Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
Book Review of Funny Romantic Novel
Nov 5, 2009 Michelle Pannecoucke
Beth Patillo’s Heavens to Betsy, published by Waterbrook Press in 2005, follows the story of Reverend Betsy Blessing and her ups and downs at Church of the Shepherd in Nashville, Tennessee, where she ministers.
A Well Loved Story
As her story starts out, Betsy is determined to resign from the ministry and respond to her acceptance to law school. She just has a few loose ends to tie up with Church of the Shepherd beforehand. But as she tries to tie up loose ends, the opportunity to be interim senior minister – an opportunity she sees as one to prove her worth as a minister – is presented before her and she cannot turn it down. In the meantime, Betsy realizes the feelings she has for her best friend, Reverend Dr. David Swenson, are more than friendly.
An Amusing Narrative
The story is narrated by Betsy herself and lends itself to her sarcastically jaded point of view and witticisms. Beth Pattillo presents the story through Betsy’s eyes and allows the reader into Betsy’s head. This point of view makes the humour of the story something with which readers can relate.
Through the representation of Betsy as a minister, a position which is, for the most part, held by men, the novel makes a comment on not just women ministers, but on all ministers, church demographics and churches in general. Betsy spends a good part of her narration discussing the challenges to women ministers. She also spends a good part of the narration rejoicing for her job in her own way.
Heavens to Betsy: A Fun Read
Juggling a job from which she consistently tells herself to resign and always finds a reason not to, and her hesitancy to tell David about her love for him, she finds herself spinning a web of lies. On top of which, Betsy is coerced throughout the novel into more than one situation that she cannot control. Making light of all such conditions, readers can join Betsy in a good laugh as she struggles to find her way out of her problems and set herself back on a good path.
Readers who enjoy Heavens to Betsy may also enjoy Beth Pattillo’s sequel, Earth to Betsy. Betsy has survived her first few weeks as official interim senior minister and life is good. When Betsy becomes caught in a whirlwind of haphazard wedding plans and struggles to keep the church as it always was, the story adds a level of fun absurdity to the humour of Heavens to Betsy.
Heavens to Betsy
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