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

Beautiful and sad

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I assumed one central character but enjoyed the differing characters. Might have likes to see how some experiences played out more.

A collection of voices

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