The Sunday Wife

I loved this book! The reviewer who believes that Ms. King does not understand the nature of the Southern church or the life of a pastor's wife (at least a pastor like the arrogant, degrading Ben) must be delusional. The author tells it like it is! As a former minister and friend of many pastors' wives, I've seen the scenes in The Sunday Wife played out over and over again. Ben was a terrible husband and a hypocritical Christian and pastor. This book is more real than Christians will ever admit. I found it sad and funny and a wonderful read. I'm puzzled by reviewers who bother to finish a book they hate to the end AND write a bad review. Now where's that verse about judgment...

I couldn't put this book down and found the characters very believable and far from being one-dimensional. The negative reviews of this book seem to be very lame. Many of the negative reviews are from people who read the book because Cassandra King is married to Pat Conroy. Humph, and then complained because it wasn't written like a Pat Conroy novel ! ?! Some of the negative reviews left me wondering if the reviewers even read the book, and if they read the book, how they couldn't help but draw similarities between the characters in the book and those we meet in real life. Some negative reviewers here felt Ben, Dean's minister husband, to be underdeveloped as a character in this book. I think his portrayal in the book is perfect, real characters such as Ben live one-dimensional lives. They live only for themselves and other people that come in and out of their lives have very little influence on such characters. Failing to develop this character was certainly not an oversight of this author, Cassandra King, I'm sure it was an intentional representation of just such a character. Just as the "Bens" of this world exist, so too, do the "Deans" of this world and usually they find each other. Unlike real life, many "Deans" never find an "Augusta" to come along and save them. I loved King's Augusta character and found her to be a combination of a couple of my close friends. I was so annoyed with one reviewer's comments about the "unbelievable" characters in this story; I couldn't help but wonder if this person lived a one-dimensional life. The reviewer found it hard to believe that Dean stayed with Ben for 20 years. Here is the exact quote: "I gather that she stayed with Ben for 20 years because of her background and her current situation as a verbally abused wife. Sorry, again this wasn't fleshed out. " King hardly needs to "flesh out" such truths for us, real life consistently forces women like Dean to remain in unfulfilling relationships. Dean had no skills; her husband certainly never encouraged her to venture far from his side. She didn't have the money to educate herself and have a career, which in turn, would have given her a way out. She had no relationships, other than her friendship with Augusta, to find the strength and where withal to even begin to find her own way. It's more unbelievable that women like Dean ever break free of such dismal marriages, than it is unbelievable that she stayed in such a relationship. This book captivated me from the beginning to end and knowing how it would probably end didn't stop me from enjoying the page-turning events along the way. I heartily recommend this book and hope that the negative reviews here don't stop you from missing out on a story that will make you both laugh out loud and cry in sadness. What more could you ask of a book ?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and had trouble putting it down. If you are looking for depth, read WAR AND PEACE. If, however, you are looking for a good read, I highly recommend this book. I'm surprised that it's taken me so long to "discover" this author, and had no idea she is married to Pat Conroy. I tripped over this book purely by accident. Now, I am looking for other books she's written.

This book is so wonderful words can't describe it! Having been raised in the Methodist Church in South Alabama the characters were true to form and very believable. This book not only had true to life characters ,that brought on an array of emotions, but also dealt with controversial issues within the Methodist church today. I simply could not put it down! After reading the authors first novel, Making Waves in Zion I anxiously awaited for this new novel, and I was by no means disappointed! I would highly recommend this delightful book to all readers! I guarantee you won't be disappointed! I can't wait for another novel by Cassandra King!

"The Sunday Wife" is set in the redneck South, but has a universal theme. Dean Lynch, the protagonist, is a kind but insecure woman stuggling to find her identity as the wife of a self-righteous, but charming, local preacher. She then meets Augusta, a wild Southern beauty who appears to have everything in life, including a reckless drive for confrontation and self-assertion. Augusta is Dean's anti-matter, and when the two get together, a chain reaction is initiated with disastrous, then ultimately triumphant, consequences. This book, which alternates between outrageous humor and dark imagery, is for anyone who wants to see what it is like to live a life different from their own (how many of us know what it is like to be the preacher's wife in the Bible belt?) It is also for anyone who had to struggle to find themselves, and didn't succeed until later in life. Plus, it is just plain fun to read. Last advice: don't expect to read this book for several days if you are going on a long trip, I finished it in only 3 (sleepless) nights!