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Sittin' in the Front Pew: A Novel
From the author of the national bestseller The Shirt off His Back comes a novel about love, family, and honoring loved onesDeath brings about strange emotions, and people’s true colors start to show. Glynda Naylor discovers this when she gets the call that her father has died suddenly and she must fly from Los Angeles to Baltimore to bury him. Her beloved daddy, Edward Naylor, raised his four young daughters after their mother's death, and was the perfect father, brother, fiancé, and friend to those who loved him. As friends and family gather to pay tribute to this pillar of the community, Glynda and her sisters begin to search for answers about who the real Edward Naylor was. Their father was a good man, without question, but he also took a secret to his grave. What happens when his secret shows up for the funeral?From the Trade Paperback edition.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2011
22 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 27, 2017
"Sittin in the front Pew" was an excellent read. A widower dies leaving behind his 4 adult daughters, his fiance, a mystery woman who gets an equal share in the inheritance and a slew of other relatives and loved ones. When they all get together to prepare for and attend the funeral boy oh boy do they show up and show out. This book is humorous and the folks in this family say what they feel without sparing anyone's feelings. I totally recommend this fast paced book.
May 11, 2018
This was an okay Read. I found myself just going thru the story niggling or shaking my head every now and then. Never found any real shots of energy. The story was touching. A group of daughters and an uncle battling to except what their fathers reveals when he passes away unexpectedly. So many things come to lite. Emotions, as well as mind set.
September 5, 2016
Excellent
I could barely put this book down! You captured the essence of many families throughout this novel. My family was in part captured, exposed, rendered human but not shredded. Thank you, thank you and again thank you.
I could barely put this book down! You captured the essence of many families throughout this novel. My family was in part captured, exposed, rendered human but not shredded. Thank you, thank you and again thank you.
January 14, 2023
Incredible read!
I absolutely loved this book! The characters in it reminded me of family members of mine! Miss Parry is a skillful writer who weaves a tale that sends you on a roller coaster ride of emotions! I laughed, I cried, and I got angry enough to want to stomp a mud whole in Roberta! I wanted to slap Collette! But through it all, this book was about Love; sisterly love, a parent's love for their children, love between a man and woman, love for the family we choose but more than anything else, love of family! As we say, "Teeth and Tongue may fall out, but at the end of the day, we're family and I've got your back!"
I also love that this story is about strong, honorable black men and fathers!! Mr. May let's indiscretion didn't make me think any less of him because he was such a stand-up guy! He was a wonderful son, brother, husband and father!! There are still some good men still out there! Thanks to the author for not tearing them down!
I felt this book deeply because I'm a daddy's girl from way back! It made me smile and made me cry because it reminded me of daddy daughter days and the fact that my father is now departed from me as well. Though I knew he was no longer suffering, putting his body in the ground was the hardest thing for us to do! But I visit with him in my dreams now. Sometimes its like he's still here but, I know that pain. Miss Parry wrote about this as if she herself has experienced it.
Thank you for taking us on this journey of healing with you!
I absolutely loved this book! The characters in it reminded me of family members of mine! Miss Parry is a skillful writer who weaves a tale that sends you on a roller coaster ride of emotions! I laughed, I cried, and I got angry enough to want to stomp a mud whole in Roberta! I wanted to slap Collette! But through it all, this book was about Love; sisterly love, a parent's love for their children, love between a man and woman, love for the family we choose but more than anything else, love of family! As we say, "Teeth and Tongue may fall out, but at the end of the day, we're family and I've got your back!"
I also love that this story is about strong, honorable black men and fathers!! Mr. May let's indiscretion didn't make me think any less of him because he was such a stand-up guy! He was a wonderful son, brother, husband and father!! There are still some good men still out there! Thanks to the author for not tearing them down!
I felt this book deeply because I'm a daddy's girl from way back! It made me smile and made me cry because it reminded me of daddy daughter days and the fact that my father is now departed from me as well. Though I knew he was no longer suffering, putting his body in the ground was the hardest thing for us to do! But I visit with him in my dreams now. Sometimes its like he's still here but, I know that pain. Miss Parry wrote about this as if she herself has experienced it.
Thank you for taking us on this journey of healing with you!
October 18, 2018
Nothing like having to go through the pain of losing a parent, but what happens when that pain is overshadowed by secrets and drama. The Naylor sisters definitely brought the drama in this book. It was non-stop and it kept me interested to see what the next fight/argument/disagreement would be about. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there was 1 thing that I did not care for in the book. The ending left much to be desired for me. I just felt like there was more I wanted to know about the sisters when the book ended. Through it all, I would recommend this book to others.
November 12, 2019
Get some counseling
A pleasant but predictable read. The characters were interesting and the author brought them to life. Uncle Thomas and Lydia speaking in broken English didn't really seem necessary, especially when Dad Eddie was portrayed as being educated and refined. The conclusion, while beautiful felt a little cliche. College's transformation was way to simplistic. That girl needed some serious counseling. In fact they all did. The moral of this story is when children experience trauma, make sure they get some help.
A pleasant but predictable read. The characters were interesting and the author brought them to life. Uncle Thomas and Lydia speaking in broken English didn't really seem necessary, especially when Dad Eddie was portrayed as being educated and refined. The conclusion, while beautiful felt a little cliche. College's transformation was way to simplistic. That girl needed some serious counseling. In fact they all did. The moral of this story is when children experience trauma, make sure they get some help.
February 2, 2021
One of my favorite books. I read it when it first came out years ago and just listened to it on audio. The pain of losing a parent isn't easy and, especially, if some secrets are revealed. But trust me, this is interesting and entertaining! Parry did an excellent job telling this story.
NOTE: For those who just lost a beloved parent, you may want to wait until the pain isn't so heart wrenching to read this.
NOTE: For those who just lost a beloved parent, you may want to wait until the pain isn't so heart wrenching to read this.
February 5, 2023
This was a hard book to read because I do not like funerals or death - I'm sure no one does. I've heard of many stories of how death makes a person acts and the cruelness that also occurs. This book broke not only that to light but the love of family during secrets and bad times. Sistahhood is vital and important.
The author's layout of the book was very well and it keeps you wanting to read more. I love the ending!
The author's layout of the book was very well and it keeps you wanting to read more. I love the ending!
January 11, 2018
A good read
I liked all the characters in this book. I could totally understand the importance of family and how they related to each other. The love between friends was felt in this book. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it if this is your genre. I would definitely read this author again
I liked all the characters in this book. I could totally understand the importance of family and how they related to each other. The love between friends was felt in this book. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it if this is your genre. I would definitely read this author again
December 10, 2017
A funeral can be full of DRAMA if a family has dysfunctional; issues already, and this book is full of it!
May 25, 2025
Made me feel like I knew this beloved Father.
July 22, 2016
Good read
A very good story definitely food for thought. Surely many readers will relate to the behavior of at least one character.
A very good story definitely food for thought. Surely many readers will relate to the behavior of at least one character.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews