Customer Reviews

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 2)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jodi, Nony, Hoshi, Adele, Florida and the rest are back. This time they deal with some pretty serious issues. Denny, Jodi's husband, is accused by MaDear, Adele's mother, of lynching her baby brother; Nony takes off to Africa when her mother has a stroke; Florida, now with custody of her young daughter, has to deal with Carla's hostility - she wants to go back to her foster parents, and Hoshi has to tell her Shinto parents that she is a Christian.
 
The incident between Denny and MaDear brings a whole new set of circumstances to the multi-racial group as Adele separates herself from her praying sisters. Old hurts and prejudices come to the surface, and the entire group learns a new way of praying.
 
Jodi's healing after her accident that killed a young boy, is a long, slow process. Not just physically, but mentally, spiritually and emotionally as well. An ugly confrontation at the school where she teaches third grade force her to take a whole new look at forgiveness. Is she really responsible for the sins of others? How do you pray that way?
 
And what about that drug-crazed woman who forced her way into Jodi's home during a Yada Yada prayer meeting and robbed them at knife-point. A knife that actually drew blood? The long-reaching consequences of that terrifying day permanently affect the lives of all who were there.
 
I found this second book from Neta Jackson to be quite a reading experience. All these women, who met for the first time at a women's rally in Chicago, come from vastly diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Their bonds grow stronger through each experience as a group, and individually. They meet in each other's homes for prayer; they take turns visiting each other's churches, learning even more about themselves and their sisters. I particularly enjoyed the visit to Ruth's church. Ruth, a Messianic Jew, gives some great descriptions and deep insight into the blending of the old and the new.
 
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down - on their knees. On a book-rating scale, this gets 5-Stars. On a scale of 1 to 10 - this is definitely a 10. I can't recommend it highly enough. But, I also suggest, if you haven't already done so, to read the first Yada Yada Prayer Group book first. There are a few things in this second book that might not make a lot of sense without the background of the first.

THE YADA YADA PRAYER GROUP, Jackson's debut solo novel, garnered glowing reviews from myself and countless others when it came out last year. Jackson's voice was so fresh and her concerns were relevant covering issues that often are not addressed. While the first Yada Yada book could easily have stood by itself, there was plenty of material in it for at least one sequel, and maybe more.

I opened THE YADA YADA PRAYER GROUP GETS DOWN eagerly since I had enjoyed the first book so thoroughly and wanted to see what Jackson would explore here. Sure I had some trepidations about this second novel since I am all too familiar with the sophomore slump that many authors experience. Looking at the cover I saw the new shot of dancing feet that was much like the delightful line of feet in brightly colored socks on the cover of the first book. This screamed to me that the books were being packaged together. I then had concerns that Jodi Baxter, the protagonist of this "package," would therefore wind up as a packaged person, whose quirks and flaws would become frozen in time.

I should have trusted more in Jackson's God-given talent and inspiration, because she has delivered a second novel that builds on the first and, in some ways, surpasses it.

As it opens, Jodi and her family are in the midst of a steamy city summer. Their home, or "two-flat," in downtown Chicago is about as far from the Gold Coast as you can get, and unlike many characters in Christian fiction who seem to be effortlessly upper-middle-class, the teaching couple struggles for money (Denny still doesn't know whether or not his contract for the upcoming year will come through) and participates actively in their local culture.

The members of Yada Yada, as fans will know, are an eclectic bunch both ethnically and sociologically, including an elegant South African faculty wife, a very young ex-con baker, a middle-aged Messianic Jewish bubbe, and a permanently indignant African-American salon owner. It's the latter's aging mother whose troubled past provokes a rift in the prayer group, and it is this rift that forces Jody and Denny to confront their present-day beliefs.

Those beliefs affect their daughter, their son, and Jodi's quiet Iowa parents, as well as the Yada Yada members, their families, and an unwelcome new acquaintance, Becky Wallace. But what makes this book work is not necessarily this brand-new action, but the interactions of Jodi and her sisters in Christ as they get to know one another for better and for worse. Jodi is not a perfectly cheerful cardboard Christian --- she doesn't always cook with love, she holds grudges, and she argues with her husband. Instead, she's a struggling, contemporary woman of faith whose life reflects her most cherished beliefs. I closed this book wondering how Jackson will further explore this group in future books.

--- Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick

I just finished all 3 books. I loved them!!! I feel the first was the best, but the second and third book get into each of the sisters life. I felt like I was a member of the group in all 3 books. Every one needs to read these. Easy reading that you can't put down!

I love the YadaYada series. I think there's at least
one person in the YadaYada Prayer Group that someone
can relate to. I also like the way they keep it real.
Sometimes, in christian fiction, we read about super
saints who never have an impatient thought and are
close to perfect. Yadda Yadda Prayer Group Gets Down Again wasn't afraid to deal with
cultural and racial differences and how even as
Christians we can struggle with prejudices and
stereotypes and I think that's okay, as long as we
acknowledge these feelings as being outside of the
will of God and pray for them to be removed from our
hearts. A good funny, thought provoking and
spiritual book! You MUST read it!

Reviewed by Carmen Copeland for The GOOD GIRL Book Club www.goodgirlbookclubonline.com

After reading the first book, The Yada Yada Prayer Group, I was excited to know that there was a sequel. This book was also a good read and I would recommend to anyone. The problems and issues differ this time with Jodi, Nony, Ruth, Adele, Yo-Yo and the rest of the gang but their approach is the same in the long run, in the end take it to God in prayer and forgive yourself. I was a little disappointed that some of the storylines wrapped up so quickly but that just leaves room for Neta Jackson to give me 1 more to tale of drama and fun with the ladies of Yada Yada.

I enjoyed reading every book of this series. I just completed book 5 (the last of the series) and what a let down this has been. The book's characters are so lovable and I feel like I am missing my friends. Neta Jackson's characters are so different and unique. I related to all the characters and laughed and cried along with them. Even though these books have a Christian theme, I believe anyone would enjoyed this series. I even want my husband to read the series (he's too busy now, but is interested in reading them because he knows how much I loved reading them.) I hope my review has caused you run out and buy the complete series. I am sure it will give you lots of pleasure. Be sure to read them in order from the first Yada Yada Prayer Group to book 5 of the series. I went on Neta Jackson's web site and she said that she's working on book 6!!
Peace.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson is another fabulous entry in this series. Jodi Baxter is back with the rest of the mixed group of women. I can identify so much with Jodi; we both tend to take our faith and God for granted, and we both need reminders to pray always. In this book the prayer group is attacked while in Jodi's home by a knife-wielding young woman. How each woman reacts to the drama changes the group and the reader. Jackson is not a writer who allows you to read her books passively. She drags you into the book until each character becomes dear and you are forced to face your own feelings and faith. This book made me realize three things: 1) I need to look at my own prejudices closely and examine how I treat other people, 2) I need to pray with my husband; our lives will only be better for it, and 3) I want a group of friends like Jodi's! Even with the misunderstandings and anger, these women encourage each other to grow, and not just in faith. This book really starts to explore some of the members of the group that received less time in the last book, and I just can't wait to read the next one and get to know everyone even better.

This follow-up to the first Yada Yada Prayer Group book is a little slower-paced than the first, but contains plenty of drama and excitement. Where the first book ignited a passion for heartfelt praise, this novel draws the reader deeper into a bare-bones examination of the road to overcoming personal prejudices. It challenges us to look at how we LIVE our faith, and to strengthen our relationships with fellow believers. The short-view: Slower, and deeper impact.

This book is about Jodi and the various relationships with the women in her prayer group. The theme of this book is about
forgiveness. We see many examples of this through: forgiving the woman who robbed the prayer group, the mother of the boy
that Jodi accidently killed, and MaDear and what she went through when her brother was murdered.

I really enjoyed the book. It was very uplifting. I loved the humor in the book. And I loved the forgiveness theme.
MaDear thought that Denny was the man who lynched her brother. At the end of the book, that situation was resolved
beautifully.

This author describes very well the relationships today between the various races. Jackson lives in the inner cities among
various races, so she brings her experiences into this book to describe how the various races fit in with each other.

I look forward to reading more books from this author.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group has been meeting for a while now and everyone is starting to get used to each other. Even though the group is very diverse, friendships are beginning to flourish and everyone is starting to open up little by little. But then one night at a group meeting, a woman comes into Jodi's house and threatens the group with a knife causing many old wounds to be opened in the group. Other issues with racism, anger, and trust put the group through a tough time as it tests all how strong is their friendship and their faith.

First off, I love love love the Yada Yada book series. I wish I was in a group like this. I love how this book series is very daring in the topics it chooses. Racism is something that most Christian books avoid because it's a touchy subject. Since the book is told from Jodi's POV, it's very easy to take her side on the issue with Ma Dear, Denny, and Adele. You get frustrated with everyone for not communicating with each other, yet at the same time you realize why both sides act the way they do. I also love how the group visits the different churches. It's nice to see them in the setting of a different denominations and have a new worship experience. Again since Jodi is the main character, you feel her pain and frustration. I felt the same way she did about certain issues. Some of the other characters seem a little too perfect at times, like how they are immediately ready to forgive Becky for what she did to them. I know that we should forgive those who hurt us, but It didn't seem realistic that people would be willing to open up their arms like that so soon. Sometimes you feel that since there are so many women in the group, it's hard to keep track of them all. I keep mixing up some of them or I forgot who's even in the group. I think that Jodie herself mentions this issue about whether or not the group is too big to keep close relationships with everyone. But it's really cool how diverse the group is, all races and ages are represented allowing readers of all ages to enjoy the book.

If you haven't already read the first book in the series, I definitely recommend it. This series is one of my favorites, the books are page-turners, you laugh, you cry, you get angry, you get irritated, it's like reading a slice of real life.