Strong, enjoyable characters in Christian novel

books:

	• Velma Still Cooks in Leeway: A Novel Vinita Hampton Wright B&H Publishing Group, 2000 - 295 pages average customer review:based on 16 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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I could see Velma - I could see Leeway - I could smell the cooking. Simply written truth - truth that helped me put my own life onto a straighter path. I even underlined some paragraphs. This is an author who has fought with life and herself - she KNOWS human nature!!! I've recommended this book to several people - some borrowed my copy and then loved the book so much, they bought their own. Now that tells ya' something.

Is Vinita still cooking?

Velma Still Cooks in Leeway was a very satisfying read for me, a former Writing/Lit major and a small-town pastor. The story itself was worth telling and thinking about (a preoccupied pastor, prejudices, date-rape, escalating spouse-abuse, grieving, a genuine but stereotype-busting Christian, unfounded fears, founded fears, faithfulness, and God-at-work-in-it-all). But even more impressive than the story was the storytelling. I kept thinking, "This writing has VOICE!" Velma, the narrator, is one of those very alive, flawed but real people that I enjoy discovering in MY small town, the sort of person that you like whether you are a church attender or not. Wright's plotting is tight, highly structured, and full of surprises. A sense of dread becomes palpable right through the chuckling.

My biggest problem with the book is waiting for the next novel from Ms Wright. Grace at Bender Springs was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read but down a notch from Velma. I really do want an answer to my question, "Is Vinita still cooking?"

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Strong, enjoyable characters in Christian novel

Velma Still Cooks in Leeway by Vinita Hampton Wright is a powerfully written Christian novel. After reading Dwelling Places by Wright, I dropped her an email complimenting her on it, and she replied with a kind email recommending that I read this book, because it was her favorite. I can see why. Any writer would be proud of a work of this strength. Velma starts writing in a journal to help make sense of her life and its events for the reader, but she comes to understand much more about her past and present than she thought possible. Wright's characters are so lovinginly developed; these are people that you want to know if your life. Even the minor characters have depth and design. The dialogue rings true and never distracts from the drama. Velma's conversations with Zeke especially are fraught with meaning. The reader finds them amusing, Velma annoying, and for Zeke they are embarrassing. Most writers don't achieve that level of strength in dialogue. It's another terrific book from Wright.

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Complete Serendipity

In the past I have tended to stay away in general from what is characterized as typical Christian fiction b/c I felt overall that many Christian writers have a tendency to be overly-concerned with morality and making sure they have some form of the gospel presented which ends up turning the story into something that either isn't truly honest, or that people just can't relate to. However I am pleased to say that the tide is turning on this, and "Velma" is proof.

An eternal optimist, I still would periodically pick up a piece of Christian fiction to try it out again and, when I started in on "Velma" I was not disappointed.

Brilliant story, believable characters, honest, captivating, and I think there's easily something that everyone could find to relate to. It really surprised me, especially given that I didn't grow up in a small town (I'm much more of a city girl) so I wasn't sure how well I would be able to relate to something set in a Mayberry-type place, but I did. I actually found myself reading parts to friends to give them a taste of how great this book was.

I would highly recommend it and can't wait to read Vinita's future works. (As a sidenote, I have already read "Grace at Bender Springs" and "The Winter Seeking" which were also quite fab).

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WONDERFUL!!!

Vinita H. Wright speaks from the soul to the soul with her "ordinary" characters.

Her latest book "Dwelling Places" continues with such characters and will have you laughing out loud and weeping as did "Velma Still Cooks in Leeway."

The recipes in this book are a treasure as well. I too, checked it out at the library and want a copy of my own for the recipes.

I grew up in a tiny papermill town in Louisiana and this story, as well as "Dwelling Places", could have taken place there. For each character Wright has indulged the reader with I can name a real person from my life that could be substituted in their place.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

As the town's chief cook and part-time janitor for Jerusalem Baptist church, Velma Brendle has never done anything more outstanding than putting on a good meal at Velma's Place, the one restaurant in Leeway, Kansas, but she takes good care of her customers, neighbors, and friends. However, in the midst of these two jobs, Velma's husband stops talking, Cousin Albert comes to live with her, and she finds herself dealing with the town's problems. As memories of past troubles plague her, she grows weary from even the tasks she loves the most. Old Sunday School lessons take on new meanings, and new problems illuminate trials Velma thought were long over. In sudden leaps of faith and moments of tragedy, Velma and all those she loves journey toward facing their sins and finding forgiveness.

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