Customer Reviews

Confessions of a Preachers Wife (Urban Christian)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really wanted to like Mikasenoja's "Confessions of a Preacher's Wife" because I love Christian fiction. But this novel was painful to read. I can read a book in a day or so, but it took me three weeks to finish "Confessions" because the writing was incredibly, amazingly, astonishingly poor. It was the worst I've ever read in my life. Mikasenoja thanked a few editors in her acknowledgments, but was the book edited at all? Bear with me here--I'm a copy editor and I writhe in agony at bad writing. Here's what bothered me:

1. Unnecessary, annoying commas (calling all crabby English teachers)
2. Flagrant misspellings of trademarks (Frappinchino, Scabble, and Kango hat are just a few)
3. Disuse of the hyphen in compound adjectives and misuse of the apostrophe
4. Author often forgets who she's talking about (called the son the father's name a few times)
5. Overuse of words, especially "customary." Used it six times (I think) in chapter nine alone...
6. No use of pronouns (I wear my church hats because I look good in church hats and I like my church hats...) How did this book get published?

I really could go on forever, but I want to remain objective. As much as I'd like to, I can't recommend this book to any intelligent person. It was trite, uneven, and overly descriptive. It almost seemed like a seventh grader wrote it. The Christian message--the only reason I gave the novel an extra star--just didn't come across as it could have because the writing was distracting.

Mikasenoja, I'm not trying to dog you at all. I'm a Christian woman, too, and I respect your vision. But if you don't get better editors, readers won't take your work seriously.

Confessions of a Preacher's Wife is a wonderfully written adaption to what a preacher's wife go through. In order to survive being a preacher's wife you have to be prayed up. We can't solve all of the problems in the church, we can't stop the women from eyeing our husbands and wanting to be the First Lady of the Church, but we can learn how to take care of our family and keep our husbands eyes only on us. We can pray that God will continually keep them in His care, keep thier feet standing on the rock and their hands in His hands. Even though we are mistreated sometime we can only continue to stand on the promises of God and do His holy will because we realize that it's not all about us (preachers' wives) but it's about the God that is inside of us that shows through for the congregation to see.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Cofessions of a Preacher's Wife"! The book was totally engrossing and dealt with REAL issues faced by preachers/pastors and their wives/families! I loved it and look forward to reading other books by this author---especially since she's a soror!

After reading Confessions of a Preachers Wife, I have a new understanding and respect for First Ladies. Mikasenoja gives the reader insight into the workings of the church, and the sacrifices that the first families are expected to make. This story unfolded in such an exciting way that I was captivated from the first page. At times I found myself laughing out loud at Mikasenoja's "keep it real" writing style. Whether you're a first lady or not, it's certainly an entertaining read. If you're a church member, I recommend giving a copy of the book to your First Lady...she'll thank you.

What I can I say? All I can say is "AWESOME"! From your cousin, Kina Smith, I am so thankful to God for your awesome gift of writing, and you being able to help someone through this story of trials and tribulations, and through triumph and victory! I could not put this book down! Though I am a preacher's wife, and not a First Lady, I still connected with this story...In so many ways, you are able to share the emotions and situations with the First Lady in this book! It is so true that pastor's wives are not honored and respected, which is truly due to them. Especially after all they have to endure. Thanks for helping us understand the "life" a little better!

God bless you again on your second book, Mikasenoja! Keep doing what you are doing! I already see what God is doing and I know He has so much in store for you!

God Bless,
Kina

In Confessions Of A Preacher's Wife, Mikasenoja takes readers on the inside of a pastor's life with a first lady looking glass. So often are first ladies not honored or considered as the leading man's other half, nor are the sacrifices she makes in order that her husband is available to shepard his flock. This book gives us a vivid picture of the life of a first lady. Mikasenoja gives readers raw and true emotions of the spouse so often living in the shadows. From resentment, bitterness and anger to loving, understanding and patience, first ladies experience a myriad of emotions at any given time, always seeking to do the right thing, yet not sacrifice one's own integrity or losing oneself in the process. I believe the author was trying to communicate to all first ladies that in supporting their leading men, it is necessary to find and maintain balance.

Mikasenoja uses real-life examples and lets us, readers and churchgoers alike, in on the daily lives and goings on of a first family. She opens our eyes to the minds, thought patterns and emotions of a first lady. The author wrote in a "keep it real" fashion. The first lady proves humanistic, yet always opting for the Christian thing to do.

This was an engaging read for me. I found myself laughing at times and at others my eyebrows were raised. I look forward to more from Mikasenoja.

You had me at page one!! Thank you for penning such a wonderful testiment of God's goodness!! Were you peeking into my life? Many times I know how to handle trials and adversity, but fail every time because of my own will. [I was ready to show that church lady a thing or two, but you gave me a much better perspective on handling adversity versus doing a TKO!! :-)] OH - I can't tell you the last time I cried after reading a book. BUT when Jackie, Mom and Grandmom starting signing those hymns - you got me!! I was boo-hooing til the end. Isn't it amazing what those songs do for the soul? Thanks for the reminder.

Again - what a wonderful book!! I'm telling everyone who will listen,to purchase their own!! (I'm not sharing mine. I might digress if something happened to my copy.) The book makes a great gift!!! Especially to all of our preacher's wives' and pastor's wives'.

This book is so good, each chapter has its on title. Which that chapter is about that title. Keep you turning the pages to see what's going to happen next. Some of the people remind me of people in my own church. Keep you wonder what's going to happen next. Hoping I can find more books by this author.

Mikasenoja's ability to depict church drama (which all too often is the basis for the trials and tribulations of the 'preacher's wife' and her family), yet 'rightly divide' God's Word to the reader is AWEsome! While many of the church's 'antics' are downright unbelievable and definitely unChristian, the First Lady's persistent prayer ('warring in the spirit') in the midst of the chaos, not only demonstrates to the reader how to apply the Word of God to daily dilemmas and drama, but through the triumphant results, affirms that God is indeed "a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM".

Praise God!! I truly enjoyed the message in this book. I know now not to talk about what others do to me but to take it to the Lord in prayer. It is true that the battle is not ours but it belongs to the Lord. I have seen where others have critizied her writing. Well I must have been reading it too fast to notice. Overall I received a message from the book and desire to use
the lessons derived from the book.