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Terry McMillan
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Mama: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Terry McMillan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 905 ratings

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

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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  4. Publication date
    January 16, 1987
  5. File size
    2.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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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.

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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00A8NARGQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1st edition (January 16, 1987)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 16, 1987
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 905 ratings

About the author

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Terry McMillan

Terry McMillan

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Terry McMillan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, A Day Late and a Dollar Short, andThe Interruption of Everything and the editor of Breaking Ice: An Anthology of Contemporary African-American Fiction. Each of Ms. McMillan’s seven previous novels was a New York Times bestseller, and four have been made into movies: Waiting to Exhale (Twentieth Century Fox, 1995); How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Twentieth Century Fox, 1998); Disappearing Acts (HBO Pictures, 1999); and A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime, 2014). She lives in California.

Photo Credit: Matthew Jordan Smith.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
905 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel engaging and easy to read, with wonderful writing that keeps them interested from beginning to end. The book features colorful characters and touches on real-life situations, with one customer noting how it makes readers reflect on family relationships. Customers describe the book as touching and entertaining, with one mentioning they both laughed and cried while reading.

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88 customers mention "Readability"84 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, with one customer noting it reads like a movie.

"Great book, didn't like the ending, well written. Realism black dilemma, the struggle. Great character development, realistic...." Read more

"...Good Read. Thank you Alice." Read more

"...Mama was a.great read and I could empathize with the characters and the struggles they faced. A must read! Real life.poured out on paper...." Read more

"This book was amazing it made me smile it made me cry it made me think of real life...." Read more

33 customers mention "Relatability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book relatable and fascinating, with one customer noting it keeps them engaged throughout, while another mentions it provides real-life lessons to be learned.

"...Realism black dilemma, the struggle. Great character development, realistic. I don't think I want to read again, tho...." Read more

"...A must read! Real life.poured out on paper. The.realism captivates you!" Read more

"This book was amazing it made me smile it made me cry it made me think of real life...." Read more

"...This one was so real and down to earth nitty gritty raw, as it showed the reality of the life of a “real” Mama...." Read more

27 customers mention "Writing style"27 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it wonderful and easy to read, with one customer noting the vivid descriptions.

"I really like Terry McMillan very good writer I love her books and movies I loved all the characters were great" Read more

"Great book, didn't like the ending, well written. Realism black dilemma, the struggle. Great character development, realistic...." Read more

"...The resilience of this family as so eloquently told by this Author is heartfelt and resolute. Mother has problems. Children has problems...." Read more

"I love anything Terry McMillan writes. I have all her books except this one. I plan it to someone years ago and can't remember who" Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them very relatable and colorful.

"...McMillan very good writer I love her books and movies I loved all the characters were great" Read more

"...Realism black dilemma, the struggle. Great character development, realistic. I don't think I want to read again, tho...." Read more

"...Mama was a.great read and I could empathize with the characters and the struggles they faced. A must read! Real life.poured out on paper...." Read more

"...This book is so relatable, the characters are so real and you really want to know what happens to them past the end of the story...." Read more

12 customers mention "Heartfelt"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book touching, with one review noting how it draws readers into the characters' world and makes them reflect on family relationships.

"...The resilience of this family as so eloquently told by this Author is heartfelt and resolute. Mother has problems. Children has problems...." Read more

"...Very touching, inspiring, and victorious!" Read more

"I liked the complexities of mama family life! How no one was complete but did the best they could with what they had...." Read more

"...This story has a way of resonating with people no matter what upbringing they were subjected to, you can relate somehow." Read more

5 customers mention "Enthralling"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enthralling, with one mentioning it made them both laugh and cry.

"This story made me laugh, and made me cry. The resilience of this family as so eloquently told by this Author is heartfelt and resolute...." Read more

"This book was amazing it made me smile it made me cry it made me think of real life...." Read more

"Entertaining as always. It’s been too long, waiting to exhale for a fresh book. Hope for more. Thank you Terry McMillan." Read more

"...Beautifully written,I laughed and cried." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • renae healey
    5.0 out of 5 stars great read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I really like Terry McMillan very good writer I love her books and movies I loved all the characters were great
    Helpful
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  • Soul G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Awesome
    Helpful
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  • Mel Bell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good pace character development
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, didn't like the ending, well written. Realism black dilemma, the struggle. Great character development, realistic. I don't think I want to read again, tho. I kept waiting for Mildred to make a giant leap in understanding... She didn't get the peace or security that she strove for, until the last page.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Pete Jr.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid, hilarious, fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This story made me laugh, and made me cry. The resilience of this family as so eloquently told by this Author is heartfelt and resolute. Mother has problems. Children has problems. Problems come in all shapes and make life a learning experience for each one of these family members. Yet, through it all this family, as it is, persevered. Brushed themselves off and let their love for each other keep them on solid ground. This is truly a family that we all can relate to in one form or another. Good Read. Thank you Alice.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Terry McMillan has.done.it again. Her style makes.the.reader feel like you are actually in the room.with the characters. Mama was a.great read and I could empathize with the characters and the struggles they faced. A must read! Real life.poured out on paper. The.realism captivates you!
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just good reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was amazing it made me smile it made me cry it made me think of real life. I am looking forward to reading another book from this author just to feel nice and cozy. I could not put this book down I read it non-stop.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Carla T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    After having read most of McMillan’s other novels, I was surprised when I first started reading this novel because it was so different. This one was so real and down to earth nitty gritty raw, as it showed the reality of the life of a “real” Mama. Very touching, inspiring, and victorious!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kimberly R Lee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love the book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Needed to replace it in my collection!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • nanz
    2.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time for me!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I was not really impressed by the book because i didn't feel like the book had a point to make. The only time i picked up this book was when i had absolutely nothing to do! i think the title is more interesting than then story behind it!
    Report

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