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The three main characters – Jen, Isobel and Zelda – show how cruel a religious group can be but also how being a part of that lifestyle can be something you covet and crave as it is the only world that they know. As a reader, you feel that you want to fight for each of these characters because whilst you can see their flaws you know that they don’t deserve some of the things that happen to them.
Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books UK Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books UK
Jodie Chapman grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and while she has changed the name of the religion at the centre of this novel, it was presumably inspired by her upbringing and borrows heavily from JW dogma. This makes it a really interesting read, knowing there are likely women in real-time enduring what the characters endure in this book. Oh Sister centres on three women, Zelda, Jen and Isobel, all of whom are “sisters” in a religious community (:cult) The Disciples of the Last Days, but have been disfellowed for different reasons for having gone against the rules. As with most (all?) organised religions, The Disciples require women to be devoted to God, subservient to their elders and brothers who run the cult, and do a steady trade in hypocrisy. Content & Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, Abortion, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting.
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Distinct and so movingly told that as a reader you really root for them to thrive * Good Housekeeping * Zelda is a rebel who seeks to live life on her own terms, but she’s not entirely successful in leaving her past behind. Jen almost died. And now the community that should be comforting her is condemning her for surviving, for trying to claim her body as her own. There are three main protagonists; Jen, Isobel, and Zelda. Whilst they all have their similarities when it comes to the religion, they are all completely separate and very well developed. They’re realistic and familiar and you want to wish them all the best on their respective journeys inside and outside the religion. Yes, they are victims, but they’re not written as victims – well, not all the time anyway. They all have their own thoughts and beliefs, things that women aren’t always allowed to voice, and I found them to be three of the strongest characters I’ve read. The stories of these three women are interwoven with the thread that connects them being the religion they are part of, they are all part of the same ‘hall’. Throughout the story we learn how these women have been controlled and abused by the men in the religion. Their treatment at the hands of those purporting to be doing the work of God will make your skin crawl and your heart ache. It is the age old story of the women being excessively punished for ‘their’ transgressions whilst the men act with impunity.
Jodie Chapman - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency Jodie Chapman - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency
All in all, I appreciate the novel’s attempts to highlight how much brainwashing occurs in cultish groups and how such religious leaders enforce misogynist practices and discrimination in the name of God. I wish the writing had been more streamlined so as to enhance the impact of the story. Nevertheless, it offers a hard-hitting look at a topic not commonly covered in general fiction. Zelda lives a life full of sin, according to some. She's haunted by her past, especially when an unwelcome ghost from the past suddenly appears at her front door. I have a love/hate relationship with so-called "books of the year". But this one, right here? Yeah, that's a pretty little slice of perfection. It is absolutely sublime, I read it in one sitting whilst in hospital, and no-one could grab my attention for an entire afternoon. It just grabbed me and hooked me in and wouldn't let me leave until I'd finished it. This is the only Jodie Chapman book I've read but I will definitely be looking out for others as this was just spellbinding. Minor complaint: Where is the story set? There is only mention of the religious places such as ’Worship Hall’ or the places of work or residence such as dentist’s office or apartment. But which town/city/country? This might not be a relevant point to many readers, but I like knowing the location to understand the story and characters better. Of course, skipping this info might have been a deliberate choice so as to make the plot feel universally relevant. But it became confusing for me as I know both Jehovah’s Witnesses and LDS churches originated in the USA. So I assumed the book was set there, until one character mentioned midway the book that they dreamt of going to the USA, which caught me off guard.My thanks to Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Oh, Sister”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. This is Jodie Chapman’s second novel, the follow up to her debut Another Life which I’ve heard great things about. Three women, very different lives but united by their connection to an extreme religious group known as The Disciples of the Last Days who await Armageddon. As Sisters their subservience to the Brothers is a given. First of all, there’s Jen Musgrove who has undergone a personal tragedy and is subservient to husband Pete - or is she? Next, there’s Isobel Forge, a magnificently conscientious wife to Steven, her striving for perfection masks certain issues. When Steven suddenly announces he’s leaving her, what direction will her life take now? Finally Zelda, formerly Alice, a wedding photographer and there’s a big story in the name change as we are to discover. Isobel has spent her entire married life being the perfect wife. But now her husband wants to leave her, and she has no idea who she is without him.
Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books New Zealand Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Penguin Books New Zealand
Zelda, Isobel and Jen all had such unique stories - their voices were clear and distinct even down to their visual style. They all had very different lives, wanted different things, were indoctrinated to different extremes - but as the stories wove together you knew they were all part of something bigger just waiting to take shape. Despite the demands made of them, they are not flawless, soft, compliant women - they can be abrasive, sharp, strong - angry at a world that clearly isn't made for them and desperate for a way to survive. As the pressure builds and Frankie's personal life begins to take the hit, she starts to wonder if she'll ever manage to escape the strange world of fashion unscathed. And, quite frankly, does she even want to? The writing style is genuinely so compelling - it's quite literary. Time is spent on the little details and everything feels believable. These three women may all be linked through the same religious community, but soon they will discover they all share something else much more important - a sisterhood. But can that be enough to ever let them really be free?What is impressive is that Jodie Chapman knows both worlds and can give both perspectives and whilst there is no way that her view isn’t coloured by her experiences she doesn’t force them upon her reader. She allows you to make your own decision. The three protagonists were varied and all at different stages in their relationship with their faith. Somehow, the writing was such that I felt a deep connection and kinship with all of these women, despite me having little to nothing in common with them. I immediately understood the struggles to equate the beliefs they had been taught with what they could actually see going on around them, but also not wanting to alienate themselves from their entire community. The decisions they have to make, or are made for them, are enormous, and I really felt for all of them. The character development and pacing is spot on, not at all predictable and I loved that!
Oh, Sister - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency Oh, Sister - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency
Chapman depicts a fictional cult where Christianity is at the root of the beliefs, but the followers/disciples are brainwashed into thinking that all that is preached by their ministers is the gospel truth.
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Victor was the most impressive of the secondary characters. I wish he had had a greater role to play. He was one of the few sane voices in the story. Three women. Three lives. One chance to find themselves. Jen. My body is not my own. Others make life and death decisions on my behalf. Isobel. My place is to be secondary to the man in my life. Zelda. If I break the rules I will be sorry. 'But this is not a dystopia. This is not the future or the past or a fantasy. It is real and it is happening now. Can we break free?'
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