman who wants to leave her old life behind for a new passion, A man who doesn't know whether he wants to be a monk or not, even after living in the monastery for five years, and a mother who had to make her decision 33 years earlier, and is now living with the consequences of it.
The author's main characters are so confused, that it doesn't come across as plausible when they eventually do what they do. All in all, I'm glad I read this book. The author is a good writer and shows some real flashes of originality. I was totally fascinated by the look into the souls of people trying so hard to find themselves, and even in the end, not giving much evidence of really having succeeded. I would recommend the book very highly to anyone who is contemplating having an affair. She might very well change her mind after reading it. ( )

I purchsed this book right after I finished [The Secret Life Of Bees] but deliberately waited to read it. So 2 years later, unfortunately, it was still impossible to judge Mermaid on it's own merits. So here goes...it's not even close to the wonderful Secret Life Of Bees. I do know it's the same writer, but barely. A new author would get a pass on this work though the problems, prose and story development, would still be glaring.

The entire story seems contrived. You can almost hear the editor saying "Sue I need pages"...

On a scale of 1 to 10 -- maybe a 6. ( )

The Mermaid Chair is written by Sue Monk Kidd. Kidd also wrote the New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of Bees. Kidd was born and raised in a small town in Georgia. Sue lived in South Carolina with her husband Sandy where they taught at a small college. This was when she truly started writing. She published her first book titled God's Joyful Surprise in 1988. This book described the beginning of her spiritual journey. The Mermaid Chair was Kidd’s second novel. It was published in the spring of 2005. The Mermaid Chair was on the New York Time bestseller list for nine months. The novel was made into a television movie by Lifetime.
The Mermaid Chair Is about a married woman named Jessie. Her husband’s name is Hugh and they appear to be happily married. Their only daughter Dee has just left for college and Jessie begins looking for more out of her life. One morning she receives a call from her mother’s friend on the South Carolina Island, Egret Island, she had grown up on. Jessie’s mother, Nelle cut off her finger and it was important that Jessie be there to care for her mother. The injury was on purpose, there were more serious things going on than just a missing finger.
Jessie went to Egret Island and stayed with her mother for some time. While on the island Jessie met a young monk. He was fairly new to the monastery. After spending time together Jessie begins to fall in love with the monk. While Jessie is trying to work through her mother’s emotional problems, which she just can’t understand she is dealing with her own issues. Her marriage begins to fall apart as she falls for this other man and details from her father’s death start to trouble her as she learns new truths. Jessie had grown up believing that her father died in a boat fire started by a pipe she had given him as a gift.
After much time on the island she learns truths about herself and uncovers the way her father had actually died. This novel is about Jessie’s journey of self discovery and finding what makes her truly happy. The themes of this book are mid-life marriage and self-awakening. This story is empowering, it tells the tale of a women who isn’t truly happy with her life and how she takes the time to rediscover herself.

I enjoyed the book. I was able to easily identify with the main character. I think many women find themselves in the same spot in the lives. You can always take the clear message from the book that you should live your life for yourself - not only those around you. ( )

read twice. Loved this book enough to read it again. Mother cuts off her finger and daughter goes home to help. Her mother also cooks for the monks at the monastary next door where the mermaid chair resides. Daughter falls in love with a certain monk, they meet in the tidal basins and waterways. Will she return to her husband Hugh? Some good phrases, very good writing, unique story, enchanting. ( )