I was extrememly disappointed in this second novel of Sue Monk Kidd's. Her first "The Secret Life of Bees" is still one of my favourites.

I couldn't even get halfway through this one. It definitely pales in comparison to her first. Perhaps someone else will appreciate it.

Sent via Canada Post to cestmoi.

Happy Reading!!

Came in the mail yesterday. Thanks Louise..will read and then pass along to someone else in our group.

This novel reminded me of so many other novels I've read lately. It reminded me of Elizabeth Berg, of Sue Miller...but not in a good way. I found the plot to be trite, Jessie's mother goes momentarily insane, cuts off a finger. Jessie reluctantly goes out to take care of her, to her childhood home, is haunted by demons from her past and falls in love with a would be monk who just happens to be fighting demons of his own after losing his wife and unborn child in a car wreck. Can we say soap opera?

Does she stay with Brother Thomas (as in Doubting Thomas..did I mention he was also going through a crisis of faith when he meets Jessie?).....does she leave her husband of 20+ years for her newfound love? Does she find out why her father's memory haunts her?

This is a disappointing novel after having read and loved The Secret Life of Bees...it is a novel without substance and with a plot that has been done to death...and done better.

Off to MissQ next and I hope she doesn't hold me responsible!!!

This came in the mail on Friday. Thanks so much cestmoi! I've been wanting to read this for a while. Now how will I be able to finish the book I'm currently reading first??

This is already promised to my mom and then RealBookWorm when I'm done.

I agree with previous journallers, this book was not as good as Monk Kidd’s first, The Secret Life of Bees. But I find that happens with a lot of things - book, movies – when something is such a big hit, it’s hard to live up to that hype again.

With that said though, I did really enjoy this book. Maybe I haven’t read as many of the same old stories as cestmoi :-) I do like Monk Kidd’s style of writing. In a way, it reminds me of Anita Shreve (who I also like). Though the story was predictable in parts, it was still engaging and I finished it in less than a week. You really get a feeling for Jessie’s confusion and struggle to find herself after basically being solely a wife and mother for so many years. It was a bit convenient that she "falls in love" with a monk going through a similar struggle but I could overlook that.

There were some similarities between this book and The Secret Life of Bees (the waxing of the statue, the wise black woman who teaches of another culture, and the girl who is somewhat psychic). But, this is not the same story. It is something new and you can really see and feel Egret Island as if you were there. I think that’s one of the things I like about Monk Kidd’s books, they are real, no matter how different the situation is from your own, you can relate and live it along with the characters.

Currently on loan to my Mom.

Passed on to vhackett.

RealBookWorm is next.

I enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees more I think but this was definitely a good read and a fairly quick one too. The differing perspectives were interesting and I changed my mind about what I wanted to happen several times while reading. Ultimately, I was happy with the story's resolution...this book is going back to MissQ to pass on to the next lucky reader. :-)

Passing on to loghomediva today.

Enjoyed this book - I think I liked this author's earlier book better, but I'd have to re-read it to be sure. Thanks for lending it to me, JuneBug31, I'll give it back to you at the next bookclub.

CAUGHT IN FREDERICTON NB CANADA

edit last post...
oops, sorry MissQ - thanks for loaning it to me.

CAUGHT IN FREDERICTON NB CANADA