Well, isn’t that special? The story of Church Folk by Michele Andrea Bowen

Church Folk by Michele Andrea Bowen | LibraryThing

Bowen, M. A. (2001). Church Folk. West Bloomfield, Mich: Walk WorthyPress.978-0446615389

In 1961, Memphis Reverend Theophilus Henry Simmons finds himself emotionally drained after preaching a revival in Mississippi. Wanting a break from the demands of church, Theophilus heads for Pompey’s Rib Joint, “which had the best rib tip sandwiches around – not to mention being known for hosting some of the best blues artists in the region” (Bowen 2001). Not only does Theophilus discover the truth about the goodness of the food and music but he sees the cook, Miss Essie Lee Lane. Immediately, he is attracted to lovely, no nonsense, Christian, diamond in the rough. Essie is drawn to Theophilus as well even though she wants no part of being a preacher’s wife. After a long distance “courting,” Theophilus and Essie marry and Essie becomes the First Lady of Theophilus’s Memphis church, Greater Hope. Human flaws as well as church politics and civil rights are seen as they play into the relationship of the Reverend and Mrs. Simmons.

Church Folk is a publication of the Walk Worthy Press, part of Warner, whose target audience is Christian African-American (May 2007). Most, if not all, characters are African American. Since it is set in the early 1960s South, Civil Rights play a big role in the book. Protagonists seek direction from prayer and Bible study in how to move in gaining equal rights. For the most part, main characters determine early in the novel that African Americans must love each other before they can move forward in Civil Rights. This means cleaning up the acts of ill-behaving preachers and “walking the talk.”

The protagonists in this novel are definitely prayerful Christians. When the protagonists commit sins, they do confess to God and fellow Christians, and ask for forgiveness. Bowen has created a morality play in this novel and she holds her characters accountable for their foibles. God and The Bible drive the action of Theophilus and Essie among many other “good guys.”

However, Bowen does break the cardinal rules of Christian Fiction. Bowen mentions sex on the very first page of the Prologue. “Sex below the neck” does take place in Church Folk (May 2007). In numerous cases, characters having sex outside of marriage is mentioned but not described in full detail. While a forgiving tone exists, having unmarried sex is definitely not condoned by the author. Usually, characters suffer bad consequences for these actions. Also, some characters do use “bad language” but this is a device the author uses to help readers identify hypocrites among badly behaved clergymen.

My mom picked up Church Folk at the library and found the novel refreshingly honest and realistic. Immediately, she encouraged me to read it as an example of Christian Fiction because the people acted like people and not sanctimonious goody-goodies. We both were chagrined to see the “African American” sticker which the library put on the spine of Church Folk. Although neither Mom nor I are African American, we are Christians who enjoyed reading the book. Bowen illustrates Christian characters so well that anyone should be able to enjoy Church Folk. I really liked the down to earth Theophilus and strong, smart cracking Essie as well as Essie’s family and Theophilus’s mentor, the Reverend Murchison James. Additionally, the good characters all possess a good sense of humor and they say the funniest things. This humor makes events memorable and enjoyable for readers. Characters such as the uppity Saphronia McComb, crazy Glodean Benson, and the crooked Reverends Marcel Brown and Sonny Washington are despicable as well as recognizable.

I would most assuredly recommend Church Folk to readers who want realistic Christian Fiction. As previously mentioned, readers can tell from the first page about the sexual content of Church Folk. If a reader finds this offensive, then he/she can move on to another book. I believe audiences of Historical Fiction or those interested in Civil Rights Movement would appreciate this book, too. Also, readers who like to read funny stuff would enjoy Church Folk. Last but not least, this book would attract readers of Romance.

Four and a half Out of Five Pearls.

 

When will those clouds all disappear? – Hondo by Louis L’Amour

 

L’Amour, L. (1983). Hondo. New York: Bantam Books.9780553230871

Laconic U.S. Calvary scout Hondo Lane is a heroic knight of the Arizona desert. With his ornery friend of a dog Sam, Hondo comes upon an isolated ranch en route to the post to report a likely Apache raid on white settlers. At this ranch, he meets the lone, proud Angie Lowe and her young son, Johnny. The normally detached “part-Indian” Hondo finds himself loving the Lowes. He asks, “Where is Mr. Lowe?” “Why would anyone abandon such a family?” and “Why do Angie and Johnny remain here when Apache attacks are inevitable?” Leaving the ranch, Hondo journeys through some dangerous conditions towards the post in order to make his report. He ponders who he has just left vulnerable to the volatile and formidable Apache chief Vittoro and his braves.

Hondo employs many elements of the Western genre. First and foremost, the setting is definitely the American West. The story takes place in the Arizona desert in the 1870s. Hondo Lane is a traditional hero of the West; he is the strong, silent type and is the noble knight serving his lord(s) (military officers) and country. He is much more accustomed to being on his own but he immediately takes to protecting the damsel in distress (Angie), her son, and her manor (the ranch) from attackers (Apache Indians). One of the most engaging qualities of Hondo Lane is that he and the reader wonder whether or not he will completely ride off into the sunset or return for the lady of the manor. Angie Lowe appears as a touchstone of civilization as well as Hondo’s match. She is strong, proud, and recognizes the moral fiber in Hondo. Also, Hondo comprises an adventurous, danger element through the Apache warriors. Both the fear and promise of these angry neighbors keeps the characters as well as readers on their toes.

At first, I found Hondo to be rather cliché. This, of course, is based more on film than literature. However, I would say Hondo is the standard and that clichés followed the Hondo formula.

I was happily surprised by Hondo. To my family’s chagrin, I am not much of a Western movie fan and I did not expect to like anything in this genre. At a complete loss, I took Saricks’s suggestion and finally selected Hondo. I was none too fond of the more visceral descriptions of raids and I felt somewhat nauseous in reading about scalping. Still, this added to the urgency, danger, and excitement of the novel. I truly admired Hondo because he was not much for lying and he often put others before himself. He portrayed terrific work ethic and dedication to his job. As a librarian, I like seeing someone who knows his resources as well as his instincts. Additionally, I liked Angie because she took pride in her ranch and did the best she could by it. Angie determined whether one’s character was good based solely on that one person. She was not prone to making generalizations when it came to either men or Apaches. Vittoro is admirable as well in that he stays true to his people and his word. L’Amour made the bad guys despicable, too.

I would recommend this book to a mostly male audience seeking adventure in a past era. This may appeal to historical fiction fans. I think it may be fun to compare the book and the movie in a subsequent book discussion.

Two Out of Five Pearls.

 

 

Pulled Out a Plum. . . One for the Money: the First Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich

 Evanovich, J. (2001). One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel. New York: HarperTorch. ISBN: 0061009059

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich begins with One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel. Stephanie Plum is a Jersey Girl down on her luck; she is out of a job and then her Miata is repossessed. Pretty soon, she may have to move back in with her parents and wacky Grandma Mazur. When push comes to shove, Stephanie blackmails her slimy cousin and bail bondsman Vinne Plum into giving her a job as a Bond Enforcement Agent or B.E.A. or bounty hunter. As a bounty hunter, Stephanie must apprehend people who have used Vinnie’s services but have skipped bail. She becomes acquainted and reacquainted with a comical cast of characters. Stephanie very first case happens to be bringing in vice cop Joseph “Joe” Morelli. Stephanie’s previous sexual encounters with Morelli, a boxer with a nasty temper, bad “car-ma,” and training with expert bounty hunter Carlos Mañoso a.k.a. Ranger add to the misadventures of Stephanie’s induction into the life of a bounty hunter.

One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel focuses first on the crime of bail skipping. The victim, Vinnie Plum, loses money when someone fails to appear (FTA). Stephanie must find Morelli and make him appear in court. Since Stephanie operates as a rookie bounty hunter, solving the mystery is really not part of her job description. In this sense, Stephanie is an amateur detective. She does encounter murder along the way and takes solving that crime into her own hands. Stephanie’s curious nature and tenacity as well as the circumstances of F.T.A. leads her to solving the crime in this book and subsequent books in the series. With her smart mouth and comical reactions to situations at hand, Stephanie is a sympathetic character like many amateur detectives. Yet, as a bounty hunter, there are some private investigative and police procedural elements (Saricks 153). In the end, I still find Stephanie Plum to be an amateur – especially in this first novel.

I knew I wanted to read a Stephanie Plum book for this assignment because I find that Janet Evanovich brings in new readers to the Mystery Genre. After evaluating the Stephanie Plum series, I decided on One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel because it was the start of the series. While Evanovich excels in regurgitating facts and reintroducing characters in her other Stephanie Plum novels, I decided it would be easiest for patrons to start with the beginning and follow Stephanie’s career. Additionally, locating a copy of One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel would be simpler than finding Evanovich’s latest Stephanie Plum installment.

I found the book to be an easy read and I was automatically rooting for Stephanie. While I did not feel as though she could save the day, I crossed my fingers she would be able to save her own neck. I found some parts of the book to be rather vulgar (i.e. foul language, sexual situations and innuendo, and violence.) Yet, I believed the characters would not be so convincing if they did not cuss. Ultimately, I thought the book was hilarious and I found myself ready to put my hands on the next book.

The cast of characters, if nothing else, are unforgettable. Evanovich and narrator Stephanie describe them well with so few words. Immediately, I imagined Grandma Mazur being played by Estelle Getty. I look forward to seeing if Stephanie ever makes a decision between Morelli or fellow bounty hunter – Ranger. I enjoyed the interaction between Stephanie and Lula, too.

I definitely recommend the Stephanie Plum novels to women. One for the money: the First Stephanie Plum novel is wisecracking and romantic simultaneously. Stephanie’s wisecracks, along with her sweet tooth and numerous other human weaknesses make Stephanie accessible to the reader. She is a normal person placed in some rather outrageous circumstances. Evanovich previously wrote romantic fiction and elements from this genre appear between Stephanie and Morelli.

Four out of Five Pearls!

 

—

Saricks, J. G. (2001). The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. ALA Readers’ Advisory Series. Chicago: American Library Association.

 

 

 

Change of Pace . . .

I have not added a book review since January. My sad excuse is that I let things get in the way. I have been reading but I haven’t been reviewing.

Well, now I am taking this wonderful course called Adult Material and Reading Interests. Pretty much weekly, I turn in a book report. Since I am doing this, I might as well post these reports which meet the criteria of class assignments to my “Jorie’s Reads” blogs. The selections will be diverse and may not be on the English 101 reading list. Nevertheless, posts will be made more regularly.

~ Jorie