Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

16 reviews

rosalind's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
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nsfonline's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was an absolute masterpiece. Each story was so engaging and stood on its own.  I could not put it down from chapter 1 to the end.  I listened on audio which was great and toward the end I bought the Kindle version so I have a permanent record and to support this awesome storyteller.  Will revisit this book and this author often.
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jesseybean's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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birdbrainbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love when I enjoy a short story collection, because they’re very hit or miss for me. This was a solid hit and a must-read for everyone. I eagerly look forward to more from Philyaw—she is a phenomenal writer. She uses very specific details to paint a complete picture of who someone is and where they’re from. I love short story collections that have a uniting theme, and here it’s looking into the private spaces that Black women find to explore their desires and needs, while grappling with the societal and religious expectations often thrust upon them. It’s a quick read too, so you have no excuse to not pick it up.
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sarahaf712's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

📚 Can a review just be entirely the 🤯 emoji? Asking for a friend.
📚 So many voices with so many conflicting feelings and dreams and obligations and small freedoms. There's not a dud in the group.
📚 This book prodded at all the ways the Christian church in America can push someone down, trying to force them into molds they don't fit. Some stories were all about that, and in some the church was just a shadow in the background, which I loved.
📚 Each story was in some way about boundaries - how much church to let in, who you have relationships with, when you allow someone in to see the messiness. 
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