Mama

"Mama" held my interest. I love Terry McMillian's storytelling skills. She's creative and wrote an unpredictable novel. The novel was realistic and I could relate to the story about some of the things that happened in my childhood. I was cheering for the family and was glad that they were turning their life around until the story ended abruptly. "Mama" gets 4 stars because of the abrupt ending. It needed a least a few more chapters or epilogue to bring the novel to full circle.

Overall rating: 4.0 stars.

I really enjoyed this story of Mildred, her five children, and her three husbands. Mildred was a complicated woman down deep who rarely showed her emotions. Dhe just wanted what everyone wants. ..to be happy but she takes numerous detours along the, way. Freda who is the eldest is more like her mother than she thinks. Their bond is the strongest

If you love Terry Macmillian's storytelling, but hate her overzealous use of profanity and tiresome plots. I urge you to read Mama. It's beyond the malebashing and oversexed novels of Terry's previous Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Mama actually has something to say. May I also recommend Disappearing Acts. It tells A BELEIVABLE story about both the good and the rotten side of love.
A note to Mrs. MacMillian: please take a break between writing your novels.

I think this novel was a real good novel to read. In the novel it had lot of real life experiences that occurred throughout the book. I think a lot of families can relate to the situations that happened in this book. Even though she was a struggling black woman she stayed strong for her five children and never let anything put her down even though she has lived near poverty her entire life.

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!

Very spell binding if you have not come from this type of family background. In a previous review of Terry's book it was stated "no emotions". I had so many emotions reading this book. I did not understand why so much profanity. It confirmed to me to be a better mother to my children and to talk to them with respect. This is the second McMillan book I have read (the first Waithing to Exhale). Her books are interesting and a quick spell binding read. Continue to write Terry, to help to broaden our world!

The book of mama is verey interesting as I readed the book and studed my mom and granne wich are the back bone of my familey just like mama in the story thay thout like her and reaked the same way she did . Thay all had to put up with the same love life like diffent man ,the same problems with there kids in and out trobl with boyfrinend, girlfriend and with the laws moving in and out of house

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!

Well, I have to agree with Katherine. I thought this book was great, it is a great story, but Mildred damn sure was a terrible mother. It was made pretty clear that wasnt her intention, but she was. Freda was a better person and a better mother than mildred, and she was rewarded. All those times Mildred leavning Freda in charge of four younger children while she went out and slept with men, is this really what we think of as a strong mother trying to keep her family together? I sure hope not because that means family values are going staight to hell. Even I feel people praise this book for the wrong reasons, there is no doubt this story was touching and leaves you thinking about the story when your finished.

Terry McMillan's characters are real, alive and easy to relate to. I appreciate her writing because it speaks to your heart and helps you understand yourself and others. This book is a must read because it is not filled with flashy clichés but still grabs and keeps your attention until the very end. But It!

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

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'll never forget the scene where Mildred tells her eldest daughter that she put the Christmas present she'd promised her on layaway in order to buy presents for her four younger children. McMillan is simply awesome. I'll read anything she writes.

This book was a naked perspective of a single mother spanning twenty-odd years of scrimping, surviving, and loving, and letting herself be loved. Mama doesn't apologize for much, is too busy surviving to be self-aware. I almost wanted to rescue her, just to give her the escape she needed. I wanted/needed McMillian's character's to evolve to another level, and I'm not certain the author convinced me that they had. It was a satisfying book though, highly recommended.

I always love how Terry's characters are sooo real. I didn't want the book to stop, that's a sign I think when a book is good. Maybe I didn't agree with everything that Mildred did but we are all different. I still enjoyed the story about this family. Great job Terry McMillan!

The story moved fast, but went no where. There were several good starts that left us hanging, then the story ended abruptly. There was no substance, no climax. This is my first McMillan experience, I don't know if I'll try another.

If you like depressing ghettoism-- This would be the book to read. This lady (Mildred) was not strong- Harriet Tubman was strong, Coretta Scott King was strong, Fannie Mae Smith was strong. . . I could go on, but I'll stop there. Mildred was a weak drunk, who did a terrible job of taking care of her kids. To those considering buying this book- DON'T check it out from the library.

This book was a very detailed and clarified representation of one woman's struggle to keep herself sane during a time where her and her family are dealing with depression,abandonment,and lonliness.Terry McMillan writes this book with such emotion and empathy you can almost feel the pain that the woman is exposed to through the pages of the book.A Must Read!

Mildred was a very strong young black woman. With the mind set of what ever it takes to raise Four smart young ladies, and a descent young man. She was smart enough to get out of a bad situation. This is a story a sassy but povery stricken woman. It also shows the pain we some times inflict on ourselves. When all she was trying to do was rise to the top.

I know the title of this review sounds contradictory, but that's what I think of this book. Frankly I did not like this story. It made me depressed! But I have to give the author her props on her writing as usual.
You're a natural!

I would first have to definitely give Ms. McMillan her props on a well written book; however, it was quite unrealistic. As a well read college student, I have experienced many "flat" characters and "deep" ones too. .... These were positively the FLAT ones! I merely finished the book in hopes that each character would gain some depth. Not so bad, yet not so good either!

This novel was written more than ten years ago and I'm just now reading it! I've been missing out but glad I caught up with it. I've read plenty of family drama books but this is one of the best ever written. Personally, this is her greatest work.