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3rd out of 356 books
—
283 voters
The Yada Yada Prayer Group (The Yada Yada Prayer Group #1)
by
Neta Jackson
What do an ex-con, a former drug addict, a real estate broker, a college student, and a married mother of two have in common?
Nothing, or so I thought. Who would have imagined that God would make a prayer group as mismatched as ours the closest of friends? I almost didn't even go to the Chicago Women's Conference--after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers...more
Nothing, or so I thought. Who would have imagined that God would make a prayer group as mismatched as ours the closest of friends? I almost didn't even go to the Chicago Women's Conference--after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers...more
Paperback, 385 pages
Published
September 1st 2003
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
(first published January 1st 2003)
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After reading 25% into this book I am not intrigued or impressed. The herione is interesting but the writing style is very immature. At one point the herione is coming home from the womens conference and the writer writes 'Should I ring the doorbell or use my key'? A whole paragraph to describe a lady entering her own home is trite enough.
My initial impression, unlike most reviews, is that the writer is determined to be preachy. I feel as if I am in a sermon on one page and then in a boring jour...more
My initial impression, unlike most reviews, is that the writer is determined to be preachy. I feel as if I am in a sermon on one page and then in a boring jour...more
Plot: Jodie Baxter reluctantly attended a Christian women's conference at the invitation of her supervisor and friend from Church. there she is put into a prayer group with women whom she never thought she'd have anything in common. In the weeks following the conference the women continue gathering to pray and grow their friendship. Jodie will need these precious friends when a dark time comes into her life.
Why I picked this up: I hadn't listened to any audiobooks in quite sometime and was look...more
Why I picked this up: I hadn't listened to any audiobooks in quite sometime and was look...more
Sometimes I avoid Christian fiction because I am held back by my personal bias that their plots are superficial or formulaic; i.e. too much romance, problems solved too easily. But I also crave hope and strength from the books I read. I certainly don’t want a “gray” book, which offers only hopeless tragedy or no answers to life’s problems!
The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson (Integrity Publishers, 2003) may have a bright neon-colored cover but what lies between the pages is not a “light” r...more
The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson (Integrity Publishers, 2003) may have a bright neon-colored cover but what lies between the pages is not a “light” r...more
Jun 02, 2012
Andrea Guy
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Andrea by:
http://www.goodreads.com/api/atmb_widget?utf8=%E2%9C%93&atmb_widget%5Bbook_id%5D=1595544224
There aren't many books I don't finish, that said, this is one of the books that almost made it to that pile. I enjoy Christian fiction from time to time, when written by a good author. There is nothing wrong with faith in my reading. However this book took faith to the point of being obnoxious.
The group of women meet at a Women's Conference in Chicago. The premise is awesome except these women come across as sanctimonious, holier than thou, grinning Jesus freaks.
Jodi Baxter is one of the most u...more
The group of women meet at a Women's Conference in Chicago. The premise is awesome except these women come across as sanctimonious, holier than thou, grinning Jesus freaks.
Jodi Baxter is one of the most u...more
2 likes · like · see review
This award-winning novel is about the power of prayer. It’s the start of a seven-book series about a multi-cultural prayer group in Chicago that started at a women’s prayer conference. The characters come from a wide variety of backgrounds–Jodi, the protagonist, is a typical white middle-class woman with a husband and two kids; Florida is an African-American former drug addict trying to get her child out of foster care; another owns a nail salon; and so on. They are learning and teaching each ot...more
1 like · like · see review
Jodi Baxter, life long Christian, attends the Chicago Christian Womens Conference with her boss and fellow church member, Avis. Her first surprise is an unexpected roommate, Florida a recovering addict who is 5 years sober. Her second surprise is the boisterous way some of the women at the conference praise the Lord. Her third surprise is the multi-national prayer group she is assigned to. The ladies decide to continue the prayer group requests via email, but circumstances finally make them deci...more
3 likes · like · see review
This book is wonderful. All the characters in the book are like real people with real problems. This book teaches how wonderful prayer is, as well as the importance of supporting friends and choosing uplifting friends. The book teaches how we can ALWAYS turn to Heavenly Father in prayer and he will be there. He loves us. Heavenly Father hears us every time we pray. Prayers is such an amazing thing. I know that Heavenly Father listens to me every single time I talk to him through prayer. I would...more
6 likes · like · see review
It took me a bit to get into this book... I kept reading it hoping I'd start to really identify with the main character, but, overall, I only connected via bits and pieces. The main character, Jodi, is your all-American suburb-mom who has mostly lived a fairly sheltered life. A good girl by her own account, she's done the things she was supposed to do and when she was supposed to do them. She has her ideas on how a proper Christian should look, act, and think. It's a big shock to her system when...more
I enjoyed it! I surprised myself by choosing this book, because I tend to avoid most chick lit. However, I had just attended a Christian women's conference, so the book's premise piqued my interest. This is the first in a series about a multicultural women's prayer group, whose members didn't choose one other, but end up leaning on each other and becoming friends. It took me a chapter or three to get used to the main character's voice. She was likeable but frustratingly oblivious. And portions o...more
I found this book to be very interesting even though I expected it to be another formulaic ______group book. Jodi, a white middle class mother and public school teacher lives in an up and coming downtown neighborhood in Chicago. Talked into attending a women's conference with her school principal, Jodi finds herself matched with a very diverse group of women with whom she thinks she has little in common. After the weekend, the group decide to continue as an email prayer chain group and name them...more
I would really like to give the book 3 1/2 stars. It was certainly not great literature, but I liked the story and the message, for the most part. As some other reviewers have said, the main character was not always likable, but I think that's the point. She went to church, took her kids to youth group, and tried to be a good person, but she struggled with anger, jealousy, and prejudice. If she had been a perfect person she would not have needed the other women, we would not have been able to re...more
I am really unsure of what to think about this book. In some cases, it was really good. I felt the main character was down to earth, believable, not an impossible to reach character. The plot was unique, about a group of women who get together for an ongoing prayer group.
However, I felt like the author/characters were saying that there is only one way to worship - a black church worship style. Anything else is only superficial and will not get you closer to God. I've been to contemporary white...more
However, I felt like the author/characters were saying that there is only one way to worship - a black church worship style. Anything else is only superficial and will not get you closer to God. I've been to contemporary white...more
After having just finished The Passage, I desperately need a light-hearted, lift-me-up kind of book. Here's hoping this is it!
I read this book in a day and a half. That should tell you something. It was a little book that packed a big punch. A little corny at times ... sometimes over the top. But it really got me thinking about how I express my faith and how I relate to others. It's not some great literary masterpiece but I rated it a 4 on enjoyment level only!
A few words of caution:
If you are n...more
I read this book in a day and a half. That should tell you something. It was a little book that packed a big punch. A little corny at times ... sometimes over the top. But it really got me thinking about how I express my faith and how I relate to others. It's not some great literary masterpiece but I rated it a 4 on enjoyment level only!
A few words of caution:
If you are n...more
I was unprepared for how much I would like this book. I picked it up thinking, "This will be predictable and a bit boring, but I am ready for something uplifting." Well it was not boring or predictable, and it certainly was uplifting. The book is about 12 strangers who get thrown into a prayer group at a conference. They decide to keep the prayer group going through the internet and eventually biweekly meetings. Their meetings are beautiful, filled with scripture, emotion, hope and understanding...more
Well, as for the Christian part of it and the hatred of drugs and alcohol, I could do without, and seeing as this book is a book regarding a prayer group of many different ethnicities, life styles, and personalities. I liked many of the characters; Nony really intrigued me, and Florida was a kind of encouragement in the story. I also liked how Yo-Yo's confidence began as nothing when applied to "the whole Jesus thing", but as she grew throughout the book, her confidence soared. The learning expi...more
I was sick and needed something light and easy, so I pulled this book off the shelf for a re-read. Even though it is very predictable and Jodi is one of the most annoying characters in all of Christian fiction, I still like this book. Maybe I like the colorful characters trying to find common ground. Or, maybe I can relate (reluctantly) to "good girl" Jodi, who thinks she is a good Christian but whose faith has never been challenged.
The thing that most disappoints me about this series is that w...more
The thing that most disappoints me about this series is that w...more
This is not to be confused with the Yaya sisterhood book(s?). It is the first in a series of books that revolves around a group of diverse women who meet at a women's prayer conference and start a prayer group together. The main character is a woman, Jodie, who always thought she was a good Christian in the good-girl sense of the word, but finds out through an accident what it really means to be Christian. The writing is OK, the plot kept me interested but wasn't earth shattering. People who are...more
I picked up this book on high recommendation of friends. I found it a little contrived in the suggested 'diversity' of the prayer group. Nothing really struck me in reading this first book. That having been said I believe this book isn't meant to stand alone. I have read several others in the series and found the development of the characters to grow on me. I am intrigued by their life stories and willingness (or lack of willingness) to pursue God and His plan for their lives. I enjoy these easy...more
I picked this book up because I was doing the "couch potato" thing on a rainy Friday evening and the book was in easy reach. I read the first 50+ pages and decided it was just too cheesy. Later, however, when I tried to read another book I kept thinking about the characters in The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I was hooked, so I picked it back up. I read the entire book throughout a very rainy weekend and finished it with good feelings as if I myself had been on a church retreat. Was it cheesy? Yes, a...more
I'll start with the negatives. There were too many women to keep up with, especially since we didn't know much about a number of them. I guess readers learn more if they continue with the series. The main character was annoying at times because she was so judgmental of others. I also didn't think it was that well written and the ending was very abrupt. Now for the positives - I did identify with the main character, Jodi, in some ways. I was interested to read more about her family life with her...more
The Yada Prayer group is a delightful story, about a group of Christian women most of whom meet at a Christian convention, they decide to continue their little group on through contact and through email. When they face trouble the group is their for one another.
This diverse group consists of an exchange student, a middle class Mother, a woman from Hondoruas, an ex drug addict just to name a few, and the story unfolds around these women, we learn to love these characters.
I would recomend this b...more
This diverse group consists of an exchange student, a middle class Mother, a woman from Hondoruas, an ex drug addict just to name a few, and the story unfolds around these women, we learn to love these characters.
I would recomend this b...more
WOW- this was an amazing book about a diverse group of women, both young and old, from completely different backgrounds and religions (and one that has not accepted Christ yet) who fall into place together in a prayer group at conference. The women want to stay in touch after the conference and create the "Yada Yada Prayer Group". Jodi Baxter, one of the main characters, is so easy to relate to in her thinking about religion and her relationship with God. Her notions are challenged toward the en...more
One of my real first reads for Christian chick lit. Like most chick lit, a lot of it was mindless, filled with the heroine's daily nothings --cooking dinner, worrying about what the neighbors think, social events that in the end, don't pertain to the plot at all.
Despite this, I guess it was still a heartwarming story .. Although it really feels as if the author totally copped out at the end, just to make it a happy ending. Or was that supposed to prove the supremacy of God's power? Either way,...more
Despite this, I guess it was still a heartwarming story .. Although it really feels as if the author totally copped out at the end, just to make it a happy ending. Or was that supposed to prove the supremacy of God's power? Either way,...more
I was just looking through the card catalog on my computer for christian fiction and thought the title of this book sounded interesting, I had no idea what it was about, and I put it on hold through my library. I am so glad I did, I don't usually like series books, but these books are wonderful. Once I read one I had to read the others. They arent like so many christian fiction books that have the same formula with the same types of people. They are about a diverse mix of women who help each oth...more
This book was so different from anything else I've read all year that I couldn't help but like it. Not only is it fun, but it's also a powerful reminder of the importance of prayer and Christian "community". I did have a few issues with it though. The main character seems so obsessed with race relations that you'd think Neta Jackson might put more thought into her other characters who seem way too stereotypical of their own race. Then the absence of "No" as an answer to prayer. But I still want...more
I really really liked this book. It's a good Christian book with real life circumstanses and application. I didn't fall in love with and main character Jodi however, I think that was because she made some really realistic comments to herself that I thought made her unlikable. It wasn't until about half way through the book when I found myself agreeing with some of her bad personal thoughts. I realized that this is what made Jodi a realistic character with realistic faults dealing with real situa...more
This is Christian fiction and the first in a whole series by this author. Not a book I was aware of or one I probably would've found out about if it weren't for a summer book club. It's about 12 women who go to a Women's Conference and get thrown together in the same prayer group. They are from all walks of life, ethnic & economic backgrounds. Women, who would not probably befriend one another if they had met each other on the street. But the book is about them coming together as sisters in...more
I agree with most reviewers, this book is poorly written compared. But, the messages are powerful. A group of women from very different backgrounds are joined together at a Christian Women's Conference in Chicago. The group's bond begins to develop as members face trials and tribulations. The book is told through the lens of Jody Baxter, who appears to be a devote Christian and have a normal middle class life . However, after being introduced to the stories if the Yada Yada prayer group, she sta...more
I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't find it realistic at times. There were no cell phones, a family of 4 people shared one email account (really?! Does that ever happen?) and the way the main character freaked out when her husband had A (as in ONE) beer really turned me off. I did like the idea of the wide variety of women getting together to pray and how they made it a regular occurrence, which would be nice to have as a support group. This was the first in a series, but I have no d...more
Parts of this book I enjoyed, and parts made me wonder why I was reading this book at all. I liked the idea of this group of women from all walks of life coming together to pray together and support each other. I didn't really care for some the characters themselves, or at least the main character, who appeared to be more concerned about her image and little things, than the big picture. She gets better towards the end after learning some life lessons. I don't think I will ever read any of the o...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| narrator | 8 | 37 | Apr 07, 2013 04:47am | |
| YADA YADA PRAYER GROUP | 1 | 26 | May 19, 2010 04:40pm |
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Oct 11, 2011 09:15am
updated Nov 09, 2012 09:17am
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