Paradise Vue

by Kathryn H. Kidd

Amy is so bad at keeping house that she can't boil water without it sticking the bottom of the pan. So when the bishop calls her to be homemaking counselor, she knows that it's either a joke- or inspiration. Welcome to the Paradise Vue Ward, with stained glass windows so blindingly bright, the congregation has to wear shades. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll keep wondering how the author found out about all the wackiest people in your ward. Surely the funniest Mormon novel ever published. By the end you may discover it's also the best.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Mormonism, Lds

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Kathryn H. Kidd was an American author. Many of her books concern The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She co-wrote some of these with her husband, Clark L. Kidd, and also co-wrote a novel with Orson Scott Card.

Reviews

[Kash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think anyone who has ever been a Relief Society President, or maybe held any church calling, should read this hysterical, touching, irreverent, multi-layered book. I see moments over and over in my life that remind me of it. I read it years ago, but have to come back and periodically read it again.

[Jenben8426 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was supposed to be a comedy of a Utah ward in the heart of Salt Lake City filled with green jell-o, ward gossips, tv dinners for Mother's Day gifts, and homemaking at its heyday. Although that was in the book--and ultimately why I gave it two stars, I found the story line to be boring and quite a bit sad in reality. I couldn't help but get the feeling that if you are a happily married Mormon woman you are obviously lying. I was a bit peturbed with the problems that faced each of the main characters in the Relief Society Presidency of the Paradise Vue Ward. You had a president whose husband was having an affair, but according to the storyline if she just would have put a little more faith in him he may have turned out better. You have a counselor who seems to have a perfect life but really loves another man and waits by her mailbox everyday for a letter from him. You have another whose husband died while she was young and can't let go. And the secretary is a beautiful yet bitter, vindictive, and mean person. Although lessons

Orson Scott Card gave a glowing forward for the book and I was expecting a lot more. There are ways to capture the humors of the Mormon church without dragging every character down.

[David Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago when I was in grad school. I quite enjoyed it then, and I have given it away to a few people over the years. After giving a copy to a family member just recently, I decided I’d better re-read it to see how well it holds up. (I wouldn't want to embarrass myself :-)

While I generally prefer fiction which lies more on the fringes of Mormonism (Levi S. Peterson), Tim Wirkus, Todd Robert Petersen), this is a book that active Mormons and formerly active Mormons alike can enjoy. It's mostly humorous, but it does touch on some serious themes.

There's a sequel, Return to Paradise, which I'm going to read next. I think I have read that one once already, as well, but I don't remember anything about it right now. If it's good, I'll review it here soon.

[P Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about the world's perfect RS Presidency. They come with diet cokes for funeral dinners! Nice! This was a second reading and I think I enjoyed it even more the second time around!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. Written in the 80s and a “Mormon” book to boot, I thought it might be cheesy. My grandma recommended it and I’m glad she did. It was a fun read.

[Chanel Earl]

From the intro to this book I learned something very interesting about Mormon fiction. That it doesn't have to revolve around people coming to or leaving the church. That idea has been freeing as I have been working on my own writing.

But, even though the book did a great job keeping the characters firmly anchored in whatever beliefs they started out with, I had some serious problems with them.

Spoilers:

First, what is with this idea that a wife shouldn't question her husband if she thinks he is cheating? I was bothered the whole book that she didn't take up her concerns with him, and then at the end I am supposed to believe that if she had trusted him he might have stuck around. Yuck!

Second: In a chapter called "vindication" a character that the narrator doesn't like gets into a horrible car accident and is disfigured. Then her outside matches her insides and everyone knows that she is a bad person. No! I wanted the judgemental narrator to be more Christian not to be vindicated.

These were my biggest problems with the book. I could list other minor things, but I won't. Instead I will list what I liked, because it wasn't totally without merit. The book did have some good jokes and limericks, and some extremely unique ideas and images. I loved the painting lesson. I loved the chapel that looked over the Salt Lake Valley.

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh. I needed something 'lite' after Mr. Biswas, and this certainly did the trick. It was fun and only took a couple of days. It's not as saccharine as I'm guessing most Mormon fiction and it asks some questions without providing pat answers. If she's written anything else, I'd like to read it.

Many of her characters did not fulfill 'perfect Mormon' stereotypes which was also refreshing. One conversation I particularly liked was about moms who can't talk about anything but their kids. I was pleased to find that there is someone else in the Mormon universe who finds this tedious. (letting your kids take over your life and identity. boo!)

"What bothers you so much about the pregnancy talk? Is it because you never had children of your own?"
"No", I said, "That's not it..It's just that these women are people. Before they know they're little girls, they're people. When they get married, they're still people. But when they become mothers, all of a sudden it's as if they aren't people anymore...most of them forget they're people and define themselves, even in their own minds, as mothers."

Okay, so it's not as eloquent as I remember it. Still, it's fun to read books that discuss Mormon culture and in a way that probes a bit...

[Robin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mormon friend told me to read this book and tell her what I thought of it. I did not want to read a book about a Mormon ward, sorry. Mormon authors are all cheesy, and their plots are improbable and sappy, and I won't even understand some of what's going on.

At least that's what I thought before I discovered Kathryn Kidd (and others). Then I made all my kids and all MY friends read it.

I read it in a day (with little kids running around doing anything they wanted as long as they left me alone with my book). The first half, I laughed with tears streaming down my cheeks and my sides aching. Later, my heart broke and I cried for people I didn't even know. This is NOT sappy, and even if you aren't a member of a Mormon ward you'll recognize the personalities and the contradictions in life that must be faced.

I've tried a couple of other Mormon authors, and honestly, the whole point seems to be that everyone joins the Mormon Church and lives happily eternally after. This book is reality. It's out-of-date (corded phones and all) in some ways, but not in your heart.

[Brooke Shirts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perky LDS fiction from the '80s -- actually the first book from Orson Scott Card's "Hattrack" imprint.

Kidd's book is a light comic romp showcasing a rather unconventional RS presidency in a ward full of eccentrics on the East Bench of Salt Lake City. I picked it up since Kidd based her fictional community on the neighborhood I recently moved to; in fact, I found out from the introduction that Kidd used to live on my street! However, in the persuit of comedy, the fictional Paradise Vue ward seems too often populated with shallow, self-absorbed people instead of the caring, spiritual (although admittedly, ordinarily flawed) folk that are usually the hallmark of Mormon communities. Some of the characters were two-dimensional to the point of being obnoxious, and a sequence involving a homemaking cooking activity featuring "Sister Chan" and "sea cucumber stir fry" was embarrassingly non-PC.

Still, it was fun to read a book where the characters go to dinner at the Five Alls!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of all Mormon humor books. The Paradise View ward could be any ward of the church, but especially one here in Utah. The funeral scene is about the funniest thing I've ever read. It's reassuring to know that we all feel inadequate in our callings, feel lonely at home sometimes, and that every smiling face in church on Sunday masks a lot of problems inside. But if we can laugh about it, we're ahead of the game. Every Mother's Day I remember the brother who decided to give all the moms frozen TV dinner instead of flowers. Didn't work.

If you think Mormons don't have a sense of humor, you need to check this book out. Best of her books so far.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters here are much loved or hated. Depends who it is. Amy is likable, as is Alex. Bess turned out to be as well. Emma loves herself and Amy is about the only one that doesn't think so highly of her. To most folks, Emma can do no wrong. Many of the ladies want to emulate her. Not Amy. Emma thinks everyone should wear the same makeup and clothing she herself wears; not Amy. Emma shows up to an event, never to work but to be seen. She can't break a fingernail. She guilts people into doing what she wants. Into having her way. Find out what happens to Emma after a vehicular accident which she is in.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paradise Vue is the story of the Woman's Society of the Paradise Vue Ward of the Mormon Church. Although I am sure I missed some tidbits of the humor due to not understanding the workings and position of the Mormon Church, I definitely could relate to the antics and relationships that happen within any normal women's group. The author did a good job of showing how many people put on faces and others never realize who that person really is. Amy the storyteller found out a lot about herself as she filled her position as Homemaking Counselor, a job that she felt did not fit her at all. You will laugh and cry as you read this humorous novel.

[Jams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my genre. I don't normally read LDS fiction. I'm quiet sure I pick this up after reading "Lovelock" (written by Kidd and OSC) But I've been too sick to get out of bed and needed something light and easy. So what the blank...

"Paradise Vue" was quiet funny. And the underlying theme wasn't too bad: "No matter how perfect we seem from the outside, we all have secret sorrows."

The saddest part of the book came near the end. So even though everything was resolved in the end, I finished the book feeling sad and undone.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book for me because I know very little about the Mormon faith and the culture that surrounds it. The story is about everyday people and the things that they do in their ward. The most notable thing for me, though, is that the story just underlines that people are the same everywhere - despite religion, race, or circumstances, people are simply people, with all of their marvelous and not-so-marvelous personalities.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy is a GREAT writer and I absolutely loved this book. She is so easy to read and this story made me laugh out loud.

I have read and re-read this book, and bought it as a gift for many friends.

You need to be a member of the Relief Society to appreciate Kathy's humorous account of its' members.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm usually anti-LDS lit, since I think there are so few good LDS fiction authors, but this one is particularly funny. It's a great light read, especially if you've ever been in an R.S. Presidency. Forward is by Orson Scott Card (not my favorite author, but oh well). This book has lots of very funny scenes and dialogue in it. Very fun.

[Jenn Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Mr. Thygerson piddling in the petunias to jello salads to wearing sunglasses in church, this book is packed with laugh-out-loud moments. Of course, it DOES help to know something of Mormon culture, since that is what she is satirizing. However, she also has many insights and themes that come from having first hand experience with small-community cultures. I love this book!

[Cayenne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to be giving up on books a lot lately. I can hope it is because I am more discerning, but maybe I'm just lazy. This book was well-written, I thought, but it just didn't work for me. I just didn't care about any of the characters and I couldn't relate them to anyone I know. It seemed a bit dark to me, actually.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually like LDS fiction--too predictable, too "perfect." But this book is different. The ending isn't all wrapped up in a bow and sealed in the temple, if you know what I mean. The people in it seem real and lovable in spite of (or maybe because of) their imperfections. It's a book I reread every couple of years.

[Mashmc]

Refreshing Mormon fiction about a strange Relief Society presidency and their adventures and misadventures. While the author seemed to describe her characters sloppily, the people she writes about are familiar enough, as are their relationships and their problems. I really enjoyed reading this one and had to swallow it whole.

[Carma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating it as LDS fiction, I really enjoyed it. It helps that I had a chance to get to know the author who lived in my ward before passing. It is goofy, sometimes laugh out loud funny and occasionally what might be considered irreverent. However, it has some depth and consideration tucked into it. Kathy Kidd is a master at painting a portrait of a personality with words.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud! It might be considered a little irreverent to some, but I thought the author was very good at providing humor from our distinct culture while also giving good insight into why people do some of the things they do.

[Celestia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny book that will make you laugh out loud if you have any experience with Mormon culture. It's not total brain candy either. Several comments from the characters will make you think, and the tragedy in the end is also thought-provoking.

[Mary Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good and interesting but too negative. Not as funny as I had expected. Made me realize that in everyones home there are serious worries and problems and no one is perfect. I didn't like the judging done by the individual.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud hilarious! And yes, it's on this shelf because Mormons are Christians too.

[Clwaddoups · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books of all time.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to my friend Ruthie I laughted at myself and enjoyed the look in the mirror.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny novel.

[E. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read about mormons. I love this author I have 3 of her books.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author lived on Princeton Avenue...just like we do! Although dated, this was one book that I can appreciate.