Journal Entry 1 by KateKintail from Burke, Virginia USA on Monday, December 03, 2007

I bought this at a library used book sale.

Stats:
Unabridged
10.5 hours on 9 CDs
Read by Eliza Foss

I just finished listening to this book today. It wasn't *bad* but it wasn't incredible either. It starts out a little creepy and stays weird throughout, but despite moments that should be exciting and mysterious (a mother cutting off her finger, the possibility of an affair with a man of the cloth) I found it to be a bit blah. I finished it because I finish *everything* I start, but I know a lot of people were equally unimpressed by the book.

The reading it good, though the accent isn't my favorite. I loved the setting descriptions, and I think there are a few good themes hidden within this book. I found I cared more about would happen plot-wise than what would happen to the characters. The truth was sadder and creepier than what I had imagined, but in the end I didn't really feel the emotional bond I'm sure I was supposed to feel. Still, there are a few good things to take away from the book, and I'm glad to have read it. 

Journal Entry 2 by KateKintail from Burke, Virginia USA on Monday, March 17, 2008

Adding to booklady331's CD-only Audio Bookbox. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 3 by booklady331 from Cape Coral, Florida USA on Friday, April 18, 2008

Took out of CD only book box. Replaced it with two books -- one of 6 CDs and one of 3 CDs 

Journal Entry 4 by booklady331 from Cape Coral, Florida USA on Friday, November 21, 2008

Finally, listened to the book. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would from what I had read about the book, but not near as much as Life of Bees. Saving for a CD bookbox. 

Journal Entry 5 by booklady331 at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Friday, May 29, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (5/29/2009 UTC) at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy! going in carlissa's CD only bookbox round 4 

Journal Entry 6 by carlissa from Miami, Florida USA on Monday, August 31, 2009

Came back in round 4 of my CD audio bookbox. I've already read this book, so I will put back in bookbox for round 5. 

Journal Entry 7 by k00kaburra from San Jose, California USA on Monday, September 14, 2009

I read this book back in 2006, and started a book ring with it that ended up stalling out. :-/ That was too bad! I hope someone enjoys the audio cds :D


This book enjoyed a brief visit in San Jose, CA before continuing its travels in carlissa's CD AudiobookBookbox! 

Journal Entry 8 by jlautner from San Luis Obispo, California USA on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Chose from the CD audio book box. I look forward to listening to it while on one of my long trips. 

Journal Entry 9 by jlautner from San Luis Obispo, California USA on Thursday, January 14, 2010

Always the question with books like this one...where to begin?

Let's begin with the title. The Mermaid's Chair is a fictional version of a chair found in a monastery in Cornwall, England. Kidd weaves together bits of real history with her imagination to come up with a saint who is celebrated on an island off South Carolina. There is a real St. Senara but her story is not quite what Kidd tells us. In the novel Senara started out as Asenara (not sure of spelling because this is an audio book; I did look up Senara), a mermaind who lured sailors into the sea. She visits the island from time to time, leaving her mermaid tail hidden. Some guy - a monk? - finds the tail and hides it in a drawer at the bottom of a chair in a church so that she can not return to the sea. Subsequently, the mermaid is converted to Catholocism and this is, heaven only knows why, she is a saint...

I don't buy the mermaid as saint story. It's lame and doesn't give us any miracles unless you count the mermaid's existence to begin with. To be sure, religions have a large cast of mythical creatures but I doubt mermaids have ever made the list.

The plot. Jessie, in her forties, married for twenty or so years to Hugh and the proud mother of Dee, is called to the island to care for her mother, who has inexplicably chopped off her index finger. Everyone fears mom is losing her marbles and Jessie constantly frets about it. Why why why would she do such a thing? Jessie has not seen her mother for a while and there is some distance between them. This distance, we are to assume, I think, has something to do with the death of Jessie's father 30 years before.

While Jessie is on the island she meets and falls in love with Brother Thomas, the youngest monk in the monastery. He has not taken final vows yet and is as ready for this affair as she is. The two spend blissful afternoons in the wild lagoons, making love during the time Brother Thomas usually counts birds and other species for a wildlife preserve. Through this affair Jessie wakes up from her long sleep. She starts painting again. She discovers that all these years she has yielded to her husband's will and has let her own needs slip away.

So that's the basic story, although there are complexities in it. Not very complex, really, though. It is not much more than a romance novel in its treatment of the affair and its observations are far from unique. I did not like the characters, did not find the dialogue interesting, and ultimately was disappointed in the resolution of the Big Mystery, the only hope I had for the story. Predictability is a killer and this story is predictable.

I admit I am often influenced by the readers of audio books. The reader of this one affected a southern accent and often spoke with a kind of high-handed kind of tone - speaking one-syllable words as two or more, for example. To me, Jessie sounded like a spoiled upper-middle-class southern woman, and her mother and friends sounded equally affected. Even without this prejudice, however, I don't see how I could have liked such a two-dimensional story. 

Journal Entry 10 by jlautner at San Luis Obispo, California USA on Thursday, June 03, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/3/2010 UTC) at San Luis Obispo, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent home to Las Vegas on May 31 with daughter Mary.