Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

17 reviews

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

felishacb's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Murder

Minor: Dementia, Alcohol, Miscarriage, and Abortion

ksuazo94's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Racism

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Abandonment and Addiction

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

bek_p87's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

I don't normally read short story collections because I often find that my favourites are too short and I want more, and vice versa. So this was a welcome surprise - I was intrigued and entranced by all of the stories, which (even though some left me wanting more) were all complete in their own right. My favourites were Dear Sister, Snowfall, How to Make Love to a Physicist, and Instructions for Married Christian Husbands.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Drug abuse and Homophobia

Minor: Murder

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

I really don't know how to rate this. Just like any Short Story collection some stories were stronger than others. Also some of the stories were very short with others long, so I wasn't able to get to know those characters as well. I really liked the intergenerational aspect of many of the stories, but wish more of the issues of the church were explored besides sexual lives. I appreciated the Jael story for that reason. But the writing is undoubtedly good and I will check out future weeks from Philyaw

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion and Murder

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Murder

anspringel's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

When I read the title I didn’t expect to love the book as I do now. Words can’t describe the enjoyment I felt while reading this and still feel. I don’t usually re-read books but I know for a fact I’ll be coming back to this one. The way each story is written in a different style and pov screams the brilliance of the author. In each story you’re introduced to a cast of characters with different backgrounds and issues in different generations, and as I mentioned earlier a different story telling style which means there is one for everyone to love. I just can’t suggest this book enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Murder

whimsylindsey's review

slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Murder and Domestic abuse