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The Sunday Wife
Married for 20 years to the Reverend Benjamin Lynch, a handsome, ambitious minister of the prestigious Methodist church, Dean Lynch has never quite adjusted her temperament to the demands of the role of a "Sunday wife." When her husband is assigned to a larger church, Dean becomes fast friends with Augusta Holderfield, a woman with a secret past whose good looks and extravagant habits immediately entrance Dean --- much to Ben's disgust.
As their friendship evolves, Dean begins to break free from her traditional role as the preacher's wife, shocking some of the more staid members of the congregation. Just as Dean is questioning everything she has always valued, a tragedy occurs, providing the catalyst for change in ways she never could have imagined --- and providing a climatic conclusion that resonate with emotional power.
As their friendship evolves, Dean begins to break free from her traditional role as the preacher's wife, shocking some of the more staid members of the congregation. Just as Dean is questioning everything she has always valued, a tragedy occurs, providing the catalyst for change in ways she never could have imagined --- and providing a climatic conclusion that resonate with emotional power.
537 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Cassandra King
9 books323 followersCASSANDRA KING, who has been called “the Queen of Southern storytelling,” is the author of six novels, Making Waves, The Sunday Wife, The Same Sweet Girls, Queen of Broken Hearts, Moonrise, and The Same Sweet Girls' Guide to Life, as well as numerous short stories, essays and articles. Moonrise, her fifth novel, is set in Highlands, North Carolina. A native of Alabama, Cassandra resides in Beaufort, South Carolina, with her husband, writer Pat Conroy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
May 17, 2007
I read this book for two reasons: 1) I was looking at another book in the library, and Henry, who was in his stroller, pulled this off the shelf and handed it to me; 2) When I took it from him, my instinct was to put it back on the shelf, but then I remembered that King is Pat Conroy's wife.
Pat Conroy, she ain't.
Don't get me wrong; this book is OK. But don't read it expecting the lyric prose and emotionally currency of Conroy. Wife tells the story of Dean Lynch, a Methodist minister's repressed wife and the events that unfold after she is befriended by a larger-than-life unconventional woman in their new parish. This is a quick read that will make you really want to go to the beach (the book is set in the panhandle area of Florida and they are often at the beach). It may actually be better than I am giving it credit for as it hit on one of my pet peeves. While it gives a message of tolerance and connectedness (one of the main sub-plots involves a same-gender marriage), it is extremely stereotypical and degrading in its treatment of religious people. In fact, it effectively led me to beleive that everyone with liberal views is a good person and everyone with conservative views is bad.
Pat Conroy, she ain't.
Don't get me wrong; this book is OK. But don't read it expecting the lyric prose and emotionally currency of Conroy. Wife tells the story of Dean Lynch, a Methodist minister's repressed wife and the events that unfold after she is befriended by a larger-than-life unconventional woman in their new parish. This is a quick read that will make you really want to go to the beach (the book is set in the panhandle area of Florida and they are often at the beach). It may actually be better than I am giving it credit for as it hit on one of my pet peeves. While it gives a message of tolerance and connectedness (one of the main sub-plots involves a same-gender marriage), it is extremely stereotypical and degrading in its treatment of religious people. In fact, it effectively led me to beleive that everyone with liberal views is a good person and everyone with conservative views is bad.
July 5, 2007
I found this when I was a junior in high school in my moms beach bag, read it, and LOVED it. So did all of her friends, all older than me by at least 25 years.
It is about a preacher's wife with a unique style of her own. She has a more liberal lifestyle than the people in her community, congregation, and even her husband expect her to lead.
The best part is that it is set in South Walton County beach area. Some scenes take places in Greyton Beach and Seaside. My great-grandmother was from Panama City, so naturally my mom has always told stories about the history of the Florida panhandle. If you are even the least bit familiar with the area, it makes the book even better!
It is about a preacher's wife with a unique style of her own. She has a more liberal lifestyle than the people in her community, congregation, and even her husband expect her to lead.
The best part is that it is set in South Walton County beach area. Some scenes take places in Greyton Beach and Seaside. My great-grandmother was from Panama City, so naturally my mom has always told stories about the history of the Florida panhandle. If you are even the least bit familiar with the area, it makes the book even better!
March 8, 2008
This book and author ticked me off. It's apparant King hates the church and all that it stands for and for that, I almost couldn't finish the book. I only did because I really wanted to know what ended up happening to the ministers wife. I really don't recommend this book to anyone.
August 23, 2007
I recieved this book as an advanced copy when I worked as a Bookseller and I just got around to reading it. It was not very engaging of a book and really just to damn fatalistic for me. I would never have purchased this book, and only picked it up b/c I am trying to thin out my library. If you like "chick-flick" movies, you might want to give this a try. It has the capacity of making some people cry and swoon, but it was just sorta 'eh' for me.
May 18, 2007
My favorite thing about this book was that even the best of friends didn't know everything about each other. I, too, was concerned about pigeon-holing the religious, but it was specific to certain people, not generalized.
February 4, 2014
It was an interesting read about the life of a minister's wife. You don't realize just how political a church can be, nor do you realize how the leader's wife will be scrutinized for just about everything she does. A woman shouldn't have to give up her soul or self for the sake of her husband's congregation.
The book had its fair share of sin and corruption, but it was good to read about a doormat, striving to become a door.
The book had its fair share of sin and corruption, but it was good to read about a doormat, striving to become a door.
July 23, 2014
Reverend Ben Lynch and his wife Dean seem the perfect couple. Ben is a rising star within the Methodist Church. Dean teaches piano and supports her husband in his ministry. But outward appearances can be deceiving.
A move to Crystal Springs, Florida gives Dean the opportunity to meet new friends who encourage her to be herself. Along the way, Dean learns that she is not the only one who is less than satisfied with the reality of everyday life.
The Sunday Wife drew me in and I found myself up late trying to get in just a few more pages before I went to bed.
A move to Crystal Springs, Florida gives Dean the opportunity to meet new friends who encourage her to be herself. Along the way, Dean learns that she is not the only one who is less than satisfied with the reality of everyday life.
The Sunday Wife drew me in and I found myself up late trying to get in just a few more pages before I went to bed.
October 12, 2009
I gave it an extra star because she was singing my life (badly) with her song. If you were never an up-and-coming minister's wife, don't bother. Painful and plentiful dialogue, not a nuance in a carload. Every thought, stubbed toe, angry look is spelled out with articles and pronouns. Written like a Harlequin, but with no redeeming lurid sex.
August 5, 2008
I thought this book was about something it wasn't really about. I couldn't get into the story and the characters really had no point to me. I didn't even get 50 pages in before i just had to put it down.
November 16, 2011
I must say I only read the first half of this book and then threw it in the trash can. It's main conflict was performing same sex marriage. I deal with this in real life and don't need to read about it too!
January 22, 2020
This book took me on an interesting journey with my emotions! The plot began slowly and picked up when the Holderfield family entered the picture. Then I loved some parts, hated some parts, and was bored with still other parts. I am very, VERY glad that I stuck with the story and did not skip ahead to the end of the book! After a certain point, the plot got more and more exciting, and I liked the ending!
September 7, 2014
It felt a little long and drawn out, but I loved the story within. It was predictable in some ways, but ... life is predictable in many ways, isn't it?
This isn't a "beach" read because it takes too long to get into it. And it's not an emotional read - I rarely felt anything more than curiosity about the next turn it would take.
I am not particularly fond of chicken-shit women like Dean, especially when they cow down to overbearing husbands. Since hers is a Reverend - and therefore revered by many - I can somewhat understand her getting into the position of feeling he was more important to her. But I don't understand putting up with it once she realized he was full of himself.
Augusta is the kind of person many wish they were - free spirited, bold, sassy. But she takes it too far, to the point of disrespect, on some occasions. Her husband Maddox is in love with her, but not blindly so (something I like in a person). Their son Gus is being done a disservice, I think, by his overprotective parents.
This is the main cast of characters. There are a few more, all of whom have their own flaws and appealing traits. Each contributes to the story and the brief peeks into their lives make you want to know more about them.
I cannot decide if the ending makes me happy or not. I usually don't like this kind of ending ... but somehow, it fits nicely.
This isn't a "beach" read because it takes too long to get into it. And it's not an emotional read - I rarely felt anything more than curiosity about the next turn it would take.
I am not particularly fond of chicken-shit women like Dean, especially when they cow down to overbearing husbands. Since hers is a Reverend - and therefore revered by many - I can somewhat understand her getting into the position of feeling he was more important to her. But I don't understand putting up with it once she realized he was full of himself.
Augusta is the kind of person many wish they were - free spirited, bold, sassy. But she takes it too far, to the point of disrespect, on some occasions. Her husband Maddox is in love with her, but not blindly so (something I like in a person). Their son Gus is being done a disservice, I think, by his overprotective parents.
This is the main cast of characters. There are a few more, all of whom have their own flaws and appealing traits. Each contributes to the story and the brief peeks into their lives make you want to know more about them.
I cannot decide if the ending makes me happy or not. I usually don't like this kind of ending ... but somehow, it fits nicely.
March 1, 2019
I loved this book, but then I was a pastor's wife for twenty years and can relate well to the story. Except my husband is nothing like Ben. It's the church setting - the expectations put on a pastor's wife, the gossip and pettiness. I'm ashamed to say some churches are just like the one in this story. I praise God I'm not in one like that today. Cassandra King perfectly captured the feel of ministries that miss the whole point of the Gospel and the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts. To be dispersed to others in His name. And besides, she was Pat Conroy's wife - I'd read it just because of that, but I happen to love her books.
July 23, 2008
Pretty good for a fist novel...I didn't know she was Pat Conroy's wife until I was halfway through and read the back cover.
Dean is a Methodist minister's wife and lives in Florida. The husband is condescending and always puts her down because of her background (she's a foster child). When they move to a new appointment, Dean hopes things will get better. They do when she meets and becomes friends with Augusta. The only trouble is that Augusta is a bit on the wild side which isn't great for a minister's wife...
Dean is a Methodist minister's wife and lives in Florida. The husband is condescending and always puts her down because of her background (she's a foster child). When they move to a new appointment, Dean hopes things will get better. They do when she meets and becomes friends with Augusta. The only trouble is that Augusta is a bit on the wild side which isn't great for a minister's wife...
September 18, 2008
Essentially a story about a woman who struggles with her identity as a preacher's wife, and the choices she makes as she attempts to rebel from her life/husband. I thought that this would be an interesting book, however I soon became tired of the main character's passive behavior. To be rather blunt, it is a typical oppressed woman struggling to overcome abusive/negligent husband- (typical lifetime movie) I had a hard time believing that these characters were actually real, and situations in the book could occur in regular life.
June 30, 2008
Just finished reading this book. It was good, though a little long. It was funny, sad, and poignant all at the same time. Once again, I didn't like the way "church people" were portrayed. I have maet people like this, but most of the people I know at different churches are the exact opposite. I was surprised and sad at the way it ended, but it was a good read.
Want to read
July 31, 2008This could be good - a story about an unlikely friendship between two women, and hopefully the story of how one woman finds herself. On the other hand, it could suck.
July 6, 2015
2.5 the ending had me crying. Not sure if it was because of the way the story ended or I was just so happy to be done reading this book.
Read
April 18, 2024this was without a doubt one of the worst books ive ever read in all my natural born days cassandra king put the pen down im serious now
August 25, 2018
This s not the kind of book I usually read. I almost quit it very early but I just had to see if anything could change the preacher. Some very likable people and some awful ones. I would not recommend the book unless you had nothing else to read!
September 29, 2022
I don’t think I was prepared for the roller coaster ride this book took me on! I’ll have to buckle up for the book club discussions….
June 4, 2012
I really enjoyed this story! As a southerner, I also appreciated the accents on audiobook and just the idea of being in the south.
We meet a woman named Dean, whom is married to a preacher of a prominent Methodist church. Dean doesn't really enjoy the preacher wife duties, and becomes friends with a woman whom her husband doesn't care for.
Over time, Dean becomes best friends with this woman and does a lot of things her husband doesn't approve of. In some ways, Dean is standing up for herself, and not being the customary preacher's wife.
Quite a bit happens in this story. Some of it was hilarious, sad, happy, and it was just a great story.
We meet a woman named Dean, whom is married to a preacher of a prominent Methodist church. Dean doesn't really enjoy the preacher wife duties, and becomes friends with a woman whom her husband doesn't care for.
Over time, Dean becomes best friends with this woman and does a lot of things her husband doesn't approve of. In some ways, Dean is standing up for herself, and not being the customary preacher's wife.
Quite a bit happens in this story. Some of it was hilarious, sad, happy, and it was just a great story.
July 13, 2020
An interesting and compelling novel. King is excellent at recreating that feeling of moving to a new town and making a bosom female friend, all while trying to survive a terrible marriage. It's an interesting take on church hypocrisy and power politics, too, with a gay marriage in the middle as a catalyzing factor. Wasn't quite sure what to make of the last quarter or so of it, though. It's almost as if the author thinks your own bad behavior is actually God at work, helping you escape a bad place, a sort of helpless resort of the hopeless. And maybe it is, but... I expected better of Dean. Still love her, though. A great character.
August 16, 2010
When I realized that the author is Pat Conroy's wife, I have to admit that I automatically expected better writing - not fair to her, but so be it. It was a look at established religion from a minister's wife's point of view. However, it was very one-dimensional. All the church people were hypocritical, unyielding, prissy, intolerant, etc. There were none portrayed as true Chrisitans which is very unfair. The storyline was rather predictable and a little drawn out in places, but an ok read. She included some very interesting characters (outside of the church).
October 22, 2013
I love Pat Conroy and just discovered that his wife is also an author and thought I'd give one of her books a try. This one caught my attention because I've attended a Methodist congregation in the past and could easily picture a former pastor that I know (or a combination of a couple of them) in the role of Ben, and I have seen how many pastor wives have unrealistic expectations placed upon them and lose their identity. The ending was a bit predictable, but it still made for an enjoyable book.
July 17, 2008
Just picked this book up one day while browsing the book store. Did not realize it was written by Pat Conroy's wife and I did not read the back section first. So I had no pre-conceived ideas. I thought the book was entertaining, funny at times and also revealed the relationship between two women so different yet so similar in some respects. It is a good easy read for summer.
June 9, 2010
Not my "cup of tea." The main character's husband, a Methodist pastor is a shallow egotist, and other so-called Christians are described as "right-wing Republican dingbats." (author's words, not mine) King paints Christians with a broad (biased) brush, and that turned me off. I didn't finish reading this book--threw it in the trash.
July 20, 2007
THis was at the top of my list until I read My Sister's Keeper. I really loved it and would recommend it to anyone. It takes place on the Gulf Coast. The author is married to Pat Conroy who wrote Prince of Tides and Beach Music.
March 19, 2008
The novel is set in the South I know, and I'm pretty sure I've met these characters over the years. I always knew Methodists were the thinkers. I absolutely loved this book, though I was hesitant to patronize Stephen King's wife.
May 14, 2007
Read this in hard back summer of 03 wonderful refreshing story regarding a preachers wife. Some shocking details that one would not expect from the Sunday wife.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews