Customer Reviews

Sister Betty! God's Calling you Again!

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Writer and Christian comedienne Pat G'Orge-Walker has her audience laughing out loud as she narrates the antics of the members of the Ain't Nobody Else Right but Us-All Others Goin' to Hell Church in her novel Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again. With various members such as Ma Cile, Sis. Connie Fuse, Ima Hellraiser, Mother Pray Onn and her daughter Carrie Onn, Rev. Knott Enuff Money and Bishop Was Nevercalled it is a wonder the church remains standing.

Sister Betty receives a phone call from God that he is coming to visit. Sister Betty was so busy getting ready for his visit, that she misses him each of the three times he knocks on her door. The phone call changed her life and now she tries to do right and set a righteous example for the church members. However, chaos and confusion reign in this church. From the pulpit to the balcony, the members fight and raise hell for the sake of being in control and being seen. When Sister Connie Fuse makes a mistake with Mother Pray Onn's layaway payment, she trembles in her shoes at the fear of retaliation. Sister Betty and Mother Pray Onn wear the same one-of-a- kind hat to Friends and Family day, and all hell breaks loose. What happens when Ima Hellraiser attends the fund-raiser meeting? You will have to read this vignette to believe it.

I was laughing out loud as I imagined what some of the scenes would be like if acted out on stage. While reading though, I would have liked for the characters to tell the story with dialogue instead of being told the story by the author. The set up was there, the descriptions vivid, but for a comedic read there was too much narration. However, if you ever get a chance to see this play live, I say go! You will not be disappointed.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

this book offers 7 vinettes exhibiting several flawed congregation members of the Ain't Nobody Right But Us-All others Goin' To Hell church. Sister Betty, once a very proud hypocrite receives a telephone call from God. The initial story centers on her very un-Christian-like behaviour after the call and her eventual turnaround. From that point of the book the rest of the stories center around characters whose names depict their particular flaws and embedded with laugh outloud hilarity in over the top yet familiar situations which are designed to draw you in with the laughter but make you think.

I think this author has done something so ingenius that some will no doubt find it too tasking to see the deeper meaning and, of course, because there's no cursing such as in some other supposedly popular Christian fiction, it will perhaps not be as popular.

My bookclub has had the opportnity to read her upcoming novel and it is pure delight. It's more of a serious read yet still utilizing these same characters in a outrageous and comical manner. In her upcoming novel, Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin's Dead we get a chance to see why these folks are the way they are and see redemption as well.

Great job from this author.

Sister Betty has always considered herself a woman of God, so she is not shocked to receive a phone call from God himself. What is even more shocking is how she behaves after the call. Once a self-centered woman, she becomes more caring, and more cognizant of others feelings. She also has some revelations that forever change her life and the lives of those that attend the Ain't-Nobody-Else-But-Us-All-Others-Going-To-Hell-Church.

In author Pat G'orge-Walker's new book, SISTER BETTY! GOD'S CALLING YOU, AGAIN! she offers a series of vignettes reflecting Sister Betty's efforts to keep everyone in the church on their proper path with God. All of the stories are tied together and offer up a cast of colorful and outrageous characters. My favorite character throughout the book is Ma Cile, she is the grandmother of two mischievous 10 year olds who are constantly testing her nerves and patience. This was something I could relate to, because when I was their age it was my goal to drive adults crazy.

SISTER BETTY! GOD'S CALLING YOU, AGAIN! had me laughing from cover to cover. The author has found a way to marry humor and life's lessons, and the product is hilarious and informative. This is the first time I have read Pat G'orge-Walker's work but it will not be the last. I highly recommend that readers pick up this book and share it with their families.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

What an amazing, ingenius and wonderfully enlightening read. It's wonderful to see comedy used in such a profound manner. If you are looking for rocket science this is not it. If you want to read about church folks, and maybe you, this is definitely it. This is not relegated to the Black church it's in most churches; I should know- I'm a white woman. Those who have a problem with its simplicity may see themselves :-)

Kudos to Ms. Walker. I also recommend Mother Eternal. It's a novel and superb. I will never take my Christian walk for granted.

I found this book to be hilarious and uplifting. If you are a church going person then I can about guarantee that you have encountered AT LEAST two of these characters. I enjoyed it so much that I am looking to book Sister Betty at my own church. I belive you will enjoy it also, unless, of course you are known as one of the characters and it hits to close to home!!

Sister Betty God's Calling You Again is a collection of seven short stories about the zany congregation of the Ain't Nobody Right but Us-All Others Goin To Hell church. Sister Betty, who found herself changed after experiencing a phone call from God and a few misadventures one afternoon is trying to turn the congregation led by the Rev. Knott Enuff Money around.

I found this collection of seven short stories to be both inciteful and hilarious. I like the idea of it being seven which is a number which equals completion.

Finally, the bookclub had an opportunity to speak with the author. She could not come to Ohio so she sent a package which contained a video tape (she's an awesome comedienne) video CD's and other items. Each was autographed for the club members. She didn't have to do that with her busy schedule and I applaud her for keeping it. I recommend this book and others that are to follow.

She kept it real...and like she said, don't let worry kill you off..let them church folks help!

Having waited for a couple of years to finally read the entire collection of the Sister Betty vignettes, I was not disappointed. I think that 209 + pages is not enough. What an imagination.

I love the way the author uses the simple things from life and turns them into humorous messages of spirituality without being preachy. I also loved the way G'Orge-Walker lets her characters TELL the story. I've read so many reviews where the reviewer states that her characters just "jump off the page." This book was so well written that by the third story, I didn't need to know the character's names in order to know who was speaking.

From start to finish, Sister Betty; a former hypocrit and head Pharasee at the Ain't Nobody Right But Us-All Others Goin' To Hell church is on a mission to save the members of her church. Aided by her snuff-dipping, crazy-eyed, take-no-nonsense buddy, Ma Cile they start off on their God-given adventure. I don't want to give anything away, but the two women are hysterical together and Ma Cile sometimes steals Sister Betty's thunder just by being herself.

The characters Reverend Knott Enuff Money and Sister Ima Hellraiser were two of my favorite because they remind me of folks I know.

On another note, I also read Ms. G'Orge-Walker's story, "Consequences" in the Proverbs for the People anthology. Her writing was totally different and I, again, was amazed at how she attacked a story about HIV and generational curses. It was amazing and I wouldn't have guessed, it was written by a comedy writer.

You can't go wrong with Sister Betty! God Calling you, again.

Dignified folk shouldn't read this one outside of the confines of their private parlor. Believe me, you don't want non' of this in public! This is definitely a `hoot' aloud book. Pat G'Orge-Walker serves up the laughs in her hilarious book, "Sister Betty, God's Calling You Again," about the dysfunctional church folks in your congregation and mine, whether you belong to a Mega Church, or the Friendship Baptist Church on your local main street.I've belonged to both, having traveled the world with a military spouse. That's why this a special joy. It takes the reader home.

Sister Betty receives a call from God himself. Her transformation comes through a series of hysterics, learned lessons and self-reflections. The characters are so familiar. You can't turn a page with being able to relate to one of them.

Seven stories; cleverly signifying the biblical realm. Seven churches and Seven Seals; the most heralded number in the Bible. Well, this is seven, very humorous stories with monumental lessons, told candidly and honestly, using church-parody.

Pat G'Orge-Walker cleverly takes on a niche' not many can, in making real, poignant statements about the superficial antics of church folks. She takes on the art of church hypocrisy to a real eye-peeling level. Walker is quite a descriptive writer, which easily makes this book more pleasurable, because you can definitely see and hear her `busy characters.' Several members of our book club emailed to say that they loved the way she fashions hats to reveal subliminal messages about situations and characters. Reading "Sister Betty, God's Calling You, Again," is like sitting in front of a sitcom.

Debra Whitmire, SAblack online book club member. (Now living in Oklahoma.)

I have to admit I wasn't going to write this review because I thought the other reviewers said it all. However, I finally decided to add my two cents.

I'm still laughing at this book. I'm glad I read the other reviews and purchased a copy. Not only is this author a great writer but an amazing comedienne. I must admit that if someone doesn't have a sense or humor or understand satire the humor will be lost on them.

The premise of the title story is that Sister Betty gets a phone call from God. After an afternoon of mishaps that ultimately reveal that she never knew the true meaning of being a Christian Sister Betty sets off on a path to enlighten the other members of her church. It will not be easy.

I found it refreshing that the messages of God's love can be brought out in such an amazing and hilarious manner and I applaud the author.

This was a great book. I laughed from the beginning until the end. This was the 1st book I read by this author. I loved it.
I wish the other books were still in print so I could read those.
I would highly recommend this book if you are in the mood to laugh. I thought some of those things only happened with the people at my church. I could relate to people praising status more than the Lord. Which is sad. This book really makes you think. I would love to see it on the big screen.