Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

31 reviews

buttermellow's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Dementia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Physical abuse

lizziaha's review against another edition

5.0

I don’t always love short stories because I’m generally a character reader, and short stories don’t usually have the space to really flesh characters out, but every character in this collection felt so whole and real. Each story was delightful and captured so much with so little. Definitely one to revisit! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Lesbophobia

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Abandonment, Sexual content, Grief, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Racism

Minor: Abortion, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, and Murder

jdamae11's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

Wow I loved all of these stories! I’ll be reading anything Deesha Philyaw puts out after finishing this collection. She covers the complexities of mother-daughter bonds, sexism, religion, spirituality, sexuality, and Black life and Black womanhood with so much care, authenticity, and nuance. There were a few times I would go back to reread lines or just pause on a page to appreciate what was conveyed. Adding this to my favorites shelf for sure. The collection opens with an absolute banger with “Eula” and although I really enjoyed all the stories, “How to Make Love to a Physicist” had me screaming crying throwing up it was so amazing. Gunna have to go back and reread that one a few more times. So thankful to the author for putting out this lovely collection!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Child abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Dementia

imogenlj's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Cursing, Dementia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion, Domestic abuse, and Rape

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

quirkko24's review

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Death, and Alcoholism

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

abbyluvsfrogs444's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This is such a stunning collection of short stories. I fell in love with all the characters. I adored the writing. I became absorbed in all the stories. I love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Dementia, and Alcohol

brookey8888's review

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