ARC - The Secret Lives of Church Ladies - Deesha Philyaw

 

The Secret Life of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

I recently joined Net galley as a reviewer and already I am receiving advanced reader copies (ARC's) digitally on my kindle. This is the second one I have received for the week. After binge watching the five seasons of Green leaf on Netflix I have a new interest in what goes on behind the scenes in a church setting. I am looking forward to reading this one. See the description below

Description:

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church’s double standards and their own needs and passions.

There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher’s wife. At forty-two, Lyra realizes that her discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta’s “same time next year” arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other.

With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be.

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/189451

UPDATE:

REVIEW

This is my first review of an ARC on Net galley and my first time reading this author.

I read this book in one sitting it was definitely a page turner, All the characters were relatable and the struggle with respect to relationships, family, sexuality and religion were so vividly expressed in every single story.
What stood out for me with these short stories is the role that Christianity plays in the lives of these women especially in their decision making.

My favorite story was Peach Cobbler I think that story alone could have been an entire novel. it was so well thought out. I also liked Eula and How to Make Love to a Physicist,
I hope this is the first of many things to come from this author.

I highly recommend this book

 

Book Review: "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult ★★★★☆

I gave this book four out of five stars.

Synopsis:

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

A provocative novel that raises some important ethical issues, My Sister's Keeper is the story of one family's struggle for survival at all human costs and a stunning parable for all time.

My review

This story could easily go down as one of my favorites of all time.

As they say first impressions are lasting impressions and being that this is my first time reading Jodi Picoult all I can say is Wow...

Apart from being a tale that evoked every emotion a person can feel sadness, anger, love, passion, empathy. What stood out for me is the maturity of the main character Anna. At thirteen years old she was so mature beyond her years, willing to take her parents to court to make them stop and think about how giving kidney to her sister will affect her life.

This book had me questioning whether or not if placed in that situation where I had a child that was dying would I have handled it like Sara?

This tale is a good one for parents to be reminded that they must treat all their children equally in spite of the situation. Having a sick child is stressful on parents and on entire families, the author through Sara and Brian illustrated that fact as well. All the characters were relatable and most of all this tale was so realistic.

Brace yourself  for the ending it would leave you speechless.

Excellent book!! 

Follow all my reviews on goodreads and to see what I'm reading you can follow me on instagram @bookishfran38

My story : Why did I start a book blog?

As early as eight years old I have always been a reader. 

Actually my dream in life was to become a librarian because apart from loving to read I have a fascination for libraries and book stores. 

In my early twenties, one of my first jobs was at a bookstore and my favorite section was the novel sections perusing the occasional book once the opportunity presented itself. 

There was a period of time however, upon entering tertiary education and moving to the corporate world that reading took somewhat of a back burner. I would still go to the library on occasion and borrow the occasional book and if I were in the mall or near a bookstore I would purchase or download a book or two on my kindle. But reading was more like an occasional hobby for me for a few years.

Fast forward to 2019. In 2019, I discovered book tube and honestly it changed my life. What fascinated me about it was not so much the content of the videos like the book hauls, T B R piles or the Book recommendations. I was fascinated that the internet through Social Media platforms like You Tube, Instagram has given new life to a hobby that most find cliche' or sometimes boring. These things renewed my love for reading and I started reading more and diversely too. 

Fast forward 2020, Coronavirus hit and as an educator I now have to deal with school closures and teaching at a distance, which means now I have some extra hours to do things that I am often busy or tired to do so.

I decided that I would try this bookstagram thing and sure enough I began actually getting followers from all over the Caribbean and the World.

Now I am taking one step further in the that this book blog can make the same impact. 

I love the idea of sharing what I am reading and most importantly, showing people that books can give you a whole world to explore.

So, in a nutshell I really did start this blog to share my passion for reading one book at a time.

August 2020 - Reads.

 

I am having a good reading month so far. (Yes for me four books is a lot in a month considering I do a lot of other things). 

Book Titles

1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

2. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

3. My Sister's Keeper _ Jodi Picoult

4. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga