I Say a Little Prayer

As a big fan of E. Lynn Harris, "I Say A Little Prayer" is entertaining and enjoyable as I had expected. A great read.

Although a long time in coming, I Say a Little Prayer is another great novel by E. Lynn Harris. He definitely still has the magic touch when it comes to writing. This book explores the hot topic of gay acceptance and rights within the black church. I Say a Little Prayer will grab the reader with as much intensity as Harris' other stories. The main character, Chauncey Greer, is a multi-dimensional man with multi-dimensional problems. The conflict within him is just as strong, if not stronger, than the conflict within the church regarding the church's upcoming revival. Chauncey has some tough decisions to make and as the reader, you will be conflicted as to whether or not he is making the right choices. We even get cameo appearances from some of our beloved and not so beloved characters. I Say a Little Prayer is a great read. It will leave you wanting more of E. Lynn Harris.

Mr Harris has certainly made it worth the wait for this novel. His characters are more believable than in prior novels where everyone has ample money and leads a glamorous life. These people are more real. I read it over the weekend at a retreat - couldn't put it down. Highly recommend it, even if you didnt care for Harris' earlier novels.

Initially it was easy to dismiss Harris as being a writer of gay and black novels. But the success he has with his eight novels prove that he is far more than that. Yes, he is, and his characters are gay and black. But his stories are far more than that. He is able to bring to light the feelings of his community is a way that is both entertaining and informative. Here there is sex (toned down a bit since his earlier work), it's about the treatment of the gay community by the straight community, and the fear that comes from getting out of the closet. Here also are bigger problems AIDS and racism. In this new book there is a gay-bashing fundamentalist Christian politician who used to be the lead characters former lover. This is a different twist to a story that must be presented carefully, and it is. As he continues to develop, Mr. Harris has the potential to become a major voice in letters.

Chauncey Greer is a successful entrepeneur with an Atlanta-based greeting card company on the brink of really making it big. Handsome and well-established, Chauncey lacks lasting love in his life; on some level, he is still pining after the "one who got away." That "one" was a love from decades ago, when both were members of a fairly successful singing group. Chauncey has managed to keep that traumatic portion of his life separate from his present...until an impromptu solo at his church revives his love for singing. At his pastor's request and because of his love for his church, Chauncey is prepared to sing at a big church-led event....until he discovers that the guest of honor is a well-respected religious man full of rhetoric about the evils of homosexuality. Shockingly, the same man is that lost love of Chauncey's life, from decades ago. Now Chauncey finds himself being stalked by the man's wife, who fears that exposure of his checkered past will end his career. In addition, Chauncey fears for the future of his little church, if Pastor allows and encourages such a divisive human force to preach his message of hate...... In true E. Lynn fashion, this is a pageturner, and a story of love lost. It is the tale of a man who is seeking closure...and a story exposing the intolerance that exists in many of our modern-day African-American houses of worship. Sad to find that these places of refuge do not appear to be thus for many of our brothers and sisters.....a fabulous read. DYB