Mama [Paperback]

Terry McMillan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 6, 2005

The explosive novel that introduced #1 New York Times bestselling author Terry McMillan-now in a new trade edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is McMillan's zesty first novel about an impoverished black family's struggle to overcome its problems.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Mama , a first novel, tells of a proud black woman, Mildred Peacock, and her five children. After a violent fight, Mildred throws her drunken husband out of the house. On her own in the poor town of Point Haven, Michigan, Mildred scrimps and drinks, works and goes on welfare, struggling to raise her kids and keep her sanity. Mildred's closest bond is to her oldest daughter, Freda, and their lives parallel each other's progress from despair to hope. The book's main weakness is that the author apparently could not decide what to leave out. She also has not decided who her audience is: at times she seems to be writing to blacks, at other times to be explaining things to naive white readers. Although the story has power, it lacks focus and a clear point of view. Janet Boyarin Blundell, MLS, Brookdale Community Coll. Adjunct Faculty, Lincroft,
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; Reprint edition (December 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451216717
• ISBN-13: 978-0451216717
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #744,503 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty, Real, Great! That from a white girl... June 2, 2002

By M. J Pronio

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is my third Terry McMillan novel and once again, I am a huge fan. Her books are REAL, lively, and full of life's lessons and hurts. And although I am white, this family story resonates in my head as my own.

Mama, the mother of five, is a struggling black woman who's lived in near poverty her entire life. She is strong, opinionated, bossy, with a grit that only comes from living life the hard way, but also has the character to 'want a back yard', shine the windows and keep her babies polite, hard workers and knowin' they got some good in this life. All of that while she put up with thier Daddy, a boozer and abuser, who Mildred (Mama) finally cuts loose.

The story goes on for a couple of decades, with each of her babies lives opening like a flower. All the while, Mildred is growing and then wilting, on and on...

This story is real! NO family has happy or unhappy endings. We are all on a journey that doesn't stop... and Terry McMillan knows how to display this more than any other modern writer I've experienced!

Awesome, excellent, terrific!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved it!! September 29, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book was wonderful, when they cried, I cried, when they laughted, I laughted!! I read this book in 92' I can still remember most of the details. I know that when reading I wanted so most for each of the daughters to accomplish something and at end some did and some didn't. A MUST READ, ENJOY

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fine book from Ms. McMillan April 26, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I have enjoyed reading Terry McMillan's books from the moment I picked up "Waiting to Exhale" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back." I love Ms. McMillians sassiness in her characters and her straight forward, in your face approach.

This book was another hit as far as I am concerned. It was another page turner that I could not put down. I may not have like the characters personally, such as Mama, she needed a swift kicked in the butt. I found her to be very selfish and cold. She whinned to much for me and I would not have given her my forwarding address if I were one of her children. She was a horrible example for her children in a lot of ways. God's hands were helping these children survive and thrive in a desolate place.

Terry, thanks for writing this story. I love your style and wish you continued success. I am looking forward to reading your next book.