A review by apaudioreads
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

This was the first set of short stories. I have read in a while, and the first that I had culturally identified with in a long time. These are the stories of our mothers and grandmothers and aunts. There is a sense of familiarity and a sense of sadness that comes with a familiarity. Stories about women in love you still desire to fit into socially acceptable, sexual orientation so they may be cast out by the only families they've ever known. Stories of women already cast out by the loved ones in favor of new lives in different spaces with people they want to build families with. And stories of little girls they grow up too fast and the families that didn't protect them from the men who would eventually meet unfortunate ends. No matter who you are if you've grown up black or southern or both you have found yourself in one of these stories in ways that may hurt so guard yourself as you must. But also in ways that you may feel comforted by. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings