Official Review: The Dean's Wife and Three Young Curates

[Connie Otwani]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dean's Wife and Three Young Curates" by Sydney James.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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What comes to mind when you come across a novel titled, The Deans wife and Three Young Curates? A licentious older woman seducing three of her charges, right? If, like me, this is your thinking, bravo! You are spot-on; in fact, we catch her ‘in the act’ as the book opens! The book is truly incredulous.

Sydney James has organized this unconventional novel into sixty-four chapters, in addition to an introduction, a prologue and an epilogue. Do not panic, however, because many chapters are merely about a page long. On my reader, the book has 232 pages. James writes in the third-person, providing the reader an omniscient perspective of things.

The plot follows the lives of the three curates from middle school to middle age. These three - Brian, Charles, and Alex meet as misfits in school, and naturally, become friends. Their friendship continues through life’s many milestones, making them thick as thieves.

After college, none of the three secures a meaningful job. This prompts Brian to convince them to become Anglican Church ministers to meet their basic needs effortlessly. They thus enroll in the seminary and become curates or assistant ministers, upon graduation. Then bam! Each has a run-in with the dean’s wife! The rest, as they say, is history.

In the fullness of time, all three become a full ministers, shepherding different parishes. Each of them also maintains the illicit intimate relations with the dean’s wife. One day she finds herself in a tight spot. The three young curates, now ministers, bite more than they can chew, when trying to exonerate their lover. Will they manage to properly cover their tracks? More importantly, will they ever know the God they are supposed to preach?

This book is not fast-paced. It has no thrill or mystery to tease one’s mind; rather, the same old shenanigans go on for most of the story. As I read it, I kept wondering where, if anywhere, the plot was taking me. This wait tired me out. Although it is categorized as a C/T/M/H, the Other Fiction genre seems more appropriate for it. This is a book you pick up when you want to just take it easy with a not too deep, matter-of-fact kind of tale.

Lifelong friendships, sexual immorality, church politics, hypocrisy, and calling yourself vs. God calling you are some of the themes the novel explores. It made me reminisce about some of my childhood friendships. I liked that the author was bold enough to highlight the preach-water-but-drink-wine-in-secret vices of some church ministers. For sure, scandals involving men of the cloth are no longer shocking.

In his narration, the author kept switching timelines from present to past. Though this was easy to follow when he was dealing with childhood and school narrations, it became chronologically confusing for later events. The author could maybe consider a way of ensuring some readers don't get lost in the timelines shifts. It is also hard to tell the era in which the plot is set.

Now to some of the issues that made the book incredulous to me: I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at the fact that despite three years of seminary education, these three friends were clueless when it came to fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. They didn’t even know how to pray! The author blamed this on their being ‘cerebral’ in their approach. But seriously, isn't three years a long time to remain blank? It would have made more sense for them to have known but belittled these pertinent faith issues.

Imagine one of these curates calling a press conference to announce he was pioneering a grand plan that would respond to a pressing need in society, yet he had no such project in mind! Can you believe another of the curates had attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), yet only one of the three curates knew this? Not a doctor, not the victim or his family, and not anyone else he interacted with closely. Incredulous, right?

I appreciate that having studied in an Anglican Church Seminary, the author probably wanted to show how decadent life can get when spirituality is out of the equation. However, he overdid this to the point of portraying an impotent church having ministers that had long ago committed both moral and intellectual suicide!

That aside, the book also has numerous grammar errors that include missing words, punctuation mistakes, and wrong words like Churchianity. Though many, these errors didn’t distract me. All the same, a round of editing will greatly improve readability. Because of these errors and the unconvincing plot execution, I rate The Deans Wife And Three Young Curates 2 out of 4 stars.

This novel presents lots of angles to many issues – starting right at the cover. Why are the three curates wearing dog collars in the cover picture? I believe discussing it in a book club would bring to light many perspectives. To crown it, it’s amazing that for such a book of iniquity, there are no foul words or explicit sexual scenes. I, therefore, recommend it to book clubs and anyone looking for a slow read.

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The Dean's Wife and Three Young Curates
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[InStoree]

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at the fact that despite three years of seminary education, these three friends were clueless when it came to fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. They didn’t even know how to pray! The author blamed this on their being ‘cerebral’ in their approach. But seriously, isn't three years a long time to remain blank?

Not if they had other interests, like girls or women. It is said that a deep focus only on the Cupids Arrow could cancel other vital functions. Perhaps, this created the blank. Thank you for your original review, but I think I'll skip this one.

[Falconcrest]

The cover page is quite catching to the eye, and stimulating. Though from what I have gathered from the review, it's unfortunate this could have been a great book. Thanks for the review it has all the necessary information job well done.

[Wyland]

The premise appears plausible given that the young men were never "called" to be ministers in the first place, they merely took a job to provide for their basic needs. The character of the Dean's wife is the only one I am worried about, she has clearly failed in her mission. Thanks for the nice review.

[Aniza Butt]

I read C/T/M/H genre but this one as you said should be listed under other fiction genre. Would pass this one. Hope the reader of other fiction like it.
Thanks for the review Cotwani

[LinaMueller]

It's a shame to see a good story fall to poor editing. Great review.

[Connie Otwani]

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at the fact that despite three years of seminary education, these three friends were clueless when it came to fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. They didn’t even know how to pray! The author blamed this on their being ‘cerebral’ in their approach. But seriously, isn't three years a long time to remain blank?

Not if they had other interests, like girls or women. It is said that a deep focus only on the Cupids Arrow could cancel other vital functions. Perhaps, this created the blank. Thank you for your original review, but I think I'll skip this one.

Well, I still find them are hard to understand - you could be right but I don't want to give any spoilers!

Thanks for your observation and feedback. Truly appreciate your stopping by.

[Connie Otwani]

The cover page is quite catching to the eye, and stimulating. Though from what I have gathered from the review, it's unfortunate this could have been a great book. Thanks for the review it has all the necessary information job well done.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Yes, the cover pic is quite captivating.

[Kelyn]

"... preach-water-but-drink-wine-in-secret..."

I think this one line of yours captures the whole essence of the book. Thanks for the warning. I'll be sure to avoid this one.

[Connie Otwani]

The premise appears plausible given that the young men were never "called" to be ministers in the first place, they merely took a job to provide for their basic needs. The character of the Dean's wife is the only one I am worried about, she has clearly failed in her mission. Thanks for the nice review.

Oh, the dean's wife had her own hidden mission, driven by 'very legitimate' reasons. Scenarios in the book are not a clear black and white. There are many shades of grey!!!

I appreciate your stopping by and and sharing your thoughts Wyland.

[Connie Otwani]

I read C/T/M/H genre but this one as you said should be listed under other fiction genre. Would pass this one. Hope the reader of other fiction like it.
Thanks for the review Cotwani

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Yeah, the crime was straight forward - no mind games as is the case with most C/T/M/H.

I appreciate your stopping by and sharing your thoughts Aniza!

[Connie Otwani]

It's a shame to see a good story fall to poor editing. Great review.

Its always a bummer when that happens! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts LindaMueller!!

[Connie Otwani]

"... preach-water-but-drink-wine-in-secret..."

I think this one line of yours captures the whole essence of the book. Thanks for the warning. I'll be sure to avoid this one.

Yeah, it was disappointing to see church leaders being so 'unchurchyI'

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I understand the need to bring to light the flaws of the members of the clergy. I think it's important to society. But if the author wanted to achieve this, he should've created a much more believable and compelling narrative. Not all stories have to be page-turners and I understand as readers sometimes we suspend disbelief but the points you make about prayer, ADHD, etc. make it seem like a lack of attention to detail from the author.
Thank you for your very honest review but I'll skip this one.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at the fact that despite three years of seminary education, these three friends were clueless when it came to fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. They didn’t even know how to pray! The author blamed this on their being ‘cerebral’ in their approach. But seriously, isn't three years a long time to remain blank?

Not if they had other interests, like girls or women. It is said that a deep focus only on the Cupids Arrow could cancel other vital functions. Perhaps, this created the blank. Thank you for your original review, but I think I'll skip this one.

You really made me laugh! And I guess it's possible... Hormones can cancel neurons, I suppose.