Women's Intuition

by Lisa Samson

Lark Summerville’s life has few surprises–and that’s just how she likes it. All she wants is to live out her angst-riddled life in her blue-collar Baltimore neighborhood, punctuated by weekly trips to her local parish, where Lark is organist, and telephone conversations with desperate souls who dial her hotline at 1-777-IPRAY4U.

Then one night, Lark’s home is destroyed by a fire, forcing her out of her comfortable nest and back to the childhood home she has avoided for years. At Stoneleigh House, Lark is surrounded by three very different her grown daughter, Flannery; her barely tolerable socialite mother, Leslie; and Prisma Percy, housekeeper and family confidante, all of whom believe Lark was widowed years before.

In this circle of women, Lark’s carefully constructed existence begins to unravel, even as the promise of a new one unfolds. But when her contrite ex-husband shows up, longing to assume his role as Flannery’s father, twenty years after his desertion, Lark finds that she must face her own lies–and her past–before a new life can unfold.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Novels

386 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2002

About the author

The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.

Also, published under the name L.L. Samson

Reviews

[m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to write one sentence reviews because generally those are the ones I have the patience to read, but I can't do that to this book.
In general we tend to love the superhero characters because when we read and identify with them we feel great about ourselves. The characters of these book, if met in real life would be easily dismissed as plain and boring, no superheroes here. But the way they are revealed through their own thoughts and personal drama, makes it impossible not to love them, their humanity, while likely feeling good about yourself at the same time, because you can really connect to their perfect imperfections.
For a book without any real action in the storyline it sure kept me up way beyond my bedtime and left a sweet taste for a little more after the last page.
Loved it!

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of three generations of women plus Prisma Percy (all four of them have POV sections) and I will say that Samson did a good job of giving each woman a distinct voice.

Lark's house burns while she's out, so she and her daughter move in with her mother who has plenty of room. Lark has severe anxiety and depression, but manages to eke out a living playing the organ at a Catholic church (she's not Catholic) and pay for her heating by donations to her prayer hotline. Her daughter, Flannery, is home for the summer in between getting her BFA and grad school. Lark's (her full name is Larkspur) mother, Leslie has heart troubles. Prisma is both Leslie's best friend, the chair of a big charity and long time house manager--but don't be fooled.

In addition to a great deal of family drama (there is a reason why Lark had no desire to move back home,) there are a number of other things in the mix, including an unwelcome visitor.

I was a bit miffed with the muddling of protestant vs Roman Catholic, and I can't think of any of my devout Catholic or protestant friends who would be pleased with that.\

Doing a longer edit since I forgot to add this to my updates feed. Ideally this is enough!

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I struggled with this novel, I kept on reading. There were some things I really liked about it such as how the author shared not only the spoken words of the characters but their unspoken thoughts as well. That was refreshing and very honest to me. I also really liked the characters Leslie and Prisma---the grandmother and her housekeeper. However, I never did warm up to the main character, Lark, and her daughter's character, Flannery, was just too perfect for me. I thought Lark was a pathetic person and was glad to see her getting stronger as the book progressed. I couldn't even imagine Flannery having grown up to be the person she was in such a dysfunctional home. Her relationship with her boyfriend was unrealistic to me as well.

One thing I can say on the positive side is that this Christian novel doesn't do what so many Christian fiction novels do---have characters that are just too perfect---except Flannery in this one. Although I thought Flannery was a pathetic person, at least she seemed realistic.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generational story of women with secrets and lots of love for each other. Slightly dated, but lovely. Lisa Samson has always been a favorite and glad I read this one. Humor, glorious description, nicely paces with each of the main characters telling their stories in first person.

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it was too disjointed with such short chapters and the switch between each character narrating. Also, I found the voices of the four women sounded way too much the same.

[Kelly Cherie Royston · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard for me to get into this book and I read it more than halfway and just couldn't read it anymore as I just lost interest!! It jumped around too much!!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general I'm not a fan of Christian literature, but I thought she did an interesting job of having the women's prayer give insight into their thoughts. The only reason this book rates three stars for me though is that the constant balance of how much women in a family share and interact with each other is a huge factor in my own life. I'm never quite sure if I am being too involved or not involved enough with my mother and my daughters. I know I withhold information from my mother that she would like to have. I know I meddle too much sometimes and maybe don't give enough to my daughters as well. It was just interesting to me to see the topic of how much involvement is right addressed in a work of fiction. Otherwise, this would have been a 2 star book at best.

[Betony · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I would really like this book but unfortunately I just couldn't get through it. I found the characters interesting in some ways. However, the way each character would monologue in their particular chapter got really odd for me. Obviously when a chapter is told from a character's perspective in the 1st person, it will be in her words and contain her thoughts. But I felt like I was reading someone's stream of consciousness and that I wanted to snap my fingers in front of Flannery's face or Prisma's and say "FOCUS!" I'm sure this book would appeal to many women. It just wasn't for me.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, it was not her best work (in my humble opinion) but it was still good. I liked the characters, but just feel that something was missing. Probably the fact that I have read books by this author that were incredible. So probably comparing. Embrace Me Tiger Lillie The Sky Beneath My Feet you should really check out if you like this author.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about relationships. One relationship is between an elderly mother and her daughhter who have secrets they have kept from each other and how disaster in the daughters life leads to the two living together and learning to see each other for who they really are. There is a back story about lies and the fact that time may pass without the lie being discovered, however lies always come back to make you deal with them. It's a touching story with characters that are realistic and well developed. It's not action packed, however it is touching.

[Kani · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting foray into what might be called christian women's literature. in this book you can pray and love jesus and it's what all the best characters do too. the questions are some all of us face and the characters were sympathetic if a bit two-dimensional. i liked the narrative; taking turns between each major woman character giving a sense of their own voice, thoughts, reactions etc.

[Shea Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the plot was a tried and true (and a little trite)examination of mother daughter relationships, there were till a few little details that made this book an enjoyable little read. Not life changing, but sweet, it does make you smile at times and can be quite quoatable at others. Worth the read. Leslie, Lark, Flannery and Prisma are all unique and this is the main basis for the book.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dark. Told by three generations of a family, Leslie, Lark and Flannery, and their housekeeper. Short, first-person chapters, but the characters are not nearly as strong as Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible. The housekeeper had a blond braid, but she sounded pretty classic black to me. The ending is more hopeful, but I didn't see much motivation for the hope except Jesus.

[Taija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every chapter is told from a different female character's perspective: 3 generations of women plus the family's best friend/housekeeper. Interesting to see how each of them knows the others better than the others think. I love the characterization of Prisma and her relationship with Jesus.

[Jen Doak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think I'd like this book but my mom in law sent it so kinda felt i needed to for some reason. It is a shame i lost it by borrowing it out but I wont forget how this book was very down to earth for me.

[Jan Ackerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sounding like a broken record here, but great characters, and lots of heart.

[Elaine]

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[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

No idea why I picked out this book - I can't remember who recommended it. It's a nice easy read, with religious bent.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

just could not get ito this book. keep trying but just not that good

[Valerie Teeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

uniquely written from the point of view of the women! Lisa Samson's writing is always a wonderful read!

[Marliss Bombardier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this character-driven literary fiction book. I found switching to first person for each character in their chapter a little off-putting at first, but I got used to it.

[Debbie]

Really liked it, great story about mother daughter relationships

[Dawn Stanton · Rating 1 out of 5]

a story that started with the best of intentions - 4 women learning to forgive, heal, and love God - but was written so ridiculously I couldn't take it seriously.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lark has lied about her husband dying; when her house burns to the ground, she moves in with her mom, maid and daughter...change happens. Truth comes out.

[Carolyn Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable characters. Wished Lark and Johnny got together in the end, but that's just the romantic part of me.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Lisa Samson's writing