Cover Girls

June 9, 2003
When a well-known preacher and bestselling nonfiction author (Woman, Thou Art Loosed!) tries his hand at fiction, the result is unfortunately predictable—a heavy dose of sermonizing. Jakes frames his contemporary novel around the seasons of life, telling the story from the perspectives of three African-American women who work together in an office, and a fourth, older woman who acts as a mentor to the youngest. The hip, well-manicured Michelle swears she will "never be under any man's thumb," yet her abusive past is revisited upon her by the men she finds attractive. Tonya loves the Lord, but the death of one son and the trials of single parenting have taken their toll. Delores is in control at the office, but her 13-year-old granddaughter's heartbreaking troubles are about to wreck her own carefully constructed facade. Meanwhile, the aged Miz Ida has her hands full as a sounding board for Michelle and helping any "strays" who cross her path. The novel is marred by overwriting, heavy dialogue, long sermons, an annoying use of footnotes (including a citation of Jakes's own nonfiction work) and the author's self-promoting product endorsements (one character gives another a Woman, Thou Art Loosed!
Bible). Also, it's ironic that a novel that's supposed to be about strong women shows those women almost always being rescued or straightened out by men. However, the book offers sound moral lessons for Christians and encouragement for single mothers.

July 1, 2003
Preacher Jakes makes his first novel the latest medium for his message of spiritual hope and inspiration. He interweaves the lives of four very different women--three black, one white, young and old, rich and poor--who must face harsh self-truths and search for spiritual comfort as they confront painful issues. Michelle is an ambitious young career woman who is pulled back into the self-defeating patterns of an abusive past. Tonya, older and somewhat wiser, still has much to learn about living life to its fullest. The two women clash on the job as Tonya is charged with responsibility for getting Michelle to shape up or face dismissal; however, Michelle strongly resents Tonya's faith-based approach. Mrs. Judson, their rich white employer, has little patience with either woman until a scandal forces her to question her reliance on wealth and power. Miz Ida is Michelle's elderly neighbor, a woman who has served as surrogate mother and spiritual counselor, keeping the young woman on track. Incorporating each character's perspective, Jakes highlights the different seasons of women's lives--from Michelle's youthful reliance on beauty and sensuality through Miz Ida's appreciation of an eternal hopefulness that defies aging.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)