Oh, Sister: The powerful new novel from the author of Another Life

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This week Natalie Lewis joins me to discuss her career as a PR fashion expert, how and why she wrote her debut novel Don’t Believe The Hype, and the books everyone should read. But this is not a dystopia. This is not the future or the past or a fantasy. It is real and it is happening now. Can we break free? Oh, Sister is the story of three different women who are living or have lived within a strict denomination of Christianity. Although it is not explicitly named in the book, it is fairly obvious that the denomination it’s based on is that of the Jehovah’s Witness’s Church. Zelda is a rebel who seeks to live life on her own terms, but she’s not entirely successful in leaving her past behind. Jodie Chapman grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and while she has changed the name of the religion at the centre of this novel, it was presumably inspired by her upbringing and borrows heavily from JW dogma. This makes it a really interesting read, knowing there are likely women in real-time enduring what the characters endure in this book.

Oh, Sister By Jodie Chapman | Used | 9780241456958 - Wob Oh, Sister By Jodie Chapman | Used | 9780241456958 - Wob

Three women, with distinct lives, disparate desires, and different degrees of belief in this ‘community’ – a religious cult known as The Disciples of the Last Days – that controls their bodies, their personhood, their whole lives. Oh, Sister tells the gut-wrenching story of these women’s experiences of disfellowship and their difficult, intertwined journeys of coming to terms with the reality of their predicament and rising above it, above the misogyny, corruption, violence, and zealotry of it all. The author bases the substance of this supposed fiction off of her own upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness; what may come across as the unimaginably dystopian suffering of her female characters is happening to real women in this very world that we call ours. Jodie Chapman is such an exceptional writer. I loved Another Life and Oh Sister was, quite simply, just as incredible. I don’t know what I was expecting with Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman. I tried not to read too much about it. I don’t think I was quite prepared for what I got.What is impressive is that Jodie Chapman knows both worlds and can give both perspectives and whilst there is no way that her view isn’t coloured by her experiences she doesn’t force them upon her reader. She allows you to make your own decision. The story and the writing is a little disjointed, moving around in time and from character to character, but it works. The women are on edge, their nerves frayed. They live their lives fearfully, looking over their shoulder and you feel that for them. The women’s mixed fortunes feel real - there’s no sugarcoating or Hollywood ending.

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Lisa Talks About Review: Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Lisa Talks About

Oh, Sister is a powerful realism novel about 3 women whose lives are influenced by their Jehovah's Witness community even after they are outcast from it. Jen suffered a miscarriage and decided to take a blood transfusion; Isobel's husband of decades has eloped, leaving her to fend for herself; and Zelda is trying to find herself on the outskirts of the world she's left behind. The women are of different ages and have different degrees of belief in their religion. This book is about religion and cult mentalities, the big and little things we do to try and take control, love, and unfulfilled expectations. The author was raised in a Jehovah's Witness community herself. Meet Frankie Marks: the world's least likely fashion PR. She got the job by fluke, she doesn't know the first thing about designers, she's always hungry, and she struggles to think before she speaks. When Frankie crash-lands in the prestigious GGC agency, her friends and family can't believe it - least of all her long-term (and long-suffering) boyfriend, James. In a Nutshell: A powerful story about three women whose lives have been influenced by their religious group. The theme was great; the writing approach could have been better. But it’s still an interesting book. A story of hope over adversity . . . What each woman goes through will resonate with many. The characters are brought to life in a way that will leave you rooting for them. A touching tale about female friendship, finding strength when you need it most * GRAZIA * This is Jodie Chapman’s second novel, the follow up to her debut Another Life which I’ve heard great things about.Zelda, Isobel and Jen all had such unique stories - their voices were clear and distinct even down to their visual style. They all had very different lives, wanted different things, were indoctrinated to different extremes - but as the stories wove together you knew they were all part of something bigger just waiting to take shape. Despite the demands made of them, they are not flawless, soft, compliant women - they can be abrasive, sharp, strong - angry at a world that clearly isn't made for them and desperate for a way to survive. Jen almost died. And now the community that should be comforting her is condemning her for surviving, for trying to claim her body as her own. Isobel Forge has spent a lifetime following the prescriptions set out for an ideal daughter, dutiful mother, and suitable wife to a community elder, all at the expense of getting to know her own self. When her husband leaves her, what becomes of her identity – what role can she possibly assume?

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman in this week’s Win a copy of Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman in this week’s

This beautiful tale of love, loss and sacrifice will break your heart...With echoes of David Nicholls' One Day and Sally Rooney's novels, it perfectly captures the agony of falling in love and the razor-sharp reality of pain and loss' DAILY MAIL Victor was the most impressive of the secondary characters. I wish he had had a greater role to play. He was one of the few sane voices in the story. As acting members of a doomsday religion that expects them to stay silent, Zelda, Isabel and Jen instead find the courage to roar. One is cast aside because her husband left her for a younger model, and she realises her life does not have to revolve around that man.The three protagonists were varied and all at different stages in their relationship with their faith. Somehow, the writing was such that I felt a deep connection and kinship with all of these women, despite me having little to nothing in common with them. I immediately understood the struggles to equate the beliefs they had been taught with what they could actually see going on around them, but also not wanting to alienate themselves from their entire community. The decisions they have to make, or are made for them, are enormous, and I really felt for all of them. The character development and pacing is spot on, not at all predictable and I loved that! This week I am joined by Jodie Chapman to discuss the stories that need to be told, the importance of writing truth, and her latest novel, Oh Sister. These three women may all be linked through the same religious community, but soon they will discover they all share something else much more important - a sisterhood. But can that be enough to ever let them really be free?

Jodie Chapman - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency Jodie Chapman - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency

Jen, Zelda and Isobel are all brought vividly to life in this heart wrenching novel. I felt every frustration, fear and heartbreak of the characters. I resonated with a lot in this book, specifically the character Zelda, who I thought was the most interesting. I’m not sure if any of these women truly found the breadth of their voice, but many never do. Sometimes being brave enough to sing means not everyone will like your song, or those that you thought loved you only loved the walls you helped them decorate.

The MM Agency is a dedicated and passionate literary agency with a global outlook, specialising in launching debut writers, international rights and book to screen adaptations. With huge thanks to the author and publishers for granting me access to this book. All the female characters were well written and likeable and seeing how their stories unfolded was an eye opener. This week Natalie Chandler and I chat about traditional publishing, advice for aspiring writers, books everyone should be reading, and why we shouldn’t be scared of literary agents.