THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES

Narrator Janina Edwards masterfully performs this collection of short stories featuring Black women who, though they differ in age and context, struggle with loneliness, sexual connection, and the ever-present and contradictory lessons of the church. Edwards's soft, gentle voice gives power to the prose, which explores love, sexuality, self-acceptance, and family in contemporary Black America. The characters, ranging from teenagers to the elderly, struggle with finding peace with or separation from the church in all its guises--as an ideal, in reality, and as a comparative backdrop. Edwards employs accents, and changes her tone to fit the dialogue and distinguish speakers. Her measured pace and solid delivery provide the space for listeners to absorb the depth of these well-crafted stories. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]