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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Family at its Best and Worst, April 11, 2002
This review is from: Sittin' in the Front Pew: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)
There is probably no greater stress that family endures than the death of a loved one. In the book Sittin' in The Front Pew, Parry Brown addresses this difficult time with great emotional sensitivity and at times with humor. The story begins with a frantic late night call announcing the death of the Naylor family patriarch, Edward Naylor. As his daughter Gloria hears the words, she experiences shock and disbelief. She quickly begins to prepare for her trip home to bury her only living parent. But before she even reserves her flight from Los Angeles to her hometown of Baltimore, the drama begins. When Edward Naylor's wife died leaving behind 4 young daughters, he stepped up to the plate, raising them alone. In addition, he was active in his church and community and an inspiration to others on his job. With all of his daughters now adults, he was just about to begin a new phase in his life by getting remarried. His death was not only a shock to his family and fiancé, but the community as well. Now at a time when his family is overwhelmed with grief, they have a funeral to plan. Where will the funeral be held? When will it take place? What kind of flowers will be used? Who will sing at the funeral? Even though everyone agreed on what questions needed to be asked, finding agreement on the answers was much more difficult. As the story progresses, the family mourns together, laughs together, uncovers secrets, bickers over decisions and ultimately begins to heal.
One of the greatest assets of this book was that there were the strong, positive male characters. Edward Naylor was a wonderful father, a pillar of the community, and an excellent example for other men. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that all of the characters were well rounded. The author did a wonderful job at helping us see both the strengths and weaknesses of the major characters and really let us get to know them. The humorous scenes were neatly woven into the book so that just when you feel overwhelmed by all the strong emotions, you could step back and laugh. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. I highly recommend Sittin' in the Front Pew and look forward to seeing Parry Brown's continued growth as a writer in her future works. Reviewed by Stacey Seay
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing short of excellent!, April 18, 2002
This review is from: Sittin' in the Front Pew: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)
Death has a way of bringing out either the worst or best in people. "Sittin in the Front Pew" demonstrates this in a touching and sometimes funny way. Glynda Naylor receives the phone call that no person ever wants: her beloved father, Edward Naylor, has died suddenly. With sisters Renee, Dawn and Collette hovering on the line, Glynda's in a state of shock. She'd just spoken with her father the day before and he told her how proud he was of all of his daughters. As soon as she reaches home, the bickering associated with everyone wanting to have their way - members of the family or not - flairs up; from who's name would appear on the obituary to who was riding in the limos. There's much crying, lots of memories coming to the surface and some secrets revealed, which makes this story so real! Ms. Brown successfully demostrates how a family's grief can shake its foundation and what it takes to bring a family much closer: unconditional love. Excellent novel!!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Sophmore Work from Ms. Brown!, May 25, 2002
This review is from: Sittin' in the Front Pew: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)
Although this was my first book from Parry and her most recent, she has gained a new fan in me with Sittin' in the Front Pew, a tale which takes us into the lives of Glynda Naylor and her sisters as they prepare for their father's homegoing service. When Glynda receives a call from her sisters that their father Edward Naylor has passed, on the support of her friend Rico she heads home to assist her sisters (Dawn, Renee, and Collette) with the arrangements. From the moment she arrives and touches base with everyone they begin to clash on the smallest elements from the flowers and colors to who will ride in the limos. As they work through the arrangements they begin to delve deeper into the life in their father, discovering things that were once a mystery to them. Just as things begin to come full circle with the arrangements, one of their father's secrets comes out with a powerful force and it truly changes the lives of the sisters forever. I found this book to be very realistic and relatable in many instances. Parry goes a wonderful job of weaving in the process and the emotions that families go through as they prepare to say goodbye to their loved one. This a wonderful, dynamic book that will truly take you on a unique journey from beginning to end.
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