Customer Reviews

Second Sunday: A Novel

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Michele Andrea Bowen, author of the bestseller "Church Folk", has done it again. Welcome (3x - as the proper greeting in the black church) to Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis during the 1970's. The pastor has died and the church members scramble to find a replacement in time for the 100th Anniversary Second Sunday celebration.

Certain members of the board like Cleavon Johnson don't have the congregation's best interest at heart during the selection process. The women of the church are peeved at the board and set out on a mission with the help of Sheba Cochran. Sheba sniffs out the good and the bad candidates. Finally, Rev. George Wilson is selected and he certainly has his work cut out for him. Not only does he become head of a church in turmoil, but he begins to fall in love with Sheba.

In "Second Sunday" there are many laugh-out loud situations that are strongly familiar for the regular black church attendee. While Bowens humorously uncovers the un-Christian actions of church members, she gracefully shows how God is in the midst when the congregation is on one accord.

The church folk need a new pastor before their 100th anniversary and during the process of finding a new pastor, we have all the antics you can think of going on in the background. The storyline was very witty and humorous. The characters were great also. I felt that some of the storylines could have been developed more. Maybe that's for the next book ... Overall I enjoyed the read and if you've read "Church Folks",then you know how Michele Andrea Bowen does it !!! The prayers of the righteous availeth much ...

Michele Bowen's "Second Sunday" really depicts the discord, deceit and chaos that can happen even within the church. There is never a dull moment with any of the characters. Bowen keeps the book engaging by having multiple perspectives. Some of the situations in the book will have you sprawled out on the floor laughing, while others will have you curled up in a ball crying. To watch God work in situations and people like those portrayed in "Second Sunday," is nothing short of amazing!
It is interesting to experience the dynamics of the church not only from the pews but from behind the pulpit. This book teaches the lesson of what it means when we as Christians do not have pure intentions when doing the work of the Lord's. "Second Sunday" is also a story of forgiveness, love, old-style prayer and fervent worship. This book illustrates that God is the director, and He is always in control behind the scenes and the schemes. This is definitely an entertaining book about church folks!

Submitted by GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com reviewer, Sherna Graham

Michele Andrea Bowen, author of Church Folk, has done it again with SECOND SUNDAY. She has given us a deliciously funny and intimate look behind the scenes of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church when its shady minister, Rev. Forbes, unexpectedly dies at a crucial moment for the church. Gethsemane's 100th anniversary is in six months and it entails a lot of planning. They need to have a minister in place as soon as possible but there are warring factions who can't agree. The sisters of the church are tired of the mess and take matters into their own hands. In the background, several marriages are on the rocks, some members are pursuing romantic notions, a white super church is planning a take-over and the greedy are plotting revenge.

It is a mix of good versus bad, the saintly versus the sinner, nightclubs, prayer meetings, old men dressed like Super Fly, young hoochies and an all around hilarious time as Sister Louise Williams straightens everybody out. It is a quick and easy source of relaxing entertainment that no one should miss.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Second Sunday, displayed exactly what the author set out to show; which is a glimpse at the African American church. Gethesemane Church on it's 100th year of sitting on loaned property is about to experience much of what Paul preaches about in 1 Corinthians. Christians being puffed up, discord amongst the congregation and infidelity.

Greed is the driving force of this property being re-claimed by an ancestor of the owner. Redemption and prayer is part of what made this book a page turner. Church Folks her debut,was excellent now with Second Sunday Ms. Bowen has rapidly become one of my top 10.

Keep up the good work you have definitely satiated this Christians soul.

This book was reccommend by a friend and according to her, it was fantastic. So When I first picked up this book at the library, I decided to give it a try, As I started to read, it got funnier and funnier, that then I couldn't put it down. I am almost sorry that I didn't read this book sooner.

The book is about the lives of the people in Gesthemane Church in the outskirts of Illnois, around 1975. The 100th anniversary is slowly approaching and the pastor suddenly dies. Now it is up to the deacons to pick a new minister(they couldn't pick a good pastor, if it smacked them right between the eyes!!) much to the women's (of the church) dismay. So to help pick out the "right" pastor, the ladies of the church enlist the help of a former party girl, Sheila Cochran. Sheila defintlely knows the difference between smooth operator and an honorable man. It is then where the "fun" begins. When the church finally gets the right minister (George Wilson)there are certain people (Cleavon Johnson to name one) who are against him from the start and want to make sure that he doesn't become "permanent."

The book has some very funny moments. One example were the first two ministers that were considerd (read the book to understand what I am talking about). Another moment came when the whole church boycotted against the new minister, Earl Hamilton that was chosen (an Uncle Tom is what they called him). Any church would have responded the same way. My favorite part was when Mozelle stood up to her no good cheat of a husband Oscar (and the former church janitor) for his philandering ways and for being such a pompous ass.

I laughed and laughed as I read this book. The book will have you smiling because if anyone goes to church (especially a black church),could picture your own church being exactly like this!! Oh, and the part about the church having thier own FBI or black spy network (everybody knowing about everybody's business) within the church is sooo true.

This book was absolutely wonderful! I enjoyed the exciting characters; their trials & tribulations and sharing their victories in the end. To read & share in their level of faith was like being a part of the story. Told in a humorous & touching way, I felt like I was a member of Gethsemane, fighting right along with them. A very good read. I would truly recommend this; God definitely has a sense of humor!

A wonderful laugh out loud page turner. I really enjoyed Second Sunday. I loved Church Folk and I've been waiting for Ms. Bowen to write another novel. A must read, you want be disappointed.

Second Sunday is a witty, and entertaining novel made up of several complexed issues all related to the traditional denominational theme of "Second Sunday". The story is set around the church's original pastor has died, and the deacon board is left with the assignment to select the new pastor before the 100th anniversary of the church. There are several stories told within this novel but they are all related, and it shows that we are never too late to change, and have faith that all things are possible. I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I read it in 3 days, and I found myself laughing throughout the book.

Folks, hold on to this book cause it's gonna keep you glued to your seat! Again, Ms Bowen has written another book that will have you laughing, shaking your heads and agreeing to the church ladies of the Gethsemene Missionary Baptist Church. When the pastor of the church unexpectedly dies just less than a year short of the church's Centennial celebration(which was an inconvenience), the men committee decide to pick a new minister to the consernation of the women who felt they had no voice. But, as time moved on, they realized that they do have a voice and from then on causes some mishaps that even disrupt the church. I highly recommend this book you won't be disappointed.