Customer Reviews

Mama

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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!!

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

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.

Mama was one of the first books I ever read outside of school. I enjoyed this book very much. It was a page turner. While reading the book I felt like I was right there. Everyone of the characters (in the family) reminded me of someone in my family.
Mildred was a hard person but felt she had to do what she thought was best. You want to hate her but you can't. This book will have you up all night and you won't care what time it is, you just want to know what happens next. I recommend this book to anyone.

Terry McMillan put much of my life into words with Mama. This book helped me realize there is a purpose for everyone, and sometimes our problems are not so unique. It helps you get over yourself and start to look for your own answers, instead of snuggling up with your all-too-familiar problems. Viscious circles will allow you to fester and die, not far from where you began, but a straight path from here will at least get you somewhere else. Although, Waiting to Exhale, is not a "sequel" it does seem to progress to the next phase of life for young black women, therefore, I would begin the Terry McMillan experience with Mama, and then read Waiting to Exhale, following with either How Stella Got Grove Back or Disappearing Acts. In all honesty, I was disappointed in the movie Waiting to Exhale, it does not substitute for the book. Each woman is more evolved in the book, however Angela Bassett did handle her business!

Okay, I have to be honest, I've read this book several times. First, because I enjoyed it and secondly because of the dynamics of Fredda's character, and her love-hate relationship she has with her mother.

In spite of McMillan entitling this book "Mama" freda is clearly the focus [of the story]. Still, I did over-stand Mildred Peacock [Mama]. Mildred was a disparate woman surrounded by the narrow-minded expectations and demands of a small town in Michican during a time where there was little opportunities offered to women of color -- especially one with five children and no husband. So, like many women, Mildred did what she deemed necessary, to survive. Admirable in light of her also surviving spousal abuse. Okay, so Mildred was no nun, and she used everyman that took a fancy to her and justified her every mistake. But her redeeming quality is she wanted more for her children and pushed them toward the bigger picture.

Altough Terry McMillian's first novel, I thought it showed more promise than most of her current works available. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of McMillian's. But, Mama was an exception, it's a superb reminder [in my oppinion] of so many LOUD, good intentioned, Sistas (mothers) raising kids in the hood during my own childhood. So placing one face on her was an almost impossible task.

Was this book realistic? Absolutely, I honestly knew Mildred. When the moral of the story is "life's tough" and "Sometimes, you hurt the one's you love" and even (and especially in the case of "Money," Mildred's wayward son) "It's never to late to change"...Now I ask you: Which of that isn't true to life?

... The truth is, [at least in my case] I can still look out the window and point out a Mildred, and look in the Mirror to see Fredda(smile).

Terry Mcmillan has changed my life. I was never the one to pick up a book and read it from front to back. But then I got a hold on to Terry Mcmillan's MAMA. I was 12 years old and I read it twice. I have been reading ever since. I tell every one about her. Everything I read is based on one of her books. Or should I say that I compare every book to her books. Mama was and still is the best book I have ever picked up. I love the book! I have all of her books. I can't help book read Mama more then once. It showed me how real somepeople write. That book is so raw. I would just turn page after page and not care about the time. I would get finish reading Mama in one day. It got me reading and writing more then I ever did. And oh yeah I am now 19 years old. I have read over 100 books. And I owe it all to Terry Mcmillan's MAMA. Thank You Terry Mcmillan!

I have enjoyed reading Terry McMillan's books from the moment I picked up "Breaking Ice: An Anthology of contemporary African American Fiction," and "Waiting to Exhale." I love Ms. McMillan's sassiness in her characters and her straight forward, in your face approach.

Terry McMillan has always done it for me. Mama is a real story of the reality of growing up in the real world. Mildred is the resourceful, funny, strong mother of five kids that she is raising on her own. She has to go through the trials and tribulations of raising her five children and keeping a steady paycheck. To Mildred, this is as hard as keeping a steady man in her life. I like how Terry makes Mildred the same way a real single, working mother would be while trying to push her kids towards goals that she knows she will not be able to reach her self. Anyone in a family can read this story and have a character that they can relate to. Mama isn't told like a Brady Bunch episode, but it tells of true survival without any handouts. The story keeps you wondering what will happen next. You might find Mildred, Mama, to be very selfish and cold but she has her reasons. To me she was a bit whiney at times but if I was one of her kids I would not have given her my forwarding address. God's hands were helping these children survive and thrive in a desolate place.

I really had enjoyed this book. Terry thanks for writing these stories. I love your style and wish you continued success.

Mama was a great book. Mildred the main character in the book was a example of a strong black lady. She triumphed over the biggest feats like rape and domestic abuse. The only thing I didn't like in the book is how she was so mean to Fredda her oldest daughter. She treated her wrongly and not helping her. She did that to all her kids. She left them to fend out in the world by themselves. She was supposed to be an adult but instead the kids were more of adults. Mildred was two faced. She didn't help her children but inspected of her children to help her. Overall it is good that Mildred got back her sense to not to be cold and heartless and learn to show her feelings. I think this book was great

Again the Strong Black Man image is not in this book. Terry is a great writer, and I have to take it as that. I just would like to see more positive Images about us Black Men! She needs to be around more positive black men so she has some to write about. Not all the black men are negative in this book just 90 %. Anyway this is one of my favorite books by Terry. It would make a good movie, but Terry has stated that this book is too close to her heart, and she did not want to let it be made into a movie. Well trust me she will change her mind if she wants that $$. Good book, pick it up on your kindle.