Made of Honor

By Robin Caldwell

Author: Marilynn Griffith

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Such is the theme, with a twist, of Marilynn Griffith’s latest novel Made of Honor (Steeple Hill Café).

Reading Made of Honor reminded me of the collection of ugly as sin bridesmaid dresses in my attic. I don’t lament serving as an attendant but I do regret being immortalized in photographs wearing those garments.

Dana Rose, Made of Honor’s protagonist probably feels the same way. Dana is a black American Bridget Jones minus the cussing, illicit sex and cigarettes. To say she’s neurotic is an understatement. Girlfriend is angst-ridden but extremely loveable and sympathetic. And readers will love the engaging tour of Dana’s mind Griffith takes us on.

Thoughtful and humorous, Made of Honor foregoes the use of clichés and stereotypes to tell Dana’s story. Griffith demonstrates that there is no monolithic experience for Christians, blacks, singles, male or females. Griffith offers a view of black life that includes the exploration of Messianic Judaism as well as health issues related to African Americans as subtext.

Dana Rose is supported by a cast of characters who are absolutely priceless. Especially noteworthy is the requisite fine AND saved brotha who manages to sweep a certain someone off of her feet—literally.

In fact, the male characters are exceptionally dimensional. Griffith has done a fine job of developing them with a depth that bridges cultural, generational, spiritual and social gaps.

Made of Honor is a story filled with hope and promise. Griffith allows the Lord to be the true star of the story without limit or compromise. There is something about good storytelling that enables you to see God in new and exciting ways, which Griffith manages to do beautifully.

Especially well done is the way Griffith negotiates the varying personalities of her characters. They are as unique as the storyline and readers will be grateful for a literary experience that is a departure from other books in the genre.

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