Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

36 reviews

gabichatslit's review against another edition

5.0

A really amazing collection of short stories that find black women of various ages grappling with the desires of their heart and the ways they come up against their faith practice/beliefs, and the teachings of the church. I was blown away by the poetics of Philyaw’s prose. How melodic some of these stories read. Also the way I was mindblown by the connection between ‘Peach Cobbler’ and ‘Instructions for Married Christian Husbands.’ The characters in these tales felt so real. My favorites include the two aforementioned stories, as well as Not-Daniel, Dear Sister, and How to Make Love to a Physicist. I’m really excited to read what Philyaw releases next, she is a wordsmith. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

hullomoon's review against another edition

hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.75

I love how some of these are interconnected and I appreciate the intergenerational aspect in many of the stories. I couldn't put this book down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Dementia

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer and Child abuse

clairew97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

shereadytoread's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent

lilybear3's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Beautifully written and every story is immersive and compelling.  It's hard to pick a favorite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Abortion

brookey8888's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was good, but I don’t really enjoy short stories especially in this case because I feel like I can’t connect and get to know the characters. I did like the stories in this but sometimes I got confused because the POV would change and I wouldn’t know who I was following. I do appreciate the diversity in this(race,sexuality). Also the topic of what makes you a Christian and church going was interesting and how the different characters interpreted religion. I do think if this sounds interesting pick it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

shyshy's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

4.75

Every single story short or long, had the ability to leave you thinking constantly. Lovely read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Minor: Death of parent

kiwialexa's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

mraddd's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism