I Say a Little Prayer: A Novel

by E. Lynn Harris

Hardcover, 2006

Status

Available

Call number

PS3558 .A644 I17 2006

Genres

Collections

Your library, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Publication

Doubleday (2006), Hardcover, 296 pages

Description

A USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post BestsellerChauncey Greer, the suave and successful owner of the Cute Boy Greeting Card Company, never wants for the attention of guys just as hot as he is. After a couple of bad dates Chauncey finds himself in church, where the minister’s message inspires him to return to the singing career he had launched as a teenager. Things heat up when Chauncey’s rediscovered singing talent lands him in the middle of a protest over homophobia in the black church, and Chauncey’s old singing partner–and former lover–makes a dramatic and unexpected entrance.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Onnaday

This book was an enjoyable read with good writing and good stories. The novel combines personal and religious ethics with elements of a mystery. Harris used cleverly placed story's of relationships past to give the reader their characters history. Past collides with the present. I enjoyed the

appearances of old characters, Yancey Braxton ("Any Way the Wind Blows") still a diva-wanna-be and John Basil Henderson ("A Love of My Own") appears to have grown into a better man. E. Lynn Harris remains true to himself by exploring topics that are controversial. The sex scenes are explicitly real but brief in nature. I look forward to his next novel.

Show Less

3 more

LibraryThing member franoscar

Typical but short book with some explicit gay sex, all set within a Black community. This story focuses on a successful youngish guy who was brutally dumped as a young man but a guy who is now riding anti-gay rhetoric to being preacher of a huge church & Senate candidate favored to win. The

preachers evil wife gets involved, a congregation takes a stand, and a little positive progress is made.

Show Less

LibraryThing member ovistine

I found E. Lynn Harris on Pearl Cleage's website. I'm a fan of Pearl Cleage, and she's a friend and fan of E. Lynn Harris, and I was very excited to see a black gay male author out there, so I immediately went looking for a book by him. And it was WONDERFUL. Chauncey Greer is a small (but growing)

business owner and was once a singer in a boy band; he's also bisexual but leans gay, and this story details how he starts singing again and faces down a man from his past who has since turned into a preacher who speaks out vehemently against gay marriage. It's outstanding (and contains some lovely, smoking hot scenes), and it's the first time I've read a novel focusing on black gay characters, which rocked. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.

Show Less

LibraryThing member starlight70

I Say A Little Prayer is the second E. Lynn Harris's book I have read. The first being Just As I Am. I know there are many fans of Raymond's series with Just As I Am being the second book in the series. Frankly, I prefer I Say A Little Prayer. I was happy to know that this book was written from

only one character's struggle - Chauncey, who has to face the problems associated with a love from his earlier life. This is better compared to Just As I Am, which alternated each chapter with two lead characters. Another thing that makes me prefer this book than Just is that it is less depressing. 'Just' deals with AIDS, and I don't read to feel depressed. However, I find 'Prayer' a little too fast at the end, where the twist in the story is a little too much for me to digest. There is no reason why Damien's wife's past is not known by many, if she is painted to be such. Or even the sudden switch of her wanting to be 'evil'. Although I read only the second book, I would prefer there would be no 'special guest star' from his other books. Lame. Other than that, I found myself looking forward to spending time with the book, eagerly turning the page to find out what would happen next.

Show Less

Fewer