Faith

The author explores the interconnection between faith and identity through Justine and Reney's relationships with their family church. Throughout Crooked Hallelujah, faith and religion is a central part of how Annie Mae and Lula raise their daughters. They are not only members of the Beulah Springs Holiness Church, but God is a significant part of their vocabulary, and prayer is a predominant form of their life practice. The church, its congregation, and core beliefs are so significant to the family, that both Justine and Reney find themselves pulling away in order to find a sense of independence. Yet despite these denials of the church, over the course of the novel, both women find themselves reattaching to the faith in order to find a sense of comfort and stability.

In the novel's first chapter, "Book of Generations," Justine feels trapped by the faith of her inheritance. Through...