Rating: 
Summary: a fine job demonstrating emotion
Review: This story begins when the narrator, Glynda, receives a late night phone call that her father, Edward Zachary Naylor, is dead. With the support of her friend, Rico, Glynda pulls herself somewhat together and catches a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Baltimore, Maryland, to be with her three sisters to make funeral arrangements. The planning of her father's funeral along with a family secret is the center of this enlightening and entertaining novel.
Author Parry "EbonySatin" Brown in her book, Sittin' in the Front Pew, does a fine job at demonstrating the emotional trauma that both the death of a loved one and a family secret can have on family members. This book clearly shows through the lives of four sisters how these issues can cause much "drama" and "chaos" within the family unit during a time of bereavement. This book is very well written and the character development was superb. Although this is an entertaining book, some parts were predictable.
Upon Glynda's arrival in Baltimore, she and her three sisters, Renee, Colette and Dawn, begin planning their father's funeral arrangements and the handling of his affairs. While reading this story, I found the scenarios to be too close to home based on my own experiences, after the passing of a family member. There is always constant bickering, tears at the drop of a hat, confusion and animosity and more than likely a family secret revealed that will cause even more chaos in the midst of the madness. However, through it all, the Naylor sisters begin to heal and learn to appreciate and understand the true blessing of family in spite of the "drama" that occurs during the funeral planning and the revealing of a secret that their father took to his grave. This is an enjoyable book.
Reviewed by Carla J. Curtis
Rating:
Summary: Family at its Best and Worst
Review: There is probably no greater stress that family endures than the death of a loved one. In the book Sittin' in
The Front Pew, Parry Brown addresses this difficult time with great emotional sensitivity and at times with humor. The story begins with a frantic late night call announcing the death of the Naylor family patriarch, Edward Naylor. As his daughter Gloria hears the words, she experiences shock and disbelief. She quickly begins to prepare for her trip home to bury her only living parent. But before she even reserves her flight from Los Angeles to her hometown of Baltimore, the drama begins.When Edward Naylor's wife died leaving behind 4 young daughters, he stepped up to the plate, raising them alone. In addition, he was active in his church and community and an inspiration to others on his job. With all of his daughters now adults, he was just about to begin a new phase in his life by getting remarried. His death was not only a shock to his family and fiancé, but the community as well. Now at a time when his family is overwhelmed with grief, they have a funeral to plan. Where will the funeral be held? When will it take place? What kind of flowers will be used? Who will sing at the funeral? Even though everyone agreed on what questions needed to be asked, finding agreement on the answers was much more difficult. As the story progresses, the family mourns together, laughs together, uncovers secrets, bickers over decisions and ultimately begins to heal.
One of the greatest assets of this book was that there were the strong, positive male characters. Edward Naylor was a wonderful father, a pillar of the community, and an excellent example for other men. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that all of the characters were well rounded. The author did a wonderful job at helping us see both the strengths and weaknesses of the major characters and really let us get to know them. The humorous scenes were neatly woven into the book so that just when you feel overwhelmed by all the strong emotions, you could step back and laugh. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. I highly recommend Sittin' in the Front Pew and look forward to seeing Parry Brown's continued growth as a writer in her future works. Reviewed by Stacey Seay
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: At first I had a hard time getting started with this book. Then I couldn't put it down. By the end, I was almost in tears!
Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Touching, Surreal, Emotionally Charged, Intriguing novel
Review: I recently read Parry A. Brown's, Sittin' in the Front Pew. What a touching, surreal and emotionally charged book. It allowed me to reflect on the recent death of my own father, this past summer and how it affected me and my entire family. Reading this book allowed me to heal a bit more as well. It allowed me to truly think about life and what each divine moment means. I was able to mourn the loss of my dad's wonderful and unforgettable presence by becoming apart of the story line. I felt as though I was reliving the moments that were all too familiar, right along with the Naylor sisters. What I also found so compelling was the fact that these 4-sisters fought continuously but, their love for their father was unconditional. Glynda and Dawn seemed to be the peacemakers and are hell bent on things going as planned by their father, Edward Zachary Naylor. Collette and Renee seem to think things should go anything but smoothly. There's also Uncle Thomas and Edward's fiancee Estelle and then there's Nina Blackford, a secret from their father's past that comes into their lives at the wrong time or so they think. It strange the things that result or surface, when a family is dealing with their loss and grief. That's why it's so important that families try to get along, communicate, etc. together. These days many are more like strangers than anything else. This is a book you won't soon forget and it's worth sharing with others. It was definately therapy for my soul and spirit. I laughed, cried and signified in agreement right along with them. Parry A. Brown has blessed us yet again with another bestseller, that many will be talking about long after their done reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional Family Drama
Review: Ms Parry Brown out did herself with this tale of how families react to death. When you read the prologue to this book, and Glynda is getting back on the plane to go home to California, you are not prepared for the drama that takes place in the following pages. Tears were flowing and before the tears could dry, I was laughing hysterically. Family patriarch and pillar of the community, Eddie Naylor suddenly passes away. His daughters are left to plan his funeral and settle his affairs. The problem is these girls have such strong and different personalities, they are unable to make a decision without bickering. They can't decide on the funeral home, what to bury him in, what to wear, who to put in the obituary, who is to sit on the front pew. Also, a mystery person is named in their father's will. Who is she and what does she mean to the family? As the day of the funeral nears, the mystery is solved and now there is a new gamut of emotions and feelings that have to be dealt with. While reading this book, I shed tears of sorrow and tears of laughter as the Naylor girls reminisce over their life with their father, good and bad times with each other and friends. But, one thing for sure these girls loved one another and they loved their father. This one is a must for your summer reading list. ...
Rating:
Summary: Realistic Novel
Review: A very good read. Started off a little slow to me, but that was because I wanted to hurry up and see what happened next. The author did an excellent job of conveying the emotions of each of the characters. And the story was also very realistic as far as the personalities of the characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Just too real
Review: Ms Brown has taken real situtions and put them into words. I laugh and cried with the Naylor sisters . I was touched by Edward Naylors charater and his intent on keeping his secrete, but by also doing what was right by all of his daughters. The wake and the funeral were the most real. I felt as if I was there attending the services with the Naylor sisters . One by one going to view there dad. I was fill with emotion as each one of them had to go through the viewing for the first time. Most of all when you read this book everyone will find at least one friend of the family or a family members they can identfy with Ms Brown really took us back to our family roots when it comes to dealing with family and a funeral.
It was all to real.
Rating: 
Summary: 'Just Us Girls' Book Review
Review: The ladies of 'Just Us Girls' Book Club reviewed this book in February 2003. The group felt the story line was too long, too dramatic, not realistic, too predictable and definitely not a page turner. This book was a very easy read but did not challenge us or encourage us to recommend to others.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I laughed, I cried, I felt everything Glynda and her sisters felt. Parry Brown draws you into this touching story of death, family and forgiveness, and of a father who loved all of his girls. I don't have any sisters, so I couldn't compare notes, but it didn't matter. I felt like I was there. I'm looking forward to more from Ms. Brown.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Drama......
Review: Have you ever had to go through a death in the family & all hell broke loose? Well, this is what happen's here. This book brought right in & I could smell the food being cooked. I felt each emotion the sisters felt. I read this book at my desk at work laughing & crying. This is one of my favorite books (top ten in over 100 books I've read).
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