About book The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down (2004)
When I picked this up, I really needed an easy read by a trusted author. I wanted to revisit characters with whom I am familiar regarding themes that interested me while keeping me on familiar ground. I chose correctly. These books take me to a time and place in my own life when things felt much simpler albeit with some meaning. I "know" these women, their husbands, their children, their struggles, and their growth. This series is safe for me - like visiting old friends. I applaud Jackson's voyage into the difficult topic of racism among Christians. While I waited for her to be reductionistic and/or unrealistic, she never took the novel to that place. Yeah, this is not a weighty or particularly complex rendering of the topic but neither is it entirely simple minded or "resolved" despite the ending. Some of the Caucasians are pretty uncomfortable and in many ways worth the read for this point alone. The book entirely avoids biting questions like the presence of anti-semitism in the portrayal of Ruth and her messianic temple. (Evangelical friends, I invite you to have a frank discussion with a practicing Jew about messianic Christianity sometime. I was the person who walked away changed from that encounter.) Again, this is a novel - and novel written from a particular Christian perspective at that - and not meant as a theoretical discourse on racism. Also, friends (how vain to even think any actually reads this stuff), please know that I write these "reviews" more as an exercise for myself than as a recommendation to anyone else. I don't have the time I wish I had to belong to a book club, so putting my thoughts out here fills that purpose for me for the time being. Sort of.
I feel like the first person narrative REALLY hurts this book. I want to know what the other women are thinking and feeling. I want to follow their lives every once in awhile. To be honest, I'm sick of Jodi. She seems judgemental, she almost always jumps to the worst conclusion first, and I want to get out of her head!Other problems I had were: the character Ruth talks like Yoda. Says her sentences in the wrong order, she does. Every time she says anything in the book I hear Yoda's voice for her. I don't think that's what the author has in mind. Also, Jodi's whole family shares an e-mail address. That includes her, her husband, their 18 year old son, and 15 year old daughter. Come on, you can't tell me those kids haven't gotten their own e-mail address by now. These people aren't computer illiterate either.But there were good things about the story. I like how the women turn to God when things get hard, and there is a nice variety of different characters. The author writes well, so that even when I'm rolling my eyes, at least it's not about bad dialogue or a boring plot. I'm interested enough in some of the characters that I'll keep reading the series, but will probably push it back and read other series first.
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I lost sleep over this one! I could not put this book down. This is the second book in the series and, as much as I loved the first one, Gets Down is even better!!So much happens to the Yada Yada group, and their families, that will keep you glued to the pages. I don't want to give away anything in the story but I will say, READ THIS BOOK. You won't be disappointed.The greatest message that I received from this book is the importance of having God in our lives and trusting Him to see us through. We may not see the reason for things we should do, but we still have to follow His leading. Having fellow Christians praying and being there for each other is vital. I highly recommend The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down.
—Cindi
I am reading through this series, and this was one of my favorite's. I'm very glad to have found this series and can't wait to read the rest of them. These characters are very richly developed. They seem like genuine people that you grow to love. They have both good and bad character traits, but are always striving to become more Godly. It's wonderful to read of their spiritual growth and how they love one another right where they are, flaws and all. They grow in their relationships with one another as they explore each others culture, traditions and lives, and the ladies encourage each other to develop their relationships with the Lord in sincere and honest ways. I love the Yada Yada books, and am very glad there are more!
—Franknannie
I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first book. The characters have continued to grow in their faith. The concept that none of us are perfect, no matter how much we try, is proven time and time again. I appreciate the way that the author gives the characters real-life struggles, emotions, and thoughts. As much as Jodi tries to be the "good Christian girl" she does continue to judge others and doesn't even realize it most of the time. I'm waiting on her to have a major epiphany. It's pretty
—Jennifer Fischer
