Sittin' in the Front Pew

by Parry A. Brown

Book Overview

The author of the national bestseller The Shirt off His Back offers a laugh-out-loud look at how a family tries to reconcile their memories with their father's secret life in this novel about love,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375757058
• ISBN13: 9780375757051
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Villard Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Sophmore Work from Ms. Brown!

Although this was my first book from Parry and her most recent, she has gained a new fan in me with Sittin' in the Front Pew, a tale which takes us into the lives of Glynda Naylor and her sisters as they prepare for their father's homegoing service.When Glynda receives a call from her sisters that their father Edward Naylor has passed, on the support of her friend Rico she heads home to assist her sisters (Dawn, Renee, and Collette) with the arrangements. From the moment she arrives and touches base with everyone they begin to clash on the smallest elements from the flowers and colors to who will ride in the limos. As they work through the arrangements they begin to delve deeper into the life in their father, discovering things that were once a mystery to them. Just as things begin to come full circle with the arrangements, one of their father's secrets comes out with a powerful force and it truly changes the lives of the sisters forever. I found this book to be very realistic and relatable in many instances. Parry goes a wonderful job of weaving in the process and the emotions that families go through as they prepare to say goodbye to their loved one. This a wonderful, dynamic book that will truly take you on a unique journey from beginning to end.

Unconditional Love

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the Naylor girls are a group of sassy, in your face sisters. They are the daughters of Edward Zachary Naylor, a strong, dependable pillar of his community. Edward Naylor raised his four daughters to be strong and independent women after the tragic death of their mother. One night Edward suddenly dies to the dismay of everyone. But Edward had a secret and that secret is revealed prior to the funeral causing an uproar with everyone. At a time when families should be allowed to grieve and rejoice simultaneously, in the devotion and accomplishments of a loved one, the Naylor sisters constantly battle about every detail of the funeral, even though Edward made his wishes known in a copy of his personal papers and his will.I could devote several paragraphs to each daughter, for each has her own story to be told. But I will say this, each daughter has a unique personality and one is not like the other. Their voices and behaviors leap off the page to the point that you may recognize them. I know I did. Renee, the oldest is the married mother of four. Glynda resides in Los Angeles and is a lawyer. Collette is a very successful financial planner with her own guilt to bear and Dawn is a single mom of one and a nurse. Each daughter loved her father unconditionally and to say that his death was a shock is an understatement.Sittin' In the Front Pew offers an array of emotions that I'm sure each reader can attest to in some way. I found myself laughing at the antics, grieving with the characters and rejoicing in their triumphs. The dialogue is realistic and moving because at the heart of Sittin' In the Front Pew is the depiction of a strong, male figure with frailties. I also enjoyed the memories that the daughters, family members and friends shared about Edward. It provided insight into the man himself. I consider this novel an excellent club selection because there is a lot to be examined that only a discussion could accomplish. KUDOS to Parry Brown for bringing it home!...

a fine job demonstrating emotion

This story begins when the narrator, Glynda, receives a late night phone call that her father, Edward Zachary Naylor, is dead. With the support of her friend, Rico, Glynda pulls herself somewhat together and catches a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Baltimore, Maryland, to be with her three sisters to make funeral arrangements. The planning of her father's funeral along with a family secret is the center of this enlightening and entertaining novel. Author Parry "EbonySatin" Brown in her book, Sittin' in the Front Pew, does a fine job at demonstrating the emotional trauma that both the death of a loved one and a family secret can have on family members. This book clearly shows through the lives of four sisters how these issues can cause much "drama" and "chaos" within the family unit during a time of bereavement. This book is very well written and the character development was superb. Although this is an entertaining book, some parts were predictable. Upon Glynda's arrival in Baltimore, she and her three sisters, Renee, Colette and Dawn, begin planning their father's funeral arrangements and the handling of his affairs. While reading this story, I found the scenarios to be too close to home based on my own experiences, after the passing of a family member. There is always constant bickering, tears at the drop of a hat, confusion and animosity and more than likely a family secret revealed that will cause even more chaos in the midst of the madness. However, through it all, the Naylor sisters begin to heal and learn to appreciate and understand the true blessing of family in spite of the "drama" that occurs during the funeral planning and the revealing of a secret that their father took to his grave. This is an enjoyable book. Reviewed by Carla J. Curtis

Emotional Family Drama

Ms Parry Brown out did herself with this tale of how families react to death. When you read the prologue to this book, and Glynda is getting back on the plane to go home to California, you are not prepared for the drama that takes place in the following pages. Tears were flowing and before the tears could dry, I was laughing hysterically. Family patriarch and pillar of the community, Eddie Naylor suddenly passes away. His daughters are left to plan his funeral and settle his affairs. The problem is these girls have such strong and different personalities, they are unable to make a decision without bickering. They can't decide on the funeral home, what to bury him in, what to wear, who to put in the obituary, who is to sit on the front pew. Also, a mystery person is named in their father's will. Who is she and what does she mean to the family? As the day of the funeral nears, the mystery is solved and now there is a new gamut of emotions and feelings that have to be dealt with. While reading this book, I shed tears of sorrow and tears of laughter as the Naylor girls reminisce over their life with their father, good and bad times with each other and friends. But, one thing for sure these girls loved one another and they loved their father. This one is a must for your summer reading list. ...

Nothing short of excellent!

Death has a way of bringing out either the worst or best in people. "Sittin in the Front Pew" demonstrates this in a touching and sometimes funny way. Glynda Naylor receives the phone call that no person ever wants: her beloved father, Edward Naylor, has died suddenly. With sisters Renee, Dawn and Collette hovering on the line, Glynda's in a state of shock. She'd just spoken with her father the day before and he told her how proud he was of all of his daughters.As soon as she reaches home, the bickering associated with everyone wanting to have their way - members of the family or not - flairs up; from who's name would appear on the obituary to who was riding in the limos. There's much crying, lots of memories coming to the surface and some secrets revealed, which makes this story so real! Ms. Brown successfully demostrates how a family's grief can shake its foundation and what it takes to bring a family much closer: unconditional love. Excellent novel!!