Disappearing Acts [Paperback]

Terry McMillan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

As their relationship progresses, Franklin Swift and Zora Banks learn about respect, the burdens of the past, the powers of love, and the mystery of desire. By the author of Waiting to Exhale. Reprint. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is a story of love between Zora, an independent, aspiring singer, and Franklin, a sometimes-employed carpenter. Life has been unkind to these star-crossed lovers, but they're both survivors. "Despite an abundance of flash and energy, this book lacks the depth and breadth to which McMillan aspires," commented PW .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

By the author of Mama (LJ 1/15/87), this second novel is a boy-meets-girl story from the black perspective. Franklin is an on-again, off-again construction worker trying to get his life on a firmer foundation. Zora is a music teacher and would-be singer. They meet and start a relationship that initially seems ideal. Soon, however, problems emerge. Franklin's ego has never recovered from his destructive mother's abuse, and the repeated blows the oppressive white society dishes out make him increasingly depressed and hostile. The relationship begins to fall apart. Zora and Franklin have to grow a long way alone before they can come back together. This easy-to-enjoy novel will certainly touch readers who identify with the situation. It's a pity that McMillan's lively narrative is marred by occasional woodenness and that she has a penchant for stating what should be inferred by the reader. Movie rights have been sold, so this could be a biggie.
- Janet Boyarin Blundell, Brookdale Community Coll., Lincroft, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671872001
• ISBN-13: 978-0671872007
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,527,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terry McMillan fell in love with books as a teenager while working at the local library. She studied journalism at UC Berkeley and screenwriting at Columbia before making her fiction debut with Mama, which one both the Doubleday New Voices in Fiction Award and the American Book Award. She lives in Northern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VERY Real, Excellent Story!, May 16, 2002

By 

M. J Pronio (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disappearing Acts (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my second review of this novel... the first review I wrote got lost in cyber-space. That in itself should say alot about this book because I really wouldn't take the time to write another review unless the book 'deserved' it. And this one does.

This book was so 'real' that I never felt as though I was picking up a book to read it... I felt as though I was living it.
Terry McMillan has such an extraordinary talent for making characters come alive.... she is truly gifted.

This story is about Zora, a twentysomething, college-educated woman who has chosen bad men all along the way (been there, done that). She is trying to figure out why she's chosen these guys and is determined not to repeat these mistakes. She is also a talented singer who is determined to 'make it'.

Franklin is a father of two ... separated from his wife and is living in a rooming home just trying to get his 'constitution' together. While he works out, does his woodworking, and struggles to keep a job and pay his child support, he is doing pretty well. He is smart, charming, talented, big and sexy.

Zora and Franklin meet at the apartment she has just rented in Brooklyn, NY. He is the laborer working on her floors. At first their meeting is simple, but as the two continue to get to know each other, an intense and close relationship develops.

They fall in love.... and with that comes the story. So real, so happy, so heart wrenching.

Franklin is a man who you will love and hate at the same time. He has a huge heart but is burdened by his inability to achieve what he is capable of. He is constantly reminded of 'the white man's power' and is wounded by his own Mother's lack of love. This combination is a major negative force for him. He seems to take one step forward, then two steps backward... and this eventually turns him into an angry and self-destructive state.

But the story continues... as does real life. That is what is so wonderful about this book. Real life doesn't always have perfect, or imperfect, endings. And true love stories never end.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best one out of all Terry's books yet, February 12, 2001

By 

"akwasijulius" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disappearing Acts (Paperback)

A lot has been said on Disappearing acts, so I'm going to keep mine short and simple. Well this was the first black frictional book I read some years ago. The most interesting thing is that I have re-read it twice since, and every time I have to recommend a book for one of my friends, this is among one of the first books I would recommend (that is if they haven't already read it). This is a fictional story based on the relationship between a boy and a girl. Franklin is a blue-collar worker with a truck full of excess baggage from his previous marriage, and in his own words says he is taking a vacation from all of 'em. Zora is a collage-educated music teacher who is also trying to make a fresh start after a string of bad choices. Well, they meet up and all their resolutions do a "Disappearing act". They go through the roller-coaster ride of boy meet girl, and sometimes it even goes to the extreme, but Terry does not mince with her words. In fact that is what I like about McMillan's writings, she tells it as it is in any given situation. So if you are looking for a good book to read that would keep you up and take you through the motions, then this boy meets girl with a difference is definitely the one for you.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed seeing real life on paper!!, October 19, 1999

By 

An aspiring novelist ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disappearing Acts (Paperback)

Okay,so I read the book. It was the bomb for it being my first black novel but when I went back and read bits and pieces of it again, I realized how weak Franklin actually made Zora. Our girl went downhill in relation to her common senses and uphill in relation to her weakness. So what if the brotha was fine! He was broke, barely educated, and plain old disrespectful: everything Zora was not. When are we ladies(of all nationalities) going to learn to listen to God and see past that playaz charm? But even with soft-hard, love-hate characters, the girl(Terry) can put that pen to the paper and make you feel what they would feel if they were real and THAT is what makes a good writer. At any rate, I still enjoyed seeing real life on paper. I would love to further discuss this and other books via e-mail at [e-mail].