A book review of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher’s Kid by Ronna Russell

Stars: ****

Black Rose Writing (2019)
Memoir
183 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher’s Kid is the story of a childhood controlled by the brutal hand of a narcissistic, closeted homosexual. I believed I could leave my upbringing behind and walk away unscathed. I married a closeted homosexual man, in hopes he could keep me safe. As our sex life and bank account dwindled to nothing, fear kept me silent. In the meantime, my father died of AIDs. The pain of his death fractured my biological family, and I clung to my husband and children, creating a cocoon that became a prison. Eventually, I was forced to see my husband’s homosexuality and refusal to work, realizations that brought me to the breaking point. I found the courage to be alone, to take care of my children no matter the cost, and the joy of my own sexual freedom. In the process, I fell in love with my own life.

The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher’s Kid

The author’s story is just so remarkable that it makes you want to read. First of all what the summary doesn’t say is that she isn’t just a preacher’s kid, but a preacher’s kid from a very conservative United Pentecostal Church where girls don’t wear pants and can’t cut their hair or do anything that associates them with the world. Second it turns out her dad is gay and was hiding it all these years. As if that isn’t enough, she eventually realizes the same thing is happening with her own husband (although it takes a long time to get to that point.) I mean what poor luck the author is dealt.

Most of the book was very interesting although I’m sorry her experience with such a strict teaching of the Bible left her without the comforts of a good relationship with God.

The only problem I had with the book was the first chapter. It’s a vivid and vulgar account of a sexual relationship she has outside of her marriage with her husband’s consent. I get that the author wants to explain how restricted she felt in her sexless marriage and how freeing and whole she felt when she was finally able to be pleased but it was too much, too soon. I didn’t want nor need to know the details of her sexual encounter, especially before I’d even “met” her. It was like reading hardcore porn. I think that chapter should have been toned down quite a bit and added chronologically into the book.

Overall though, it was a well written memoir as I felt like I was there, experiencing it with her. When I stop reading a book for a time and feel upset at the author’s upsets and happy at the author’s happy moments, I know it’s a good read.

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