Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The characters and setting in the Mermaid Chair are so well described by Sue Monk Kidd. There are universal themes in the novel of loneliness and sense of loss that can bring people together romantically. The setting on the novel is Egret Island where the title object is located in a monastery. It is believed that anyone who sits in the chair will have their prayers answered. The author does a great job at describing how a husband and wife can sometimes drift apart in a marriage. She also describes the pain of infidelity and betrayal so well. The novel also addresses the importance of women to have friendship in their lives. The Mermaid Chair centers around a woman named Jessie who returns to her childhood home to care for her elderly mother after she mysteriously cuts off her finger. Jessie believes she is responsible for the death of her father when she was a child. She carries with her so much guilt until she learns about how and why it happened. Sue Monk Kidd writes so vividly about everything she describes in this book. She describes Egret Island as a beautiful place for tourists filled with birds and beautiful physical scenery like the colorful marsh water. The environment has a big effect on the main character Jessie. It helps her rediscover her passion for painting and gets her creative juices flowing. The Mermaid Chair is one of the best books I've ever read. The setting will captivate you. The characters and universal themes of faith, loss, a search for the truth, and a yearning for love will definitely touch your heart.