The Mermaid's Chair, by Sue Monk Kidd

Sadly, I can sum up my thoughts about Kidd's most recent novel...in one word - Yuck!
What a disppointment after a wonderful read in The Secret Life of Bees and her work of non-fiction, Dance of the Dissident Daughter (which I thoroughly enjoyed). The latter was an intriguing description of her journey from fundamentalist religion to a much more inclusive spirituality - and feminism. After reading pieces of hers in Guidepost back many years when I was inclined to do so, it was refreshing to read about her questioning and challenging the limitations (particularly to women) of traditional Christianity.

So...I'm somewhat grateful that neither of my two friends, Martha or Marsha, divulged much about TMC and their feelings one way or another, before I read it. I feel a bit betrayed by Kidd, who I believe could have been much more creative in telling the story of a woman seeking to find herself. Instead, she ended up putting yet another Bridges of Madison County (which I hated!) in bookstores. I'm disappointed in Sue Monk Kidd. Considering her conservative, religious upbringing and life as a pastor's wife, it's as if she felt compelled (somewhat like preachers' kids syndrome...) to push the envelope and see if redressing (no pun intended) that tired, old adultrous story would bring about a bestseller. Well...it did. The Mermaid's Chair is on the New York Times bestseller list...but I, like Martha, grew so sick of the protagonist...whiny and wanderlush Jessie...that I just wanted to be done with the thing (much like an oyster-eating contest, where savoring the flavor of the oyster is not the intent, merely sliding down that oyster along the back of your throat is).

The jury is still out on S.M. Kidd. Hopefully, she will develop a more creative alternative in the future to telling the story of women who are seeking identity and self-fulfillment.

~ Sonja