There have been a few books from the past year or so that seem to keep popping up everywhere I look. It’s not a book I normally would have been drawn to – I’m not religious and don’t have much interest in the topic, so the title wouldn’t have appealed. I don’t normally read short story collections because I prefer novel-length stories that let me spend more time in a character’s life or with a particular story. But it was so pervasive that I got curious.
These stories are only very loosely connected. If I had to choose a theme that flows through the collection, I’d say it’s probably betrayal. But each story has its own unique relationships, experiences and pain. Some of the stories have direct connections with religion, some explore more how religious morality has affected their upbringing, dreams or relationships. But there is always this feeling that it has somehow become a negative influence, or that someone who represents it has betrayed their position, or that it has created constraints that restrict people’s options and abilities to be open and honest about themselves.
I found this to be an interesting way to explore these themes. You’re introduced first to a character, you get to know them a little, see the conflict in their life, then you slowly see how religion somehow exists in the background (or foreground) and how it affects that conflict. It’s a clever exploration of the complexity of religious belief, and how it can divide even while it is attempting to bring together.
I am not the ideal audience for this book since the format isn’t one I typically read. But I did enjoy it more than I expected and found the way it was structured fascinating. I can definitely see why it has been getting as much discussion as it has! If you’re a short story fan, or if you’re looking to explore the genre, this might be a good place to start. Or if the themes interest you, you’ll find it to be a very interesting read!
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 passion. – Goodreads
Book Title: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
Author: Deesha Philyaw
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook
Published By: West Virginia University Press
Released: September 1, 2020
Genre: Fiction, Short Stories
Pages: 179
Date Read: August 22, 2021
Rating: 6/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.29/5 (13,311 ratings)