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The Yada Yada Prayer Group: Party Edition with Celebrations & Recipes (Women of Faith Fiction)
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 the Chicago Women's Conference--after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers w
...morePaperback, 402 pages
Published
February 12th 2008
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
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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 ...more
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
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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 ...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 ...more
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
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 ...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 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 contemp...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 contemp...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 lea...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 ...more
The thing that most disappoints me ...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 thes...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 he...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 ...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 ...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 ...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? ...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? ...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 praye...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
This is an engaging and delightful read for those who like Christian fiction. The Yada Yada Prayer Group is the first in a series of novels about an unlikely grouping of women who become close and are “there for each other”. They meet at a women’s conference and are placed in the same prayer group. Once the conference is over, they decide to continue praying together. Told through the eyes of Jodi Baxter, a woman to whom most of my friends can relate, we see her struggles and victories as a ...more
This book appealed to me on the library shelf because it was about a group of women who met through a prayer group. They all come from different walks of life. The main character discovers things about herself that had she not been in this group wouldn't have. It's funny, because although she is the only member not really searching for self-discovery, she receives the biggest light bulb moment. I enjoyed it and could identify with the main character. I think I learned a bit of self discover...more
I just read The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I really wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. It seemed like one of those older lady Christian chick lit books--I'm not quite sure why I thought that, because there were women of all ages in the book. It was one of those books that I liked so much that I didn't want to pick up anything else afterward. I've got the second one on hold at the library, but I wish I had had it today, because I would have started it already.
The Yada Yada Pra...more
The Yada Yada Pra...more
Dani
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Christian women's book clubs.
Shelves:
part-of-a-series
I thought that the story of a multi-culti women's prayer grooup would be just too precious for words. Surely it would be filled with scenes of everyone holding hands, singing "Kumbaya", and ignoring racial differences, right? Well, there is some of that in this book, but it also touched my heart more than I expected it to.
The story is told in first person from the point of view of a middle-class white Christian woman (the opposite of what I am), yet I truly identified with ...more
The story is told in first person from the point of view of a middle-class white Christian woman (the opposite of what I am), yet I truly identified with ...more
This book, the first in a continuing series, covers the unlikely friendship of a group of women as dissimilar as they can be. They range from ex-convicts to teachers, recovering addicts to real-estate brokers. The thing they have in common is their prayer group, formed at the Chicago Women's Conference. After the conference ends, they decide to continue their prayer group, and christen it the Yada Yada Prayer Group. The focus in this book is on the search to understand faith and for a connec...more
I cant even begin to say enough about this series! Again, a book I picked up on a whim b/c we were on vacation and I wanted to relax on the porch with a good book. I bought this and book two, b/c they were cheap (bargain bookstore) and they had fun covers.
I had them both read within the week of our vacation, and have been hooked on the whole series. I have read every book and they keep me guessing. There is one main charecter, but you grow to love all the "gang" and I c...more
I had them both read within the week of our vacation, and have been hooked on the whole series. I have read every book and they keep me guessing. There is one main charecter, but you grow to love all the "gang" and I c...more
plot summary: what happens, when & where, central characters, major conflicts[return]jodi baxter is unaware of how her life will change when she agrees to attend a women's conference in downtown chicago. she has been attending an "progressive" church, and even goes with an african american friend, but she is unprepared for the diversity of "sisters" represented at the conference. she and avis, her church buddy, are both put into a prayer group with a variety of women from d...more
I don't know what's wrong w/Jodi (the main character). It's like she's extremely spiritually immature. Most of her thoughts in the book are really selfish and a bit racist. I keep reading the series but its really hard to get through these books (its like the author is assuming we are all spiritually immature, but i think if a person is willing to pick up a 'fun christian' book they're obviously not lacking in the spiritual dpt) I hope Jodi grows up fast and learns to be a normal strong woman.
kind of a meh book, everything seems so contrived (especially the 'diversity' of the women in the prayer group), and the action of the book doesn't happen until near the very end and then is over before you know it.
despite this harsh critique i've just given i did enjoy the book. i even read the second in the series. the author does give us a lot to think about, especially surrounding diversity and how we 'are all sinners'.
despite this harsh critique i've just given i did enjoy the book. i even read the second in the series. the author does give us a lot to think about, especially surrounding diversity and how we 'are all sinners'.
A great book. I didn't know what to expect from a book with a pink cover. But it was a great read about your average Christian woman who is dealing with the daily struggles of raising a family. She fins strength in her prayer group formed at a woman's conference. The women form relationships and come to realize how important this prayer group is to their spiritual growth. This book showed me the importance of prayer.
I liked this book, but I only give it three stars. It kept my attention at first but then when I got into the middle of it it seemed to drag on. I do like at the end where she was brave enough to go to court and realize that even though she had made a mistake God was with her. I would still recommend this book to someone because even though it kind of dragged on in the middle, it had a good storyline to it and a good message. Amen!
I enjoyed this book. I could relate to much of it. Going to a womens' retreat and being put into groups with women you don't know and don't have much in common with. Thats what happens in this book. The main character is a little judgemental and is put in this group and soon forms life long friendships. light reading. you will want to have the second book with you when you finish reading this one
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCHS Readers: Diondra | 1 | 2 | Jan 24, 2012 07:05am | |
| narrator | 2 | 12 | Jul 07, 2011 05:39pm | |
| YADA YADA PRAYER GROUP | 1 | 12 | May 19, 2010 04:40pm |
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