42 pages 1 hour read

Deesha Philyaw

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 2020

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Essay Topics

1.

What is the effect of the biblical allusions in stories “Eula,” “Dear Sister,” and “Jael”? How do these allusions change the way you read the story?

2.

Compare two stories in The Secret Lives of Church Ladies in regard to the book’s theme of mother/daughter relationships.

3.

Why do you think that the protagonist in “Not-Daniel” feels relief rather than guilt or fear? How is this comparable to characters from other stories?