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Rating: 
Summary: Terry:
Review: A well-deserved tribute to the lady that has indeed opened doors for many African American aspiring writers. Too bad she doesn't see the impact she's made. As another reader has said, the biography would have been much more fun had Terry been involved in its making.
Rating:
Summary: Terry:
Review: A well-deserved tribute to the lady that has indeed opened doors for many African American aspiring writers. Too bad she doesn't see the impact she's made. As another reader has said, the biography would have been much more fun had Terry been involved in its making.
Rating:
Summary: May Appeal to A Certain Few
Review: I enjoy Terry McMillan's works and was naturally interested in how she made it as a writer. It's unfortunate that this unauthorized biography is "unauthorized" because I feel that if the Diane Patrick had the benefit of Terry's participation, it could have been a more valuable and relevant piece. Some of the 'facts' were interesting to me as far as the deals Terry got and how many books she sold, but I don't think the average reader would care (especially if you're not interested in becoming a writer). Nevertheless, I was somewhat satisfied because I enjoy what you'd call 'rags to riches' stories, not that she was ever in rags, but I like to know how successful people have 'made it'. I also enjoyed the frequent references to Terry's ambition and determination in promoting her debut novel, "Mama". In short, if you don't get a chance to read this book, you really haven't missed anything. It would be better to wait and read Terry's story when/if she herself is ready to write that story.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of Being Written At This Time? See Page 230...
Review: I was suprised to see this 231 page bio on Terry McMillan. It did not matter whether it was "authorized" or not. So I had to read it because I LOVE & RESPECT Terry McMillan's books and have read all of them.
The author of this book vents her frustrations of, in her opinion, having been dissed by T. McMillan. Ms. McMillan did not assist her in the research, or support this book at all. She quotes McMillan as saying, "I don't know why you people don't wait until I'm dead". This takes me back to my initial suprise of seeing that a bio had been written. I know what Terry McMillan's books and success has done for the African American readers and writers. She made history and opened the door for a lot of writers to follow her. YET...a bio already?
The early years were boring. I'm sure it could have been more interesting if Diane Patrick would have had actual input from Terry McMillan. Instead she relied on historical facts of the time and place; also input from outsiders that had crossed paths with T. McMillan.
The years after Terry left her hometown were more interesting. Her college education, employment history and skills are chronicled. Her time spent at the writer's colonies were discussed as well. Diane Patrick is a great researcher. She includes a wealth of history on other writers that she was able to link in with McMillan by any means necessary to make the book longer. She states that there are many black writers now and that there is room for all!
Page 230 contains her reason why this bio was worthy of being written.
Rating: 
Summary: She got her groove on then some
Review: Terry is a very inspirational aurthor. She paved the way for many african american writers. I like her style because it is set a part from the rest of the other authors. I learned a lot about the history of black aurthors. She talks about when she was little she thought that only white people wrote books untill she came across a book with a black aurthor and she was amazed. She simply thought that there were no black people wrote books. She said that she came from a towm where it was boring and the people there had dead end jobs. She is from a very small town and she really wanted to get out of it so when she graduated she moved to California and didn't stop untill she met her solemate who she met in Jamacia. She wrote a book about it and it called How Stella got her groove back but she changed it up alittle. She wrote two books that they changed into a movie they did really well. She said in the book that she wasen't going to make any more movies no matter how much rhey offerd her. I really enjoyed reading this book because it helped me to realize some imformation that I didn't know and also was in the dark about
Rating: 
Summary: A POOR BIOGRAPHY
Review: Terry McMillan's name is immediately recognized in popular literature. Many fans and readers are curious about the life of this woman who created a new genre (urban romance) and opened the eyes of publishing companies that Black people do read books.
Unfortunately this "Unauthorized Biography" of the author falls very short in telling us about Ms McMillan's life and what developed her as an author. What you get is a compilation of stories regarding Terry McMillan but nothing substantial about her life and art. In fact the vast majority of the book talks about the publishing industry, other Black authors, the latest gossip and other trite subjects that have nothing to do what so ever in dealing with the life of Terry McMillan. What is shared is information that has already been known. This biography doesn't tell us anything new. If only it would talk about Terry then it would hold your attention. Most of Patrick's biographical information is from the books (Mamma, How Stella Got Her Grove Back,etc.) that she finds are autobiographical in nature to McMillan's life. Novels are not facts and Ms Patrick should have taken the time to do some full scale research. Her excuses about McMillan being uncooperative doesn't hold water if you are truly dedicated and serious about doing justice to a major author. If you are looking for a definitive biography of McMillan leave this book on the shelf. If you want to be slightly entertained and not interested in the facts and development of this great writer by all means this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Terry's life thru her novels !
Review: The Unauthorized Biography was an interesting and entertaining book. I did however feel, it left out a lot to be said for Tery's life ! The story Dianne Patrick told was Terry's life thru her novels ! While she did get some co- operation from others and what other people have said in the past thru articles . It is clear from the begining Terry was not interested in her doing her biography ! Which is the case in most unauthorized biographies ! I will applaud Dianne Patrick in her telling of the biography . She enlightened us on a lot of the things in the industry of writing ! She gave us more than a biography . I will admit if you are interested in Terry's life as it relates to her novels you might want to buy this book in the paperback version . As stated above I enjoyed the read, it just wasn't as much of a biography as I had thought ! I wished Terry had co-operated with Dianne. I think Dianne could have done a better (great) job with the facts ! Dianne did showed us how a phenomenal author came to be thru the eyes of her novels !
Rating:
Summary: Terry's life thru her novels !
Review: The Unauthorized Biography was an interesting and entertaining book. I did however feel, it left out a lot to be said for Tery's life ! The story Dianne Patrick told was Terry's life thru her novels ! While she did get some co- operation from others and what other people have said in the past thru articles . It is clear from the begining Terry was not interested in her doing her biography ! Which is the case in most unauthorized biographies ! I will applaud Dianne Patrick in her telling of the biography . She enlightened us on a lot of the things in the industry of writing ! She gave us more than a biography . I will admit if you are interested in Terry's life as it relates to her novels you might want to buy this book in the paperback version . As stated above I enjoyed the read, it just wasn't as much of a biography as I had thought ! I wished Terry had co-operated with Dianne. I think Dianne could have done a better (great) job with the facts ! Dianne did showed us how a phenomenal author came to be thru the eyes of her novels !
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