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Main => Book Club => Topic started by: LaylaMonroe on August 04, 2011, 12:15:08 PM
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Click here to find out more about or purchase Choir Director by Carl Weber (http://www.carlweberbooks.com/2011/01/choir-director.html)
Thanks to Brittany and MM04 for making this suggestion.
This discussion/thread will obviously be a little different from the first one we did, since this is a novel.
I'm thinking that instead of a schedule, we can just set a date to return to the thread and discuss it? Or even post your thoughts as you go along, but I don't know how that would work since we might end up spoiling some things if people haven't gotten to that point, yet.
Anyway, however y'all want to do it is fine with me.
Does two weeks give everyone enough time to buy/borrow and read the book?
If there are no objections, discussion set for Thursday, August 18, 2011 (and any time before then).
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If my sistas are in, I'm in... :)
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Everything sounds fine to me.
I can't wait! I'm going to start reading tomorrow.
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I'm reading "The Cat and The Hat"....anyone cares to join.... ;D ;D ;D
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I'm going to order mine tonight. Should have it by next week or so. But it'll only take me a day or two to read it. I'm looking forward to it, ladies!!! :)
@Ray, are you lost dear? I assume you were looking for the NFL thread?? That's out in the hall, you're going to pass 4 doors and make a left down the corridor, then a quick right. I think the sign on the door says "Gospel Music Lounge" or something like that. :-\ :) :P :-*
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I'm going to order mine tonight. Should have it by next week or so. But it'll only take me a day or two to read it. I'm looking forward to it, ladies!!! :)
@Ray, are you lost dear? I assume you were looking for the NFL thread?? That's out in the hall, you're going to pass 4 doors and make a left down the corridor, then a quick right. I think the sign on the door says "Gospel Music Lounge" or something like that. :-\ :) :P :-*
WACK!!!
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There you go looking in the mirror again. smh.
#vainANDwack
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Having just read THE FIRST LADY, this will be interesting.
Will try to find a copy, used or at a local library...
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@Betnich, did you click that link? I think they had a good deal (I don't remember what it was, though).
If you can't find it at your library, you can also try www.half.com (http://www.half.com) (one of my fave book sites) and Amazon, of course. Both sell used books.
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I clicked that link - it's a book club, 4 titles for $2, but then you have to buy more at the book club price.
Put a hold on a copy in the LA county library site - hope it arrives at my local library soon...
;)
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Got mine! Starting at lunch.
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I'll have my book on the 10th.
Sorry, Layla....... guess I moved to slow with making a thread for the book, lol. My mind isn't really on this book at the moment though. But I'll still read it.
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I've had this book for sometime now and just started a few chapters today.
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hmm *some time*
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I should be getting my book tomorrow.
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I've had this book for sometime now and just started a few chapters today.
Yayyyy!!! Welcome to the Book Club, Mztee! Glad to have you! :) Looking forward to your input.
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Cool beans, thank you for the welcome Ms. Layla. :)
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Got my book.....
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picked up my copy today...
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I think I'm gonna get mine in kindle format, I'm hoping to get one soon.
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I might have to get mine on Kindle too. I keep procrastinating with going to the bookstore, and if I order it online I won't have it until Tuesday or so... if I don't pick it up over the weekend, I'll get it on Kindle.
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i read this sunday and monday. kind of disappointing. i will check in sometime and see what you guys think.
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I just read the first 4 chapters...
Umm............ wow.
LOL
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Just read the prologue... wow, indeed.
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just started chapter two. I dont feel comfortable discussing this with Mother LaRue! not in public anyway...
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I finished reading it today. For some reason I just had to know what happened next.
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I actually finished the same day I bought it. I read it on the Kindle App, too.
IRT the book.......WOW.
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Dang you guys got me tryna get it today and read it over the weekend.
And LOL @ U13! I'm not even gonna ask what you mean by that. :D
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IRT the Wow..... it doesn't bother me much. Just.... idk lol. :-X
Anyways, I'm half way through the book. I think I've got it figure out already.
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Ok, so when is it ok to talk about this book??
#Impatient
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Click here to find out more about or purchase Choir Director by Carl Weber ([url]http://www.carlweberbooks.com/2011/01/choir-director.html[/url])
Thanks to Brittany and MM04 for making this suggestion.
This discussion/thread will obviously be a little different from the first one we did, since this is a novel.
I'm thinking that instead of a schedule, we can just set a date to return to the thread and discuss it? Or even post your thoughts as you go along, but I don't know how that would work since we might end up spoiling some things if people haven't gotten to that point, yet.
Anyway, however y'all want to do it is fine with me.
Does two weeks give everyone enough time to buy/borrow and read the book?
If there are no objections, discussion set for Thursday, August 18, 2011 (and any time before then).
NVM! Reading is fundamental.
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I've got my book via Kindle app. I'll be done with it by tonight. I usually finish books within a day or two because I like knowing what happens...
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I've got my book via Kindle app. I'll be done with it by tonight. I usually finish books within a day or two because I like knowing what happens...
Same here. (But I won't be done tonight. I'm not going to get it until today or tomorrow night.
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Yeah, I just got the book last night. It was supposed to come on the 10th, but it went to my old address ::). Luckily my cousin stays there now so my step dad went to get it. Anyways, I should be done reading it later tonight.
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Yeah, I cant stop reading. I think we should start discussing it on Monday
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Dang its like that???? Well it looks like I'm the only hold out so I guess I'll go ahead and read it over the weekend. I feel so... so... *sob*... so bullied!!!
*ChrisBrowncollapse*
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Yes. You need to hop on it ma'am!
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I downloaded it already boo. ;) I'll be ready by Monday.
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ROFLMBO @ the Prologue.... And hoping the rest of the book isn't as unbelievable as the beginning. :-\ ::)
I can't stand a book I can't believe.
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Ummmm... Why y'all aint tell me this book has cussin in it?? :-\ *frown*
I'm not happy.
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I figured you knew since you've read his books. I figured you'd know what to expect.
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I believe this is my first book by this author. I don't remember ever reading anything else of his.
I tend not to read the churchy novels because they're always so unrealistic to me (like the prologue scene in this one, for example. That. Would. NEVER. Go. Down. Like. That!!!!)
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The whole thing is very unrealistic. I've never met church folks who act like that.
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Ummmm... I'm just starting Chapter 2. I don't think I can read this on God's holy Sabbath. Secondly, this is as smutty as any Eric Jerome Dickey book. I'm no prude (I actually love EJD), but this is a bit much for me. I just wasn't prepared for it. Wow.
:-\ <----- my "I'm kinda disappointed" look
I'll pick it back up after Sabbath.
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Ummm...... I thought you've told me you have read Carl W. books. ???? I remember that.
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I don't think so. I'll have to go back in the thread and see what I said. I'm positive I haven't read anything like this before. Again, I don't mind sex scenes and profanity, but not all tangled up with Jesus and church stuff. That's too much for me.
I'm not complaining, just sayin...
@U13 - the unrealisticness makes me wonder if this guy is a real church guy... which takes me back to "The Help" thread and our convo about people writing about lives they've never lived.
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Yeah, you've told me. It wasn't anywhere in this thread. But I do remember.
When I seen him at a book signing he said that he base some of his books from his friends and stuff.
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Ok the only time I've ever had a discussion abt this dude was in the Suggestions thread (not this one). I have never discussed this author outside of LGM. Of that I'm sure. Now, I don't remember what I said in the thread, but I doubt I said definitively that I'd read his stuff. Maybe I said his name was familiar and I "might have" read one of his books... But I wouldn't have said I did unless I mixed him up with someone else. Anyway, I'll find the posts and see what I said.
FTR, its really not that serious. :)
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Ugh! Simone. ::)
WHAT'S THE SECRET ALREADY???? >:( >:(
I can't finish this.... I gotta go to sleep.
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Wow @ this book.
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Wow @ this book.
I would try to finish it tonight, but I have praise and worship in the morning. lol
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I'm finished with the book.
Can't wait for the discussion tomorrow.
After I realized it wasn't who I thought it was, I figured out who was behind all of it. Very obvious.
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Is there anyone who hasn't finished yet?
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From the first few chapters, it does have a soap-operaish vibe...
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Is there anyone who hasn't finished yet?
I might finish it tonight.
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Well, at least everyone else is done with the book.
HURRY UP! >:(
;D
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yeah U13 i wanna hear the spoilers so I don't have to read the book :D
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We're starting this discussion this evening!!!
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We're starting this discussion this evening!!!
I'll jump in when I can. Bible Study tonight.
This will be interesting....
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Oh, well we can start now then.
I have no idea where to start though lol.
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I still havent finished it...
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Ok, so I didn't expect the book to be all that explicit lol. I mean most of his books are, but I figured this book wouldn't be since 1st Lady wasn't all that bad.
Oh em gee....
I don't know where to start. :-\
At any rate, I thought it was the Bishop from Aaron's old church who was causing all the drama.
Then, I dismissed it. And I thought, hmmm................. it HAS to be someone he's close to. I thought of Monique, James, and Maxwell (I think that was his name lol). Then it hit me!
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I was underwhelmed by this book. Too much like THE FIRST LADY - women fighting over a man. I think that must be one of this author's fantasies, LOL! And even more explicit.
Would have been nice to have at least one description of a concert or choir rehearsal, instead of all the plot twists and Telenovela-ish nonsense. What I missed the most was the lack of spirituality - the only character who came close to wanting to do God's will was TIA, IMO.
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@Betnich, I knew not to expect spirituality after the first chapter. The author aint saved (or at least he aint saved like I know it). Furthermore, it was also clear (to me, at least) that he's not a church-oriented person. His book was full of trite, lame, and overused cliches and stereotypes about the church. It is surely one of the most unrealistic books I've ever read in my entire adult life.
Just whack.
And I'm pissed because I read the entire book in basically one night just to find out the very first "mystery" Weber mentioned, which was the story behind James' childrens' crimes and he never even gave an answer to that!!! OMGness!!
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Also, I thought that after "the big reveal" when we learned who was behind all the drama, it became so comic book/cartoonish. It was just so fake and over-the-top after that.
Weber spent the entire book telling us how much Monique loved the Bishop (who by the way, never gave us even one GOOD sermon snippet. C'mon, Carl Weber, you could've at least given us a paragraph of inspiration or something more than that lame "nothing goes with the Word like a good song" CRAP!!!!). And in the end, Monique (who clearly doesn't know her husband) believes a most lame lie about him and without even asking him or looking into the matter herself like most sisters would, she has sex with a man she ISN'T attracted to??? It wouldve been far more believable if she still had feelings for him. But aint no woman on earth finna sleep with a man she doesn't dig over a silly lie that can be easily resolved.
I also hated how he painted just about every character without integrity. Folks cussing up the wazoo. He clearly and intentionally sent the message that church people ALL cuss and have illicit sex, even while proclaiming to be upstanding and holy men and women of God. The book perpetuated the assumption of hypocrisy as the norm in the church.
I really hated that.
Also, he needs to be more creative. It was LAME and WHACK to use the same means to deceive people (forged/doctored paperwork). Lame, lame, lame.
And for Simone and Monique to be such good friends, the author never developed a friendship (I guess he didn't have time with all the whodunnits). And don't get me started on the 19 year old trapped in a 38 year old character's body. ::) Ridiculous. And her crush on Aaron wasn't even believable. Gold diggers don't change overnight like that. For her to be that whipped over somebody who wasn't balling was stupid. Are we to believe he was the first drop dead gorgeous, talented guy she ever met with no money, so she had to abandon her "principles" to be with him? Mannnnnnnn whateva.
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By the way... did anyone else notice that the book description doesn't match the actual book?? ?/? I wonder if Carl Weber changed the plot while writing or after he was done??
While I was reading, I remember thinking... this isn't what I expected... :-\ ?/?
New York Times bestselling author Carl Weber takes readers back to church, where preaching isn't always enough, nothing goes better with the Word than a song--and it's time for some hard-earned lessons in love, brotherhood, and betrayal.
Bishop T.K. Wilson has done all he can to make First Jamaica Ministries a success. But with his last choir director getting caught in a scandal, attendance and cash flow are down. To fill the pews and collection plates, the Bishop is counting on a new choir director, the charismatic Anthony Mackie, to revive the church.
Anthony Mackie has been waiting his entire life for the opportunity to prove he has what it takes to be a big-time choir director like Kirk Franklin. But while Anthony is more than up to the challenge, his ways around women, both past and present, could cost him more than his job.
Savannah Dickens is just one of the women who's caught Anthony's attention. The choir needs a soloist, and Savannah, a beautiful singer who once topped the charts, also needs the church. She has a voice that could break any man's heart, but now she just wants to be left alone to reclaim her faith.
First Lady Monique Wilson is far from being the typical first lady. She does and says what she wants, and doesn't subscribe to church politics. Despite her shortcomings and a past rumored to include a long list of men, she's willing to do just about anything to protect the Bishop.
The members of First Jamaica Ministries are also keeping the Bishop busy with choir in-fighting, romantic jealousies, and personal vendettas. You'd think the Bishop was being tested enough, but a final piece of the puzzle has yet to be revealed: Someone has been robbing the church blind. Someone whose connection to the Bishop is far too close for comfort. . . .
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Also, I thought that after "the big reveal" when we learned who was behind all the drama, it became so comic book/cartoonish. It was just so fake and over-the-top after that.
Weber spent the entire book telling us how much Monique loved the Bishop (who by the way, never gave us even one GOOD sermon snippet. C'mon, Carl Weber, you could've at least given us a paragraph of inspiration or something more than that lame "nothing goes with the Word like a good song" CRAP!!!!). And in the end, Monique (who clearly doesn't know her husband) believes a most lame lie about him and without even asking him or looking into the matter herself like most sisters would, she has sex with a man she ISN'T attracted to??? It wouldve been far more believable if she still had feelings for him. But aint no woman on earth finna sleep with a man she doesn't dig over a silly lie that can be easily resolved.
I also hated how he painted just about every character without integrity. Folks cussing up the wazoo. He clearly and intentionally sent the message that church people ALL cuss and have illicit sex, even while proclaiming to be upstanding and holy men and women of God. The book perpetuated the assumption of hypocrisy as the norm in the church.
I really hated that.
Also, he needs to be more creative. It was LAME and WHACK to use the same means to deceive people (forged/doctored paperwork). Lame, lame, lame.
And for Simone and Monique to be such good friends, the author never developed a friendship (I guess he didn't have time with all the whodunnits). And don't get me started on the 19 year old trapped in a 38 year old character's body. ::) Ridiculous. And her crush on Aaron wasn't even believable. Gold diggers don't change overnight like that. For her to be that whipped over somebody who wasn't balling was stupid. Are we to believe he was the first drop dead gorgeous, talented guy she ever met with no money, so she had to abandon her "principles" to be with him? Mannnnnnnn whateva.
you summed it up perfectly.
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I've never had the opportunity to read any of Carl Weber's work, prior to now, but this was an interesting read only because I'd never read a book based on "the church." As far as the plot was concerned, it was a bit over-dramatized for me, but not so unbelievable as I've observed some of the things mentioned in here at a church I'd went to when I first moved down to S.A. (namely the minister impregnating two women in the course of one year, the nympho missionary asking every newcomer if they knew of any available men, and some of the officers drinking and clubbing and posting pictures on Facebook almost every week ::)) while I'm not perfect I had to KIM because it was not the right atmosphere. Iunno, while I don't think all "saved" people are anything like what was depicted in the book, I do think that this book contributes to the common perception that church-goers are just glorified hypocrites.
IMO Simone and Monique had a friendship that was convenient not a friendship in the "ride-or die" sense of the word. While I'm on that note, Simone needed to be cuffed down quick, fast, and in a hurry. Tia seemed okay at first. My only problem with her, though, was how easily she took the word of a pathological liar and just ran with it. Who does that? All in all the characters seemed to have one-track minds and there really wasn't much in the way of development. I couldn't stop reading because I really thought there was going to be some type of moment where each character experienced some significant change once the choir was restored, but it was what it was. :-\