Rate this book

First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival (2009)

by Ken Wheaton(Favorite Author)

3.37 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0758287615 (ISBN13: 9780758287618)

languge

English

genre

Humor

publisher

Kensington

review 1: Had no idea what to rate this book. Parts of it were a 1 and parts a 5. Found this book on the bagain shelf at the used book store. The cover (a priest leading an elephant) and the title were intriguing, so I purchased it. The main reason I didn't like it was the vulgar language. I can read some "bad" words, but to have the "F" word over and over is unnecessary. It did not contribute to the story and the characters are some that you wouldn't expect to be having potty mouth all the time. The story is about a young priest,Father Steve Sibille, who has been assigned to a church near his home. He has all kinds of challenges including immaturity, a mind that wanders while he doing Mass, alcohol, loneliness, flirty alter girls, and a sexy woman,Vicky, in his congrega... moretion who is the daughter of the last priest who served at St. Pete's. One of the ongoing highpoints in the story is visits of Father Steve to Miss Rita. She is the former maid of Father Steve's grandmother. She is very elderly and bossy. At each visit, Father Steve must bring her a bottle of Royal Crown and cracklings. She is always telling him that he needs a woman in his life. Father Steve finds out a large Penticostal church is being built in the area....so where are all the people going to come from to fill the church...maybe St. Pete's. Miss Rita tells Father Steve that he needs to have a festival to build community in his congregration. And then the problems begin. By the way it is Father Steve and his friends, Father Mark and Vicky, who use some of the worst language.
review 2: “Rabbits, Religion and Reprobates”At your first glance of the title, you might think this book would be for young people. Nothing could be further from the truth! Father Steve Sibille is the Priest in charge of St. Peter’s in Grand Prairie, Louisiana. He’s bored even though his plate is full. He feels he could perform a Mass on autopilot and his parishioners would never notice due to his predictability and their acceptance of his words and actions. The exception to the rule in all of this is teen-aged, strawberry-scented temptress/Altar Girl, Denise. Add 110 year-young and feisty. Crown Royal sipping, crackling-munching Miss Rita Simmons, who cared for Father Steve’s “Mawmaw”, his Father and has known the Priest since childhood. She tries to talk sense and keep Father Steve grounded. Her most fervent wish, despite his vows, is that he lets a woman come into his life—and she has just the perfect one in mind-Vicky Carrier, whose own Father was a Priest at St. Peter’s.Feelings for each other run close to the surface and Father Steve struggles to keep them under control. This becomes more complicated with pangs of jealousy, when Father Mark Johnson suddenly departs from the Priesthood and he and Vicky seem to get chummy ( At least Father Steve thinks so…) . When Pentecostal Pastor, Brother Paul Tomkins, moves into the area, Father Steve frets and worries that his parishioners will be lured away by the fake glitz and glamour that Brother Paul freely advertises. When word of Brother Paul’s plans reaches Miss Rita, she plants the seed of an idea about a festival that would help Father keep his “flock” together. With every other type of festival variety taken, and after a heated discussion within the “board”, “The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival” is born. A carnival company is found and contacted on the internet and we are introduced to the very colorful, gutter- tongued, Irish Traveler (Gypsy), Johnny Blackfoot. He tries to coordinate the festival plans with very little help from often depressed and drunk, Father Steve, and a lot of common sense ideas from Festival Directors, Vicky and Mark. Will “B.P.” succeed in his quest to coax the folks of St. Peter’s to join his newly constructed chapel? Will Father Steve find the meaning for his life and service? Despite all of the numerous bake and plate sales, (you’ll love Boudreaux’s revenge) and the parishioners’ hard work, will they be able to raise enough to pay for such an extravaganza? You’ll find yourself chuckling over verbal jousting with Miss Rita and the no-nonsense Vicky. You’ll want to shake some sense into Father Steve and Mark and will know some that act just like the tried and true blue-haired threesome. Miss Pamela, Miss Emilia and Miss Celestine. You may even shed a tear or two. The Author has alsobeen kind and included the informative section, “Gumb0 for Dummies” and his own recipe for “Crawfish Etouffee”. Don’t miss this book—I guarantee you’ll enjoy this just as much as I did. I’m hoping we’ll hear that Author Ken Wheaton has another tale in the works. Nancy Narma less

Download links for: First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival

Advertising