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Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: Grab your tamborine, put on your shouting shoes and get ready to be revived by Evangelist Myrtle Black. Majestic as an African Queen, eloquent in her sermons and fiercely proud, our good sister is the high priestess of the Spirit as well as an "in the closet" lesbian. Enraged over the shooting of two young prostitutes in Nashville, our minister embarks on a quest to form a coalition of all women to fight the sexist and racist atmosphere of the city's fathers (and some mothers). While doing this a soul stirring singer, whose self-esteem is at rock bottom meets this woman of the cloth. The relationship that develops between them will never be the same. There you have it, all the elements of a good story. Issues of Black men's sexism, white women's racism, Black females reluctance to join a "women's movement" and the crass homophobia of the Black church are just waiting to be explored. Yet none of these issues come together in a story which has so much potential but is technically flawed. How is this? 1. Shockley gives a detailed explanation of the issues as if the reader doesn't or can't understand what is going on. 2. All of the characters are overly stereotyped to the point of being unbelievable. 3. She has very poor transitions. A character could be a gay hater in one paragraph and on the next page a converted person with no explanation of why. 4. Shockley deals with so many issues that the main plot gets lost and the story ends abruptly. Shockley could have done much better. This story deserves a much better telling. I truly wanted to give this story at least a 4 star but after reading it I couldn't justify giving it those stars. As a collectors item of Black lesbian fiction this book will be an asset in your library but nothing more.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: Grab your tamborine, put on your shouting shoes and get ready to be revived by Evangelist Myrtle Black. Majestic as an African Queen, eloquent in her sermons and fiercely proud, our good sister is the high priestess of the Spirit as well as an "in the closet" lesbian. Enraged over the shooting of two young prostitutes in Nashville, our minister embarks on a quest to form a coalition of all women to fight the sexist and racist atmosphere of the city's fathers (and some mothers). While doing this a soul stirring singer, whose self-esteem is at rock bottom meets this woman of the cloth. The relationship that develops between them will never be the same. There you have it, all the elements of a good story. Issues of Black men's sexism, white women's racism, Black females reluctance to join a "women's movement" and the crass homophobia of the Black church are just waiting to be explored. Yet none of these issues come together in a story which has so much potential but is technically flawed. How is this? 1. Shockley gives a detailed explanation of the issues as if the reader doesn't or can't understand what is going on. 2. All of the characters are overly stereotyped to the point of being unbelievable. 3. She has very poor transitions. A character could be a gay hater in one paragraph and on the next page a converted person with no explanation of why. 4. Shockley deals with so many issues that the main plot gets lost and the story ends abruptly. Shockley could have done much better. This story deserves a much better telling. I truly wanted to give this story at least a 4 star but after reading it I couldn't justify giving it those stars. As a collectors item of Black lesbian fiction this book will be an asset in your library but nothing more.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic that still rings true.
Review: Miss Shockley does a marvelous job. This unique story of a sometimes horny lesbian Reverend and the woman that she falls in love with. It is extremely difficult to find stories in which we as black lesbians are depicted with grace, honesty, and dignity so gems like this book are all the more valueable. It can get very, i mean, very steamy at times so be prepared for the heat.
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