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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

By: Deesha Philyaw
Narrated by: Janina Edwards
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About this listen

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 14-year-old Jael, who has a crush on the preacher's wife. At 42, 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.

©2020 Deesha Philyaw (P)2020 Tantor African American Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Stories Marriage Church Women

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All stars
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This was beautifully written and wonderfully performed. It made me feel things and care for the characters. I had to pause several times because some of the short stories were so impactful, I didn't want to just move on. I definitely recommend!

Beautiful, touching

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Lots of lovely short stories - sometimes shocking, sometimes really true to life - pulled together and beautifully narrated. It’s short - so I finished it in 2 sittings while shopping then cooking - and very enjoyable. I hope to hear more from this author, as writing engaging short stories is a real skill that many writers can’t pull off! I’d highly recommend.

Really interesting

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I didn’t know what to expect when I first got the book but I was pleasantly and happily surprised. Each chapter takes you through a different woman’s unique story. I won’t spoil it for others, but all the stories were moving, heartbreaking and touching in some sort of way. My favourite was the Peach Cobbler story. Fantastic writing from this young author, I look forward to reading her future work.

Fantastic Set of Stories

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I thoroughly enjoyed the narration of this book, it made the stories come alive! Highly recommend

I just wish it was longer!

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I really enjoyed this book, thought provking and sad, very well written definitely would read again.

Beautiful and sad

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Interesting collection pf stories around all types of black women and their struggles, rejections and connections with the church and its communities.

Interesting

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wasn't sure what to expect but each story was compelling and interesting and took you into the lives of so many different women. highly recommended

great set of stories

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I was shocked that this is not an African book. Don’t ask me why. Good writing amd it seems to reflect the black writing well

Not what I expected

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Lovely set of stories. I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long while. Excellent writing that really drew you in as a reader. Performed exceptionally well by the actress Janina Edwards.

So enjoyable

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liked the narrators voice, some of the exaggerated accents were annoying overall the stories were told well

the subtle theme of trauma in the stories

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