Mama: A Novel

Terry McMillan

Jan 1987 · Sold by HMH

About this eBook

A “funny [and] touching” novel of an African American woman determined to triumph, by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Waiting to Exhale (Detroit Free Press).
 
Mildred Peacock is fed up with poverty—and with the jealous rampages of her husband, Crook. When Crook runs over her foot with his ’59 Mercury, she finally kicks him out to raise her five kids on her own.
 
Resourceful and sly, sassy and sexy, she’s willing to do just about anything to pay the bills. But she loses job after job, and one man after another, until alcohol and pills are her only comfort. But as long as her children need her, she has no intention of giving up, in this “tough novel about a tough family,” from the author of Disappearing Acts and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (The New Yorker).
 
“Earthy, realistic characters who can walk out of the pages and onto the streets of black America . . . an admirable novel.” —San Francisco Chronicle
 
“A touching tale of one mother’s unwavering strength.” —Detroit Monthly

Ratings and reviews

Omg! I love this book, I Love how Mildred took on the role of both parents. She did what she had to do to make sure her kids had a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and clothes on their backs. It was a struggle, but she stood strong, and made it happened, something all of us African American and single mothers can relate too. I know i speak for us all when i say "She needs to turn this book into a movie " girl call Tyler Perry, and Oprah so yall can put your creative minds together and get this book on the big screens!!!

I've read this book about 5,6 times ans each time I find something I overlooked, its gritty down to earth, but tells it like it is,I can relate to each character so well, growing up in ft Lauderdale, Florida, wee had neighbors and friends just like this, wee even had a deadman,a slow witted young man, way past his prime who loved to hang out with us younger kids,buy us soda pops and candy and such,he would be very unattractive, and that's putting it mildly, but he was so charming that you over looked

Of course This is one of the best books that I have read written by Terry McMillan. I love it. Good for you girl.

About the author

Terry McMillan has been a fellow at both Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She has received grants from the PEN American Center, the Author's League, the Carnegie Fund, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.