Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

36 reviews

francestea's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

A nice mix of stories allowing the reader in on little slices of each characters life. Peach Cobbler, one of the longer stories, was really visceral (and had me craving peaches). Eula, was another story that really stood out for me, about two friends romantically involved (although one is completely in denial of their situation). The characters feel very real, regular people with hardships, joys, desires, and failings. A quick and enjoyable read I’d recommend especially for someone new to short stories. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator as well! 
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siob___'s review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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mrsbennettreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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books_and_mags's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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bookish_sabrina's review against another edition

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

5.0

A truly remarkable short story collection.

This is a collection of stories about Black women in America. They focus primarily on relationships, whether between an abusive parent and child, an estranged sibling, a lifelong partner, or a new flame. These characters feel fully realized in a handful of pages due to the way the author gives us insight on their deepest vulnerabilities and desires. Many of the stories are characterized by yearning for connection. For instance, in Snowfall, the protagonist masks a disconnect with her partner with a disdain for the unrelenting snows of an East coast winter. Or, the story Peach Cobbler, a story about a mother who withholds nourishment, both literal and emotional, from her daughter who is desperate for both.

No story is out of place here. Oftentimes, a collection will have a couple of middling stories that feel out of place, but each story in here absolutely belongs and continues to impress. I enjoyed how Philyaw experimented with form and story length, which made starting a story feel fresh every time. Highly recommend if you're looking for a collection that has impeccable writing, characters who feel entirely real, and includes queer relationships.

My favorite stories: Dear Sister, Snowfall, Peach Cobbler
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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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