Both of these sections primarily focus on Laurel. I’m a huge fan of Terry McMillan’s older work but her newer books just don’t hit the spot for me. Here we meet her gal pals: Sadie, the church lady who might be a lesbian; Korynthia, the gorgeous 6-foot-1-inch-tall exercise instructor; Lucky, married to a white architect and with a weight problem like Loretha’s; and Poochie, a cruise-loving widow rolling in dough, now living in Las Vegas to care for her ailing mother. We’re glad you found a book that interests you. When Terry McMillan first hit the publishing scene, it was so refreshing to read the stories of everyday black women. SUSPENSE, by She’s completely alienated from her twin sister and her alcoholic daughter; her son lives in Japan, and she’s never met her grandkids; her 86-year-old mother is eager to leave the nursing home; many people in her life need money and plan to get it from her. In her 10th novel, McMillan (I Almost Forgot About You, 2016, etc.) I just grabbed the audio and can't wait to dig into this story again. It’s Terry McMillan’s way of telling stories of family, love, and relationships that made me feel like I was growing into a part of a sisterhood no. it's not all downhill from here by Terry McMillan ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2020 A close-knit group of 60-something black women deals with loss, illness, addicted family members, and the never-ending challenges of diet and exercise. This book just doesn’t do it for me, reading a books from a seniors point of view was a little out of the ordinary, on top of of it feeling like of every other sad woman of color book. This guiding principle of looking forward also runs through McMillan’s latest novel, It’s Not All Downhill From Here. A parent. Share this article: Getting old ain’t for sissies. As a result, we neglect to take care of ourselves and focus on our goals. I'm rounding up from 3.5 on this. McMillan brings us a set of characters that you will either love or hate. by The conclusion was rushed. King. The ultimate effect is cataclysmic. When Loretha Curry is reminded by her mother that she, Loretha, is 69-years-old, her mother, age 86, jauntily tells her it’s “all downhill from here.” Loretha, recovering from a recent Ten years later, Ellie’s remains and her backpack are found, though the police are unable to determine the reasons for her disappearance and death. All of these devices serve to build palpable tension, but the structure also contributes to how deeply disturbing the story becomes. Book Review: “It’s Not All Downhill from Here” By Terri Schlichenmeyer / April 17, 2020 . Secretly devouring these books late into the midnight hour by the small lamp in my bedroom fueled my love of reading. Depression, overwhelmed, headed downhill fast with no breaks and dynamite in the trunk. Southern California beauty supply mogul Loretha Curry is about to celebrate her 68th birthday with her doting, still-hot third husband, and she begins by watching the DVD of her 67th. While McMillan is years older than me, I feel as if I've grown along with her. A friend.”, “Nobody should have to hide who they are inside to please people on the outside.”, 32 New Novels by Black Authors to Read Now. I can remember sneaking through my mother’s books on her nightstand as a young girl in the 90s getting familiar with novels like Mama, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and Disappearing Acts. I have read several Terry MacMillan and am a huge fan of her earlier work. However, Ms. McMillan tackled a lot of relevant issues. Her latest follows 68 year old Loretha Curry. The variety of ailments being dealt with is so broad that any reader will most likely find their own problems addressed in some way while reading this book. The characters she creates here are wonderfully appealing, and watching their paths connect—like little trails of flame leading inexorably toward one another to create a big inferno—is mesmerizing, casting into new light ideas about creativity and consumerism, parenthood and privilege. She loves her husband (Carl) of many years though and runs a successful beauty business. At times, the characters and the emotional core of the events are almost obscured by such quick maneuvering through the weighty plot. All Rights Reserved. joins long-career novelists such as Philip Roth and Anne Tyler as she sails her protagonists with her into older age. How many of them were worried about a loved one? Sometimes I absolutely love them, and sometimes they were just good for a read one time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Aging is not for the weak, whiners, or wimps, not for fraidy-cats or those with no confidence, and aging is absolutely not for the inflexible. March 31st 2020 “That it is still important to keep improving our lives, even at our age, and we should treat ourselves better and stop acting like our best years are behind us." Terry McMillan is always a sure thing when it comes to a book worth reading. Her work is characterized by strong female protagonists. Relationships are a huge theme with the main character being so very generous and thoughtful. I thought that was fresh and I enjoyed the friendship between the woman. As the novel progresses, Laurel becomes increasingly determined to learn what happened to Ellie, especially after discovering an odd connection between Poppy’s mother and her daughter even as her relationship with Floyd is becoming more serious. Terry McMillan If you are a Terry McMillan fan I think you will also like this one. Secretly devouring these books late into the midnight hour by the small lamp in my bedroom fueled my love of reading. It’s Not All Downhill from Here, from Terry McMillan, is a story about finding yourself again after an unexpected loss, with help and laughter from some lifelong friends. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. However, when Loretha experiences an unexpected loss, we follow her and other characters (Sadie, Korynthia, Poochie, and Lucky) through a year where a lot of changes comes to her and life-long friends. While McMillan is years older than me, I feel as if I've grown along with her. I love Terry McMillan. Issues re. I never got it together to write my full review but hear this-- LOVED IT. It’s rare to get books about senior citizens not to mention realistic, sexy and funny one. ‧ Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The main lesson is that everyone deserves to be happy and loved. All the time, women often put others needs before our own. No thanks I’m done with these books for a while. ‧ Her daughter (Jalecia) and sister (Odessa) are not speaking to her. A child. Retrieve credentials. ‧ It was just lame. It’s Not All Downhill From Here Terry McMillan Review by Arlene McKanic. Categories: RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2018. I don't know if it was the story itself or the style of writing but I just sank into it and didn't want to leave. Terry McMillan does such an awesome job of writing strong black women characters. It was funny and at times heartbreaking. I love how real and personable her characters are, how the writing isn't a high concept but isn't simple, either. There were times in this book, I wanted to yell at one of the characters and tell them to you can't solve every problem, it's ok to accept help from others. The teenage version of me didn't fully comprehend everything her character in Mama went through, but I understood the message. This is particularly true for older readers who are facing the usual challenges than come with aging. As in Everything I Never Told You, Ng conjures a sense of place and displacement and shows a remarkable ability to see—and reveal—a story from different perspectives. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | Geriatric version of Waiting To Exhale. From the title, I expected some grand journeys of the heart and mind. GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | Just a lot of words. I am grateful for her consistent adherence to these particular voices. She received her BA in journalism in 1986 from the University of California at Berkeley and the MFA Film Program at Columbia University. Flipping those pages was a rite of passage! Buy this book. Obscured by such quick maneuvering through the weighty plot overwhelmed, headed Downhill with! A set of characters that you will either love or hate,,. Only things went so well in real life read for me, but I enjoyed the FRIENDSHIP between woman. 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