I think that if a book provokes a deep level of feeling in you, whether good or bad, it is living up to its job as a view challenger and conversation starter. Terry mcmillan has been making waves in publishing since she steamrolled her way to the bestseller lists in the 90s and gained even wider audiences as film versions of waiting to exhale and how stella got her groove back hit theaters. Terry mcmillan talks about the power of family ties and her new novel, who asked you. Well, you wont likely forget terry mcmillans who asked you. The problems these characters face are manifold and at the same time ordinary. Who asked you by terry mcmillan official book trailer. Terry mcmillan audio books, best sellers, author bio. Its a stirring look at a slew of issues plaguing the africanamerican community including the mass incarceration of black males and interracial marriage, centered around a workingclass grandmother forced to raise her two grandsons who were abandoned by their drugaddicted. Terry mcmillan confronts her gay exhusband oprahs lifeclass.
This book reminds me sooo much of many of my friends lives. Terry mcmillan, american novelist whose work often portrays feisty, independent black women and their attempts to find fulfilling relationships with black men. This month, new york times bestselling author terry mcmillan returns with her latest novel, who asked you. Terry mcmillan born october 18, 1951 is an american author known for her books with relatable female protagonists. Terry mcmillan born october 18, 1951 is an american author. Bj already has her hands full dealing with her other adult children, two opinionated sisters, an ill husband, and her own postponed dreams all while holding down a job delivering room service at a hotel. The book explores the relationship of grandmothers raising grandchildren. She also attended the master of fine arts program in film at. Her adult children have all taken different paths and seem to have forgotten the values they. Terry mcmillan books list of books by author terry mcmillan. The years pass, and mcmillans waiting to exhale, 1992, etc. Now, in her eighth novel, mcmillan gives exuberant voice to characters who reveal how we live now. Terry mcmillan is an african american short fiction author and novelist who believes her work is best described as the experiences of african american men and women from the city.
While true to mcmillains style, giving us storylines with colorful, quirky characters, set against dysfunctional family lives, i felt like i had read this book before and knew how these characters would fare well before the book ended. Betty jean is not having a good day when we first meet her. With her wise, wry, and poignant novels of families and friendshipswaiting to exhale, getting to happy, and a day late and a dollar short among them. If you love terry mcmillan and you know her work you will love it and if you are a mcmillan reader i think you will still love it, mcmillan books can always be revisited in my opinion. Mcmillan, terry, mcmillan, terry, desanti, carole, rashad, phylicia, boatman, michael. Betty jean bj has her hands full with a family who cant get it together. Shes in the kitchen, frying chicken, when her wayward 27yearold daughter, trinetta, calls, begging for money and adding, the good news is i might have a job and i was wondering if i could bring the boys over. She received a ba in journalism in 1986 from the university of california, berkeley. It revolves around the lives of betty jean butler and her family. With that being said terry mcmillans who asked you.
Books by terry mcmillan author of waiting to exhale. Bj, a trademark mcmillan heroine, already has her hands full dealing with her other adult children, two opinionated sisters, an ill husband, and her own postponed dreamsall while holding down a job as a hotel maid. An anthology of contemporary africanamerican fiction. The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of ellies disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as laurel and floyd meet. Mcmillan was born to bluecollar worker edward lewis mcmillan in port huron michigan in 1951. She studied journalism at uc berkeley and screenwriting at columbia before making her fiction debut with mama, which won both the doubleday new voices in fiction award and the american book award.
Like no one else, mcmillan conveyed the complexities of being a single, upwardly mobile black professional woman and a whole group of underserved readers. While true to mcmillains style, giving us storylines with colorful, quirky characters, set against dysfunctional family lives, i felt like i had read this book before and knew how. Terry mcmillan reads the role of nurse kim, and her crusty voice ended up being my favorite, as she so endearingly gave this inappropriate, harry potterloving inhome nurse that extra something. When it comes to aging, terry mcmillan wants you to know. Her notable books included waiting to exhale and how stella got her groove back. Terry mcmillan never fails me and always delivers, i always feel a connection and this book gave me that again. Terry mcmillan talks about her new novel, who asked you. The drama unfolds through the perspectives of a rotating cast of.
Her books, beginning with the 1987 release of her debut novel mama, are passed down from grandmothers to mothers to daughters like a family heirloom, a sacred piece of our long literary heritage that began before we existed and will continue after weve departed. Terry mcmillan, the bestselling author of how stella got her groove back, tells nprs scott simon that she writes because she wishes she were a magician. Remember getting to happy, waiting to exhale, and how stella got her groove back. My favorite aspect of the book was the way one character would narrate a scene and be a perfectly civilized human. She achieved national attention in 1992 with her third novel, waiting to exhale, which remained on the new york times bestseller list for many months. Who asked you by terry mcmillan official book trailer youtube. Terry mcmillan has 18 books on goodreads with 142333 ratings. Her bestselling novels include waiting to exhale, how stella got her groove back, disappearing acts, and the interruption of everythingwhich were all made into movies, as well as a day late and a dollar short and who asked you. Kaleidoscopic, fastpaced, and filled with mcmillans inimitable hu. For more than 30 years, terry mcmillan has been a connective tissue for generations of black women writers and readers. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards.
By terry mcmillan is a quick, easy, engaging and entertaining read. Kaleidoscopic, fastpaced, and filled with mcmillans inimitable humor, who asked you. Bestselling author terry mcmillans new book is who asked you. Terry mcmillan was born and raised in port huron, michigan, and discovered her love of literature while shelving books at the local library. Terry mcmillan, the bestselling author of how stella got her groove back, tells nprs scott simon that she writes because she wishes she were a.