I started with high hopes for this book but I hated the ‘pat-ness’ about it all. Please, does a life that includes a husband and daughter that love you, who are human and sometimes think only of themselves have to mean you run off into an affair? I would never recommend this one to anyone.

The visualization was impressive, I could feel the island breezes. Character development was also something that made this book enjoyable. It took me nine chapters to start liking it but I eventually came to enjoy it.

The writing is gorgeous. The story…eh. I guess I’ve just read too many books like this for it to really make an impression on me. It was entertaining for what it was, but I didn’t feel a driving need to finish it…which is probably why it took me so long.

As with Kidd’s other book, The Secret Life of Bees, there is nothing especially exciting or interesting about the plot. The joy in reading the novel comes through getting to know the characters and joining them on their journey in exploring the world and emotions around them.

I’ve been listening to audiobooks from my library all the time – as a fall asleep, as I work around the house, as I knit, and as I take a break. The Mermaid Chair, by Sue Monk Kidd, is one of these books. While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it, I think because I’m sick of stories of women having epiphanies that result in them going back to the life that they had before (but of course, this life is different and much better). I just don’t believe that change is so easy.

Just like the other reviewer, I too had high hopes for this book after reading Secret Life of Bees. I am usually a sucker for “forbidden love” stories, but I just didn’t buy this one. I finished the book, wasn’t nearly as satisfied by it as I was by Bees.

I loved The secret life of bees, so I had high expectations of this book. It didn`t really live up to them. Especially in the middle, there was a really long, quite boring part, with lots of symbolism that was just too obvious and a bit cliche. I liked the beginning and end though. It was quite a good story, it just seemed like the book could have used some more work really. But worth reading!

You can read my full review of this book at epinions.com by following the link below.

http://www.epinions.com/content_189279735428