Customer Reviews

Church Folk

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had no idea what to expect when my online book club chose this book for their next read. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It totally engrossed me from the first paragraph.

The setting is the 60's in the midst of the civil rights movement in which the black church was the center of much of this causes activities.

Theophilus Simmons, new pastor of Greater Hope United Church is single, new in the ministry, and falling deeply for Essie Lane. Their courtship is sweet and honest. Their marriage is put to the test by 'church folk'.

'Church Folk' shows all the elements of church life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This book shows that there are wolves among the sheep, but the sheep ultimately overcome.

While reading this book I laughed out loud, said 'Amen' several times, and reminisced of the times when I was young attending church in the 60's. It isn't so 'churchy' that it isn't real. It isn't so hardcore that you can't enjoy it as a christian.

I had purchased Church Folk a while ago, but never took the time to read it until recently. I don't know why it took me so long to delve into this gem of a novel! Once I picked Church Folk up and started reading, I could NOT put it down.

I started reading it on a Tuesday morning before I went to work and (Lord forgive me), I continued reading it at work, while on a series of conference calls! Work became an interruption for me that day as I became immersed in the vivid descriptions and engaging characters that Church Folk's gifted author, Michele Andrea Bowen, had created.

Ms. Bowen took special care in introducing her characters and their lives to the reader. She gives enough detail that you can smell the delicious food, hear the music, and envision yourself in a 1960's Mississippi.

It only took me a few sentences to get hooked on Rev. Theophilus Simmons, the main character in Church Folk. Ms. Bowen succinctly described his plight in the first few lines of the book, and I immediately wanted to follow his story to the end. Along the way, she introduces one Glodean Benson, who proves to be a thorn in the good Reverend's side, and Ms. Bowen gives the reader ample reason to dislike her. However, when Rev. Simmons meets the woman of his dreams, a jook joint cook named Essie Lee Lane, he strikes gold...and so does Ms. Bowen.

Many books of this genre make the mistake of boring readers with neat, predictable plots. Unlike in real life, many characters in Christian fiction are pristine, God-fearing and so close to holiness that it outweighs what could have been a decent plot. By introducing Essle in such a way, Ms. Bowen totally and pleasantly surprised me. I had expected the good Rev. Simmons to meet a nice and quiet church girl...I must say that he did -- in the form of snooty Saphronia Anne McComb -- and chose the earthy, fiesty Essie Lee instead.

I will not do you this disservice of dosclosing any more details of the plot. You just will have to read it for yourself.

(And by the way, I was so enthralled with Church Folk that I left work early to go home and finish it...which I did by 2 a.m. the following morning!)

Wow, was I shocked at how quickly this book caught and held my interest. Ms. Bowen did a wonderful job with this book ... creating very believeable characters and events.

I am still tryin to pronounce Theophilus name though....LOL

I enjoyed the relationship Theo and Essie eventually evoled into. I also thought Ms. Bowen showed a very REALISTIC sides of Christianity. Not only for Theo but as a church group.

This does make you shake your head of the goings on in our church world and with CHURCH FOLK.

I believe that you will enjoy this book. At first I thought it was gonna be tooo preachy and not all real...but was totally surprised.... IT IS A GREAT BOOK!

First-time novelist, Michelle Andrea Bowen, gives us an entertaining and soul-stirring story titled Church Folk. Church Folk is the latest release from Walk Worthy Press and lives up to the tradition that has made this publishing company successful…novels of real people rediscovering His plan as they confront their most difficult challenges—and face the biggest decisions of their lives.

Rev. Theophilus Simmons was the new and very eligible pastor of Memphis Greater Hope Church. He’s a respectful, down-to-earth, caring and romantic gentleman that any parent would want for their daughter. Rev. Simmons has quite a few suitors but he only has eyes for Essie Lee Lane. To many parishioners, Essie Lee is an unlikely candidate for First Lady. She’s a small-town girl from a humble background, she doesn’t belong to any of the elite, exclusive African-American social clubs and she speaks her mind. Rev. Simmons believes that Essie has everything a pastor needs in a wife—compassion, brains and a sincere desire to share in the ups and downs of his ministry.

The honeymoon isn’t quite over before the Simmons marriage will be tested. All around them Church Folks got stuff going on…and plenty of drama and more drama. Folks involved in ..., ..., ..., and then there’s prostitution rings, physical abuse, blackmail, politics, greed…and these situations only involve the highly respected leaders of the church…you know those men called preachers. Rev. Simmons will be tested as he’s called by the elders of the church to help straighten out and rectify these terrible situations that the church has gotten itself into. Given his age and inexperience…will his word be respected as the Gospel and will he be able to lead the flock?

Church Folk, while set in the early 60s, gives us topics and antics that still occur in the church today. At times the subject matter might be very controversial and over the top and one might wonder whether or not the plot twists and turns are realistic…all I can say unequivocally is …YES. Four decades later and Church Folks are still being Church Folks and giving us colorful characters, witty dialogue, vivid imagery and drama and more drama. If you seek a book that entertains while enlightening then pick up Church Folk today…it's a compelling read that will hold your attention until the last page. And you will remember the characters long after you’ve finished the book.

Reviewed by Yasmin

This book was selected by my bookclub. And I loved it!! If you ever wanted to know what goes on behind closed doors in the church, you must read this book. Theophilus was a promising paster. He was also SINGLE. Theophilus was being hunted down by every single female in his church. I could not beleive the things some women would do to become FIRST LADY of a church. But Essie Lee Lane proved to be his soul mate and capable of dealing with all of the want-a-bees in the church. I would not want her job on a bad day.

The characters were funny and you will laugh out loud more than once. (Especially when the Bishop's teeth falls out - or when Essie sticks the woman in the butt with her hat pin) The story proved that religious men are just like any other men. It is the congregation that puts these religious men on such high pedestals and then they forget what their real purpose is within the church. CHURCH FOLK should be a required reading for those that want to go into the ministry as well as the congregations. Sometimes people do not realize how much they are acting foolish until they see it in black and white.

Ms. Bowen .... Excellant. I can't wait to read your next book!

Peace and Blessings !

It's been a very long time since I read a book and wanted to start reading it all over again, but that's what CHURCH FOLK did for me. I've read ALOT of books by authors we know and love, but this first-time author has written a book that's left me wanting more!

A product of the Black church myself, CHURCH FOLK makes one reminiscence to the many events I saw take place, good, bad and ugly, over the years. I especially enjoyed the fact that Theophilus was not afraid to show his feelings and emotions toward Essie, although he was the Reverend. He displayed human qualities and emotions that some ministers pretend they don't possess. And some of the drama that took place really takes place in church.

This book was hilarious, touching and one I highly recommend.

In 1963, Reverend Theophilus Simmons decides to rest and recuperate in Charleston, Mississippi after a week of revival preaching. Theophilus needs some alone time and several helpings of the best rib tip sandwich anywhere in the Delta area before returning to his Memphis flock. At Pompey's Rib Joint, Theophilus meets cook Essie Lee Lane and feels a miracle has occurred.

Soon Theophilus and Essie Lee share a long distance relationship, fall in love, and marry. However, life as a Reverend and his wife is not made in heaven, as the social demands of the wealthier patrons put a squeeze on the couple's need to help the poor. Then there is his former lover Glodean to further disturb the mix.

CHURCH FOLK is an engaging, deep glimpse at the African-American Southern Churches during the early civil rights movement. The story line provides an amazing portrayal of the era, but also emphasize sexual promiscuity among religious leaders. The use of profanity might turn off some readers, but the words fit the vernacular of the tale. With strong lead characters being tested by their congregation, Michele Andrea Bowen paints a vivid picture of a bygone era only four decades ago.

Harriet Klausner

Last Night I meet Ms. Bowen and now I understand better about what she wanted to accomplish. Not a story with some great profound message, but a carefully woven story with speckles of humor and mischief. I am not a 'Church Folk' myself, so the descriptions while perhaps over-the-top for some, really painted a picture for me that I would have had trouble painting for myself (if I was frustrated I think I would have put the book down). Church Folk around me admitted that she had captured the intrigue and 'juice' of the real and as a reader I appreciated that.

I was marginally disappointed (why I rated a 4 not a 5) that the historical time period was not better woven in the story (I think Ms Bowen was light on this point). I also did not feel I had as much of a flavor for the characters as much as I did when Ms. Bowen read at the book signing. I say this because I hope she is more daring in her next attempts.

Overall however this was just a good story. I think what I appreciate most was Ms. Bowen's word-smithing - she really does have a gift for description and metaphoric genius. Knowing what she did to bring this book to print and achieve her dreams, makes me appreciate "Chruch Folk" even more. Thank you for sharing this story!

Congrats on a noteworthy first book and the folk on the real - well we are waiting in anticipation for more works from you, Ms. Bowen. Keep writing!

To merely say that Church Folks by Michele Andrea Bowen is one of the better books I've read this summer would be an understatement. I purchased Church Folks on a whim, my tiny effort to support African-American authors and I am truly glad that I did. I started reading it at noon and by 6:00 p.m. I had finished the book in its entirety.

Ms. Bowen is truly a talented writer. Her vivid characters played out before me as if I were watching a play production. With each page I was drawn in to read another and another. The exchanges between the characters, Theophilus and Essie, Essie and Glodean, Mother Harold, the Bishops and ministers attending the conference, the sermons, the church politics behind the scene, etc. are written masterfully. Soon it was as if I were a bystander in the corner of the room, a fly on the wall, a member of the congregation, or simply listening to them at the dinner table.

Often hearing from the man Theophilus Simmons rather than Rev. Theophilus Simmons, we are forced to recognize that he is, as are we all, human by nature. We realize that ministers are human and being such will look, have been known to touch and experience, and as in the case of Rev. Brown, take advantage of a person or situation for his (her) own good. Something even Essie had to learn.

While Church Folks is set in African American community, the characters described within are found in each ethnic community. We all know the folks in Church Folks.

Written in vivid color and detail, Church Folks takes us into the South and into the heart of the African-American (then Negro) community the church. We see the in-house politics, which we all know but sometimes ignore for our greater good (or at least how others may view us).

I'm recommending this book to everyone. And I look forward to reading more of Ms. Bowen's work.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It makes you realize that preacher and ministers are not saints. They deal with temptation the same as all of us. At first I thought that all of the activities that the ministers were involved in was an over exaggeration, but I quickly changed my mind. I thought about some of the ministers that I've known throughout the years. The author did a excellent job of placing the reader right there in the 60's. You Go Girl!