What do You think about Mama (2005)?
This is the first Terry McMillan book I have read, and it will likely be the last. I get it that poverty is a vicious cycle and that it perpetuates ignorance and severely limits people's choices in life, but I couldn't stand any of these characters. I was especially bothered with the title character, Mama, who is just plain verbally abusive to her five children who didn't ask to be born. This book was somewhat well written (except for the all too elementary and obvious names--Deadman, Money, etc.) because it passed my 50 page test, so I actually completed it, but even my favorite character, Freda, was disappointing and inconsistent. There was some suggestion of hope in the book, but it was too little too late after being bombarded with such a display of meanness and stupidity for so many pages. This book did little to enlighten about the human condition, and there was no real point to all of the misery, in my opinion.
—Elise
This was the very first Terry McMillan book I read and its still my favorite! I wish this was the one they had turned into a movie! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I think McMillan could relate to the character's struggle since she was also a single Mom. I was saddened when McMillan passed away from cancer a while back.....but her books live on.
—Lennie
My opinion has changed a lot about this book over the years. I am very shocked that I read this at 12 years old (and was not traumatized by it), and I now completely understand why my mother side eyed me and begrudgingly allowed me to read her copy back then.I think McMillan did a great job for this to be her first novel, though it's obvious that her writing strengthened with Disappearing Acts and Waiting to Exhale. Lot of tough and heavy themes, and spunky dialogue. Kinda perfect for a book club discussion.
—Nakia
