Customer Reviews

Playing God: A Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What do you do when it appears that God has turned his face from you and stopped listening to your prayers? The Bible says to wait. Job waited, and he was healed. In the Psalms, David tells us to wait on the Lord. Various scriptures in the Bible instructs one to keep praying and wait on the Lord for He will answer your prayers. However, when you pray, you must pray for the right reason lest your prayers will not be heard. We get in trouble when we decide to help God and hurry him along. The Ladies in Michelle McKinney Hammond's newest novel, Playing God, find out that God really does not need our help, He has it all under control.

Tamara is a sucessful psychologist, counseling woman using a Christian approach.While listening to the women who come to her for services, she is pondering her own situation. She wants a man and while she is living the life that she knows is not quite right, but still pleasing to God, she is getting tired of waiting on Him. When she meets Kenny at a local restaurant, she knows he is the man for her. She knows in her heart things are not quite right and her friends and family also let her know that she is making a mistake. Tamara does not want to heed their warnings and uses scriptures; "He who findeth a wife, findeth a good thing," or " God did not intend for man to be alone" to justify this relationship. While she is developing her relationship with Kenny, her clients and friends' lives are falling apart.

Corrine, the wife of a pastor of a mega church in Chicago is unhappy at home. She has had all the plastic surgery possible to make herself desireable to her husband, and he still does not show any affection towards her or their daughter. Corrine is so caught up in her own misery, that she does not see that her daughter, Jada is in trouble and is crying out for help. Lydia, the newly divorced woman has taken up with a younger man, in order to make her ex-husband jealous,

McKinney Hammond is a renowned relationship expert for the single Christian woman and has many non- fiction titles on the subject. She teaches things that women may not want to hear. It is hard waitng for that special someone and while waiting what do you do? It even harder when you see other women, who you think are not worthy, being blessed while you still sit at home, lonely, wondering when will it be your turn to experience love and marriage. In Playing God, McKinney Hammond offers biblical answers and solutions. I like that when reading this novel, I did not feel preached at or condemned. She makes references to and explains scripture in her characters' conversations and actions, but does not necessarily quote them. I think there is a message for all women, single and married, in this book. If you read closely, you will probably find yourself in one of the characters or at least see a question that you may have asked God.

Jeanette

APOOO BookClub

Playing God is the first of Michelle McKinney Hammond I've ever read. I've seen her non-fiction books and recognize her picture. But she and I are on different pages in life so I didn't know if I'd ever relate to her.

After being pulled into her story, I can tell you that she is quite the communicator. Her characters are real and transparent. The plot moves along at a fast clip and the tension is definitely in place as I found myself wanting to slap some sense into a character or two. Or hoping that someone, somewhere would intervene.The plot centers around Tamara, a good Christian woman who's expecting a reward from God. She sees that others who've been foolish or out of control seem to have the whole package now, a little scarred maybe, but so what. Tamara wonders why her own package deal isn't better, surely it deserves some serious bling/beauty and depth after all she's given up for God. Tamara becomes a victim of they older brother syndrome from the infamous Prodigal Son parable from the Bible. Several other key players struggle with their own faithquakes, fears and consequences. Many of them interact with Tamara because she is their psychologist.

McKinney Hammond's voice is a mixture of sassy girlfriend and teacher/preacher. There is an element of teaching through each of the stories that intermingle. A quippy line or two, scriptures to support the lesson and lessons taught through dialog among the characters. I think this story might be a terrific way for the "good girls" who are thinking about dangling a toe into the refreshing looking world-water to do just that without paying the high price of screwing up. Counselors may find a great resource to refer to clients who may be struggling in areas touched on in the book. The issues covered are heavy ones: faithquakes, judgmentalism, infidelity, child and sexual abuse, immorality, closet homosexuality, pastors who do harm and glossy exteriors that are designed to cover up pain and ugliness. Readers may find the novel to offer some soul balm or a little hope. The topics I just mentioned are handled honestly so edgy Christian fiction fans may want to check into it, too. Sensitive souls may want to dig a little deeper as much of the story veers into PG-13.

You would think a Christian psychologist would have all the answers to life's problems, wouldn't you?

Well think again because Tamara is fed up with waiting on God and sick and tired of listening to her patient's problems while watching their faith diminish.

Corrine, the First Lady of a prestigious church, wonders how long she's supposed to suffer in silence while her family falls apart. While Corrine's daughter Jada struggles to hold the hand of God while she endures the painful consequences of her father's sins. And elementary teacher, Jamilah wonders will God step in to save her young student before the urban streets claim her as its next victim.

Does God really have a good plan for these women? What happens when God doesn't move fast enough and you've reached the breaking point?

Michelle McKinney Hammond gives voice to the angry and confused Christians who sometimes wonder where is God in the midst of their pain. Why do some dedicated Christians suffer for years when convenient Christians who really could care less about their relationship with God seem to have not only the promise of the pie-in-the-sky or eternal life, but are getting "blessed in their mess" or appear to live problem-free lives down here?

This is edgy Christian fiction at it's best! While careful to keep the reader's focus in God's direction, the author exposes some of the real problems and real emotions some Christians face.

I nearly fell from my chair when a character rebuked another character when she threw a simplistic platitude at the other woman's problem. So often Christians want to brush aside problems with a memory verse they themselves haven't lived through or sweep the problem under the rug with some useless Christian-ese instead of getting involved with prayer and understanding.

This story will speak out to those who cried out to God asking: why God why do I have to go through this and when are you going to step in.

The author keeps the door open to Tamara's office for more patients sit down and discuss their faithwalk challenges. I hope this is the beginning of a series.

shockingly truthful,wonderfully inspirational and informative. i cried when i read this book. i cried in the beginning and smiled at the end. i found myself a million times in this book's characters, their troubles, their hurt. when i came to the end of the book and saw how God had worked all their problems into good, how He took care of them all, each one in a very personal special way and how He forgave them their mistakes giving them a second chance at coming back to Him.... when i read all those wonderful things after the pain and hurt and sadness, i cried for relief, and realized that i had come to love and understand my God a little bit more.

Though Michelle McKinney Hammond has written about fictional characters, so many of the issues the women faced were issues that I have either experienced personally or vicariously through friends. It made me really think about where the center of my heart really is, and why does it seem that when we go years without a significant other, when we get fed up with waiting, that is exactly when you "happen" to meet what seems to be the best man that you could imagine and through your beliefs out the window...additionally how often have we looked from the outside into someone elses life that seems to be perfect compared to ours even though they have not lived their life as we feel like would be in perfect order! I think whether you are married, single, unsure of your relationship, this book will find some semblance of you or someone you know. Buy an extra copy and pass it on to a friend...

This book was amazing. Our book club learned so much, and had so much fun talking about it. We encourge any woman married or single to read this great book. This book teaches us to trust God, and not do what we want. We also learned that whatever we do we have to remember to think, will God get the Glory out of this situation.

Thanks to this wonderful author. We thank you for a awesome book.

Love,

Sisterhood Book Club

"Women Called For A Purpose"

I've read a few of Michelle's books. But this was my first time reading one of her novels and I really enjoyed this.

Overall, her characters seemed relatable. I actually took something away from this story. I too, have tried to 'Play God" in my own life and this story resonated with me. I difinitely will be passing this book on to others. Good job, Michelle!

I loved Playing God. I read it in just two days. I don't normally read fiction but I found the storyline and all captivating. When I was nearing the end, I started getting anxious that I didn't want it to end so I looked online to see if there was a sequel. No I didn't find one and I hope Michelle doesn't let me down! I fell in love with all the ladies and little Ari. It was an awesome read and I am ready for more. It was wonderful and inspiring and blessed my heart is all I can say. Thank you!!!

Sophia

Playing God" by Michelle McKinney Hammond received mixed reviews by the women of Proverbs 31. While we all appreciated and understood the point McKinney-Hammond was trying to make, some felt the book was too busy. The multiple characters combined with multiple story lines made it difficult for some to follow, and even finish the book.

Others felt McKinney-Hammond did an amazing job of illustrating how "we" tend to take matters into our own hands, by "playing God." It was very interesting that the readers weren't given detailed descriptions of the five main characters, which I personally thought was executed well, making the characters both adaptable and relatable to any reader.

McKinney-Hammond taught an important lesson in patience, faith and trusting God. Through Tamara, she illustrated what could happen when we get impatient and don't think God is moving fast enough on our behalf. Through Corinne and Jada we learned if we just trust God, the outcome will be better than when we try to handle difficult situations on our own. Through Lydia it was clear that, only until we put God first, will things truly work out in our lives. With Jamilah we learned God always knows best even if it seems our situation just isn't fair.

Our overall rating of the book is a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Reveiwed by book club member Alesha Judkins

This book is a great book for all women to read. Whether you are single, married, divorced, celibate, saved or unsaved, Michelle M.Hammond treads into grounds that alot of Christian's are afraid to discuss.

She shows hows people sometimes 'grow weary in well doing' and tries to help God but what they dont realize is God is all powerful and all knowing. He has our best interest in mind and would never leave us or forskae us.

We chose this book for a book club read as well.

Enjoy!

Nicole R.