Let the Church Say Amen
It's hard to imagine a more dysfunctional family than the Reverend Samuel Jackson's, Billingsley's creation inLet the Church Say Amen. The oldest son, David, had a promising career in the NFL but was injured and now steals from the collection plate to support his drug habit. Nineteen-year-old Rachel has had two babies by different fathers. The middle child, Simon, is poised to become assistant pastor and might seem like a chip off the old block, but he has a secret that will prove rather awkward. Reverend Jackson himself pastors a black church he built up from nothing, but what kind of minister is he to his own family? Can his stalwart wife bring healing to this mess? Is prayer any good at all? Though Billingsley drifts toward self-parody, her community of very human saints will win readers over with their humor and verve.John MortCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved