Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again!

Sister Betty #1

by Pat G'Orge-Walker

Follows Sister Betty, a member of Ain't Nobody Right But Us--All Others Goin' to Hell Church, whose life was forever changed when God called her on the phone in 1984, as she makes it her mission to save her fellow congregants from themselves, which is no easy task. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: African American, Christian, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars as an average, so I liked it

First off, this is Christian humour, and, similar (but quite different to) Tim Hawkins, some of this stuff seems "off the wall" at first, but it's well done--however, for me I think this would be funnier to see live. Also, I am not big on short stories, and there were a couple of disconcerting moments when a character or two would have lost all of their growth from a previous short story.

For me, this ranged from funny to boring, which is common for me with funny books that have essays or short stories because they are rarely all funny for me. The puns are witty, but some waxed a bit old, Still, coming from a punny family, and even knowing that perhaps others have thought of these, I haven't Mother Pray Onn and her daughter Carrie Onn, for example (and yes, Carrie Onn most certainly carries on).

But my favourite parts of this are the way that G'Orge-Walker ties in lessons or things with scriptures at the end of each story. God gave people senses of humour (well, most people, I think) and there is nothing wrong with having one or using it. And in a blatant promo for her next book, she brings herself up, and I thought what she wrote back in 2003 as timely today as it has always been, and Sister Betty says of G'Orge Walker She says she takes notes so she can show people how to really praise God in the spirit and not worry about skin color or denomination. She says if we can't love one another, then we're not following God's plan for His people.

[Pamdora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pat G'Orge-Walker keeps you laughing out loud with her gospel comedy "Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again!" With characters like Deacon Laid Handz, Brother Tis Mythang and the Hellraiser family, it's a miracle that Sister Betty can save these so-called church folks.

The story takes place in Pelzer, South Carolina and explores the lives and antics of the church members of Ain't Nobody Else Right But Us--All Others Goin' to Hell Church, as they battle fear, temptation, lust, greed, jealousy and anger. How these church members handle their dilemma is hilarious as they find themselves in one mishap after another. And it's up to Sister Betty and her divine inspirations to save these characters from themselves and each other.

Pat G'Orge-Walker has written a collection of short stories which any person who attends church, especially an African American church, is sure to relate too.

[Peekaboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me laughing out loud. I usually read while I'm riding the bus to and from work and I'm so sure the other passengers thought I was nuts. I read this book at a time when I had just joined a new church and was feeling a bit like a fallen baby bird with broken wings. It reminded me that "church folks" are just folks...like everybody else. I became a fan instantly.

[Cecelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[K. Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

quirky with strong Biblical principals

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it!!! Kept me laughing nonstop!

[Kim G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just hilarious!! Gospel Comedy.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've tried reading this book before, but couldn't really get into it. However I sat in at a reading where someone read one of the stories from this book, and she did really really well. like seriously I would have loved it if she'd been the one to narrate the story and really wanted to try again. This time I went with listening to this via an audio book. And it made me laugh out loud a couple of times. So I'm thinking about trying out the other books in this series.
Recommended? Sure, if you have a sense of humor. It's a christian parody if you get offended easily I don't recommend you read it though.
Buy/Borrow? Borrow it

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a good laugh after various books with tough subject matter and Sister Betty never disappoints. The names of the characters alone are hilarious. Rev Knott Enough Money, Ima Hellraiser, Mother Prayon and the other members of Ain't Nobody Right But Us, All Others Going to Hell Church were the comic relief I needed.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Donna Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

[Ms.Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! The names of the characters in this book makes you laugh...

[Jeanette Rolon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites so funny,

[Ruth Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious Christian story. Lots of Laugh

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up this book because of the cover and title. I thought it would be an interesting book to read to my mother who had a stroke and stays in the bed. We enjoyed this book from the first chapter to the last. My mother (who has trouble remembering) remembered parts of the book and told me what she enjoyed. I enjoyed the way the author gave the characters unusual names that worked into the story. Some of the instances in the book reminded me of my childhood. Not only did the book keep my mother and I entertained it had a great message. I left the book with my mother who now gets my father to read it to her.

[Doris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because it had an interesting cover and bought it because it was (supposedly) centered around my home town - Pelzer, SC. However, it went from bad to worse with a bunch of hypocritical, vain and greedy people who wanted all for "me" and none for anyone else.

Maybe it was supposed to be a means of showing the churchgoers they need to be more attuned to the right than the glory and greed, but after the first story I didn't feel that. The last story had 2 good points - it ended with a Bible quote, and it ended.

Will be dropping it in a recycle bin.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Upon starting out, this book seemed as though it held great promise, however upon further and further reading, I found I wasn't paying much attention to it anymore. It is too ridiculous and absurd for further consideration. I wonder if Miss G'Orge-Walker's other books fare any better than this one...

gave it to the library

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The church was like no church I ever heard about & only one of the people in the book seemed God-like & that, of course, was Sister Betty. I think that was the author's intent; I found the names of the people to get a little tiring & I ended up having a hard time getting through all the scenes, which pretty much seemed the same.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book had fun names like reverend can't get enough money. And there were some great puns in it, but by about page 70 I just couldn't get into the book and figure out what the plot was. So I stopped reading it.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny.

[Joi Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK funny yet real

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

really great book