Some of these essays were really enjoyable and insightful. I liked "getting to know" the author of Secret Life of Bees a bit! ( )

From the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and the new novel The Book of Longings comes a thoughtful, revelatory book of writings on self and spirit. In Firstlight, Kidd charts her emergence as a writer and seeker; reflects on her roles as wife, mother, daughter, nurse, and artist; and assesses what she has learned in settings as far-flung as Africa and her own home. The result is an intimate, uplifting book, filled with moments of recognition and discovery.

I enjoyed Kidd's book [When the Heart Waits] more, but you can see the seeds of that book in her collected early writings here. There is less of a unifying thread - think of this more as short essays to read and put down at will. But Kidd's honest and open view on spirituality is refreshing and thought provoking. ( )

In Firstlight, best-selling author Sue Monk Kidd offers readers an intimate glimpse into the early years of her journey as both writer and spiritual seeker. Drawn from the author's early writings for Guideposts and, to a lesser extent, other publications, this selection of personal reflections and essays is organized around 13 spiritual motifs and interwoven to create a compelling narrative about the author's spiritual awakening. ( )

I happened upon this book in the library and liked it so well I plan to buy a few copies to share with friends and have one to keep for myself as well. Written by Sue Monk Kidd, a favorite author of mine, this is a series of short essays and stories originally published by Guideposts before Kidd became an award winning novelist. These brief reflections in which she shares about her life and experiences are like gems, each one showing a particular introspective facet of faith and inspiration. Thoughtful, moving, personal, and gently perceptive - I was awed by how she could capture a memory, an experience, or a concept so personal and yet so universal. This is a book to read slowly and savor.

After just a few pages, Kidd writes: I believe in stories. The world has enough dogma. It's stories we need more of, stories that reverence the still, small voice that sings our life. As Anthony de Mello observed, "The shortest distance been a human being and Truth is a story." Jesus himself told stories about the most common things in the world: a lost sheep, a seed that falls on rocky ground, a woman who sweeps her house in search of a coin, a man whose son runs away from home. All personal theology should begin with the words: 'Let me tell you a story.'"

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