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This is Jodie Chapman’s second novel, the follow up to her debut Another Life which I’ve heard great things about. The ending was a little unfulfilling and abrupt for me but overall I found Oh Sister equal parts challenging, perceptive and uplifting. The writing style is genuinely so compelling - it's quite literary. Time is spent on the little details and everything feels believable. JEN, Isobel and Zelda are three very different women, yet they are bound together by their community, a religious sect called The Disciples Of The Last Days. Sophie Flynn is a Cotswolds based psychological thriller author and head of marketing at Jericho Writers.
Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books UK Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books UK
The only thing I struggled with – at least initially – is that it’s not written in a linear fashion. It jumps about from the present to their childhood, to their teenage years, to when they were young adults; here and there, following the three protagonists, and this can take a bit of getting your head round. And whilst it was a bit jumpy, it didn’t affect it enough to bring it down to 4 stars. This is a 5 star read whichever way you look at it. The world in this tale is rife with sexism, religious zealotry, hatred - it feels like a dystopian fairy-tale but is a reality for too many - and could be for anyone all too easily. And knowing this makes the utter realism of this story so compelling and vivid. Oh, Sister is the story of three women and their experience being part of the Jehovah’s Witness faith. It is how the experience of being part of a religious community can be both a comfort but also cause a lot of pain. As someone who is not particularly religious I found it a fascinating study of a religion that I really would have no idea about if it were not for books like Oh, Sister.
Se potessi vorrei rileggere questo libro di nuovo, perché quando ho girato quell'ultima pagina ero devastata. This beautiful tale of love, loss and sacrifice will break your heart...With echoes of David Nicholls' One Day and Sally Rooney's novels * Daily Mail * The three main characters – Jen, Isobel and Zelda – show how cruel a religious group can be but also how being a part of that lifestyle can be something you covet and crave as it is the only world that they know. As a reader, you feel that you want to fight for each of these characters because whilst you can see their flaws you know that they don’t deserve some of the things that happen to them. This is a compelling book about finding freedom after suffering trauma, rejection and hypocrisy within organised religion. This will sadly speak into the experiences of many and Chapman's sensitive handling will I hope be a cathartic read for anyone who recognises any of the events or attitudes described. Yet, despite the serious storyline and issues explored this has rich characterisation and a compelling plot driving you all the way through this enjoyable book. I won’t lie, it’s a hard book to read. There are some seriously intense themes, and some emotional scenes, talk of sexual abuse, death, complicated love affairs etc. They are hard to read sometimes, but I think she’s found a nice balance. They’re there for a point, to show that this religion is not always the happy place it’s often depicted as, but they’re not just there for entertainment purposes. They really mean something to the author, the characters, and the reader.
Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Lisa Talks About Review: Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Lisa Talks About
Oh, Sister is a powerful realism novel about 3 women whose lives are influenced by their Jehovah's Witness community even after they are outcast from it. Jen suffered a miscarriage and decided to take a blood transfusion; Isobel's husband of decades has eloped, leaving her to fend for herself; and Zelda is trying to find herself on the outskirts of the world she's left behind. The women are of different ages and have different degrees of belief in their religion. This book is about religion and cult mentalities, the big and little things we do to try and take control, love, and unfulfilled expectations. The author was raised in a Jehovah's Witness community herself. This week Natalie Chandler and I chat about traditional publishing, advice for aspiring writers, books everyone should be reading, and why we shouldn’t be scared of literary agents. Isobel and Jen have spent their entire lives following the rules - of their marriages, and their religion.I have a love/hate relationship with so-called "books of the year". But this one, right here? Yeah, that's a pretty little slice of perfection. It is absolutely sublime, I read it in one sitting whilst in hospital, and no-one could grab my attention for an entire afternoon. It just grabbed me and hooked me in and wouldn't let me leave until I'd finished it. This is the only Jodie Chapman book I've read but I will definitely be looking out for others as this was just spellbinding. Minor complaint: Where is the story set? There is only mention of the religious places such as ’Worship Hall’ or the places of work or residence such as dentist’s office or apartment. But which town/city/country? This might not be a relevant point to many readers, but I like knowing the location to understand the story and characters better. Of course, skipping this info might have been a deliberate choice so as to make the plot feel universally relevant. But it became confusing for me as I know both Jehovah’s Witnesses and LDS churches originated in the USA. So I assumed the book was set there, until one character mentioned midway the book that they dreamt of going to the USA, which caught me off guard.
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