Hallelujah Side

by Rhoda Huffey

"It had been a Second Coming sky all day, which meant they might be in heaven by this evening."
So begins the uproarious and tender tale of Roxanne Fish, daughter of Sister Zelda Fish and Pastor Winston Fish of the First Assembly of God Church of Ames, Iowa, who believe fervently in the imminent return of Jesus to take the Christians up to heaven. The Fishes' older daughter, Colleen, wants no part of their exuberant faith ("Where are you going, young lady?" "To find my real family!"), but Roxy longs to be saved even as she fears her sinful desires, such as marrying Elvis Presley when she grows up. If she grows up.
Roxy lives in a world populated by angels with blue noses and demons who follow her around whispering "God doesn't like you." And sinners, sinners everywhere, easily identifiable by their makeup and capri pants and knowledge of television programs. Her soul's journey through this wicked world to her own particular salvation - with an assist from the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin - is unforgettable.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Religion

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

The daughter of two Pentecostal preachers, Rhoda Huffey lives in Venice Beach, California. She is a magazine writer and a tap dancer who teaches and performs extensively. She also holds an MFA from the University of California at Irvine, and has been published in Ploughshares. The Hallelujah Side is her first novel.

Reviews

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comes close to being a very good, funny book. But the limited viewpoint of the narrator comes off as a constraint.

The perspective is limited to that of Roxanne Fish, a young girl who believes the Rapture is coming any day now. Probably tonight. Her naivete coupled with the extent to which her family and neighbors are crazy make for what should be a rollicking romp through growing up in the 50s in an evangelical household. But much of it is just confusing. And because Roxanne has no perspective on any of it, it's hard for the reader to get enough of some of the things/people external to Roxanne (especially her mother) to develop our own perspective. We're just swept along with whatever Roxanne does.

It's intriguing and enjoyable, but flawed. I'd give it two and a half stars if I could.

[Warhammer Grantham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, this book. Roxy Fish at 10 is the youngest daughter of a Pentacostal Preacher and his wife. This book tries to be a more lighthearted bildungsroman of growing up in the pentacostal church, but it just comes off as sad and confining.

This book did give me some insight into a particular way of thought, and I did not like that way of through, even though the characters are kind of lovely. The best part of the book is how Colleen, the older sister, finds ways to be obstinate and ridiculous.

Don't read this book. It will make you sad/mad/bore you.

[Cynthia Paschen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fish family of the First Assemblies of God Church of Ames, Iowa, as told by Roxanne Fish. As recommended by Marla, who likes a little humor with her spirituality.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young Roxanne Fish is part of a saved evangelical family; all others are sinners. This is her story as a 1950’s pastor’s daughter in Iowa and then California. I found Roxy’s vivid imagination and daydreams of awaiting the Rapture difficult to grasp and akin to Alice in Wonderland (which I also didn’t enjoy reading). Roxy’s no angel either with her sneaking around, some drinking (she’s about 11) and stealing pearls that are given in a church offering. There are allusions that her mother was no saint either, but once she was saved she was going up too. Probably the most enjoyable chapter for me was when Roxy lets loose with Little Richard singing in the neighbor’s basement. Sorry, but this fell short for me.

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing story that draws extensively on the language of Pentecostalism. A nine-year-old girl struggles to be saved & filled with the Holy Spirit & against temptation to sing rock & roll music. The author mostly goes for the emotions--laughs & empathy--rather than bigger ideas. On the other hand, she does not abuse (nor romanticize--well, not too much) Pentecostalism. It's not an important book, but it is an enjoyable one for people who know something of the tradition--probably less for those who don't--& it's set mostly in Ames, Iowa.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really funny first novel.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story...I liked the development of Roxanne, but overall I didn't come away with strong feelings about the novel one way or another.