Sister Betty! God's Calling You Again!

Rating:
Summary: Dignified folk shouldn¿t read this one outside the confines
Review: 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.)

Rating:
Summary: Dignified folk shouldn?t read this one outside the confines
Review: 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.)

Rating:
Summary: Queen of Gospel Comedy still Reigns
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: So Sue Me
Review: I am so sorry but this book was not good , funny or anything resembling the word GOOD. It was very silly and I thought juvenile for adult reading. This was a waste of ny precious time. I would not recommend anyone purchase this book.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and True
Review: 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!!

Rating:
Summary: Tell It!
Review: I found this book to be very boring. When I picked this up, I thought it would be a funny book about church characters. The church and its characters were a little unrealistic. I had a hard time finishing this book. I am glad I picked it up from the library instead of spending money on it.

Rating:
Summary: The Truth is the Light
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Belly still hurts from laughing
Review: I thought I knew comedy. I didn't know anything until I read this collection of short stories about these spiritually lacking folks. I know practically all of these characters.

My favorite characters, aside from Sister Betty, has got to be her half-blind, snuff-dipping and crazy as she-wannabe Ma Cile. I can definitely picture this as a sitcom or even a play. I just ordered Ms. Walker's DVD where she portrays a character named, Sistah I. B. DeUsher. I saw a sample of it at www.holyhumor.org She has a new fan and I will buy whatever this woman puts out. You can't miss with this one. When you finish laughing you just might find that you've learned something about the true meaning of God's command that we love one another as Christ loved the church.

Rating:
Summary: Ghetto doesn't always equal funny
Review: I tried for months to read this book. When I ordered it from Amazon.com, I thought it was the story of a fake church woman. I had no idea that the book was broken up into 7 different stories. I found the stories to be ghetto and not funny at all. In addition, the long names were annoying. For instance, the name of the church is Ain't Nobody Else Right but Us--All Others Going To Hell Church. Sure this is funny when you hear it the first time, but to hear this long name over and over got annoying. All the other names got annoying as well, Brother Laid Handz, Sister Connie Fuse, etc.. I read books to escape. As a result, this requires me to become one with the characters. How could I become one with the characters if I coudn't even get their names right?

If you are looking for a funny book about the black church, I just don't think you will find it in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Shining the light on church folks
Review: 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!