Sanctified Blues

by Mable John and David Ritz

Book Overview

Albertina Merci, a talented R&B singer, toured with Ray Charles, James Brown, and Wilson Pickett--until the fateful night her voice gave out in front of a sold-out crowd. Encouraged by her fans, she... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767921658
• ISBN13: 9780767921657
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Reviewed by Karen Morse

Albertina Merci is a real firecracker. The 70-year-old R & B singer turned minister has more spunk than some women half her age. She has a level head, a love of God, and a way of bringing out the best in the people around her. In SANCTIFIED BLUES, Albertina meets Maggie Clay, queen of daytime television, in the midst of a nervous breakdown. As the tabloids are abuzz with the star's escapades eagerly awaiting her self-destruction, it is only with infinite patience that Albertina can weather her rocky relationship with Maggie in hopes of helping her get back on the right path. While Albertina is very devout, she is open-minded in a way that keeps the authors from alienating non-Christian readers. Albertina is written in a way that readers can't help but envy her fortitude and generosity. She is a sympathetic character precisely because she does lose patience and she does get mad; she too must struggle to do the right thing. Although the book focuses most on Albertina's relationship with Maggie Clay, it does introduce a number of other interesting and three-dimensional characters who will probably appear in future Merci novels including Justine, a naïve neighbor who falls for all the wrong men, and Patrick, her strong-willed nephew who's afraid of breaking all his own rules. SANCTIFIED BLUES is a great start to what promises to be an interesting series. While it is printed by Harlem Moon, an imprint that targets African-American readers, this book and the series to follow will appeal to a diverse group of readers. Fans of Jan Karon's Mitford series in particular should give SANCTIFIED BLUES a try. Much like Albertina, Mable John was a successful R & B singer--having received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994--before she became an ordained minister and received a doctorate in counseling. Coauthored by David Ritz; who has written biographies of Marvin Gaye and Jimmy Scott and co-authored the autobiographies of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, and Smokey Robinson, among others; SANCTIFIED BLUES is Mable John's first novel.

Singing the Sanctified Blues

Sanctified Blues is the first novel in a series that will feature Pastor Albertina Merci. Pastor Merci is a 70-year-old former R & B singer, turned minister. In her own quiet and unassuming manner she offers prayer and counsel to those in need of a little understanding. Also, I hope will be returning characters will be her next door neighbor, Justine, the Target employee with a inclination of choosing the wrong men and her confused minister nephew, Patrick. These characters peculiarity brings humor and a touch of realism to the story. In this episode, Pastor Merci is summoned to her hometown Dallas, Texas, by her niece Cindy, who is terminally ill. Cindy's boss is an Oprah-like television talk show host Maggie Clay. While Cindy is physically ill, Maggie is emotionally ill and the both are in need of Pastor Merci. It is Maggie who sends the Pastor on a roller coaster ride as her behavior becomes more erratic and unpredictable. Maggie summons the Pastor to her home on Malibu, to a Caribbean vacation and to Rome and when the Pastor arrives Maggie ignores her or treats her as the hired help. Pastor Merci does nothing but silently offer up prayers for Maggie, praying that she will find peace and be able to resume a normal life. The prayers of the righteous availeth much, because even though Maggie blames the Pastor for all her woes, out of the blue, she provides the finances for the Pastor to move her church from her home and into a building called the House of Trust. In Sanctified Blues, there is a lot of praying, scripture quoting and biblical counseling, but the best witnessing and inspiration comes from Pastor Merci just being herself, true to her beliefs, serving the Lord with humility. If I had to pick a theme song for Pastor Merci it would be "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." I liked the flow of this story; it was easy to read. The descriptions of Pastor Merci, Maggie Clay, Justine, Patrick and the other characters were easy to visualize, as was the different scenery of Dallas, Rome and Maraqua. Hopefully, Pastor Merci's next door neighbor, Justine, the Target employee with an inclination of choosing the wrong men and the Pastor's confused minister nephew, Patrick will be reoccurring characters. These characters peculiarity brings humor and a touch of realism to the story. Mable John and David Ritz did a wonderful job with this debut novel. I am hoping to read more on the antics of Pastor Merci and friends in the near future. Jeanette APOOO BookClub

Promising start to new series

Albertina Merci is a real firecracker. The 70-year-old R & B singer turned minister has more spunk than some women half her age. She has a level head, a love of God, and a way of bringing out the best in the people around her. In SANCTIFIED BLUES, Albertina meets Maggie Clay, queen of daytime television, in the midst of a nervous breakdown. As the tabloids are abuzz with the star's escapades eagerly awaiting her self-destruction, it is only with infinite patience that Albertina can weather her rocky relationship with Maggie in hopes of helping her get back on the right path. While Albertina is very devout, she is open-minded in a way that keeps the authors from alienating non-Christian readers. Albertina is written in a way that readers can't help but envy her fortitude and generosity. She is a sympathetic character precisely because she does lose patience and she does get mad; she too must struggle to do the right thing. Although the book focuses most on Albertina's relationship with Maggie Clay, it does introduce a number of other interesting and three-dimensional characters who will probably appear in future Merci novels including Justine, a naïve neighbor who falls for all the wrong men, and Patrick, her strong-willed nephew who's afraid of breaking all his own rules. SANCTIFIED BLUES is a great start to what promises to be an interesting series. While it is printed by Harlem Moon, an imprint that targets African-American readers, this book and the series to follow will appeal to a diverse group of readers. Fans of Jan Karon's Mitford series in particular should give SANCTIFIED BLUES a try. Much like Albertina, Mable John was a successful R & B singer--having received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994--before she became an ordained minister and received a doctorate in counseling. Coauthored by David Ritz; who has written biographies of Marvin Gaye and Jimmy Scott and co-authored the autobiographies of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, and Smokey Robinson, among others; SANCTIFIED BLUES is Mable John's first novel.

Enjoyable and Inspirational!

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the wisdom and decency of the main character in this book, a former R & B singer turned minister (very much like the real life Mable John!) This is an entertaining novel that moves briskly yet takes the time to share insights about life (both secular and religious)through the eyes of the heroine, Albertina Merci. Some interesting plot twists as well kept my attention as I read the novel.

An uplifting and powerful story!

No question, Mable John's first book (a collaboration with distinguished author David Ritz) is much like her music (as a solo artist with Motown and Stax and then as a Raelette): soulful, inspiring and truly satisfying. I found myself riveted as the book's main character Pastor Albertina Merci finds herself struggling with how to be of service, how to work with a clearly difficult 'star' (in the form of talk show host Maggie Clay) and how to minister to a congregation dealing with a variety of everyday issues (including the timely theme of gay/lesbian participation in black churches). Mable and David have made this an easy and quick but nonetheless compelling read and I can't wait for the next one!