God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved [Paperback]

Sue Monk Kidd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1989

One of today's most promising new Christian writers explores the thrilling possibilities of God's everlasting love.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

One of today's most promising new Christian writers explores the thrilling possibilities of God's everlasting love.

About the Author

Sue Monk Kidd is the author of the bestselling novels The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair, as well as the award-winning The Dance of the Dissident Daughter and God's Joyful Surprise.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (February 28, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060645814
• ISBN-13: 978-0060645816
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sue Monk Kidd's first novel, The Secret Life of Bees, spent more than one hundred weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has sold nearly six million copies, and was chosen as the 2004 BookSense Paperback Book of the Year and Good Morning America's "Read This!" Book Club pick. It was adapted into an award-winning movie in 2008. Her second novel, The Mermaid Chair, a #1 New York Times bestseller, won the 2005 Quill Book Award for Best General Fiction and was adapted into a television movie. Her novels have been published in more than thirty countries. She is also the author of several acclaimed memoirs and the recipient of many awards, including a Poets & Writers Award. She lives near Charleston, South Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new kind of relationship with God, June 20, 2005

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved (Paperback)

Having read Sue Monk Kidd's two novels, "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Mermaid Chair" and having enjoyed them a lot, I was eager to know more about the author herself. This is her first book which was published in 1987, and it tells about a portion of her spiritual journey. She was a young woman who was all too typical of today, a person who tried to be perfect in every aspect of her life. She rushed around baking homemade cookies for every event imaginable, being in charge of several events and ministries in her church, and trying to be the perfect wife and mother. She tried to earn God's love by being the best that she could be and by constantly doing good works. As a result, she wore herself out and began having physical symptoms of the stress she was under. She learned the hard way that it was better to be in fellowship with God rather than rush around earning his favor by works. This is the story of her metamorphosis from an over-stressed wife, mother, and church worker to a true daughter of God who learned to slow down, accept God's love and revel in his presence. There is much to be learned in this book by all Christians who wish to have a closer walk with God.

95 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Timing, March 20, 2000

By 

E. F. Eisenhauer "flamingo13" (Middle-of-Nowhere, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved (Paperback)

Sue Monk Kidd has a knack of stating in precise, clear language the words you want to hear about your relationship with God. Not only that, everything in the book is instantly recognizable as some point in your own life. Her style is easy to read, much like a chat over tea, and you will find yourself wishing for more pages. Highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their relationship with the Creator.

49 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, January 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved (Paperback)

Despite Atomic's rather unfair review, this book serves its purpose - to help the reader search his/her soul, encourage spirituality & provoke thinking in a direction possibly not taken prior to reading the book. I enjoyed every page and found myself a better person for having read it. I laughed out loud, I cried, I had "light bulb" moments - what a book!