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Rating: 
Summary: The other side of the fence
Review: Although this book has exceptionally high reviews, I am still amazed at how much this book affected me. Michael not only bares his soul, his passions, disappointments and dreams with the world but it is such a fascinating and well-crafted story that you forget that it's true. After all, how many of us have a story that is so insightful and inspirational much less be able to tell it so beautifully? The raw honesty of the book combined with Michael's obvious passion for all things literary is what completely inspired me. After two years of not writing, I immediately picked up a pen and started several poems. He just draws that out of you, like a therapeutic energy. As he took his path of healing, you began to take yours too. On one last note, the way he revealed the African American culture was honest without being hard, heartbreaking without being depressing, and truly reflective of the realities of black culture, right down to where you feel like he knows the same people you do.
Rating: 
Summary: A mixed bag
Review: I found this book to be a mixed bag. At times too corny and over-emotional (the poetry), at times too vulgar and graphic for my taste (like the way his goatee smelled after sex) but a true masterpiece of what it means to be a black man in America these days. It was a great learning experience that will only teach tolerance and understanding in between all races. I am of Latin origin and feel that our feelings and challenges as a culture are often misunderstood. Overall, I thought it was an average book, but a must-read to increase the understanding of the reality of the African-American community in the America.
Rating:
Summary: Michael Datcher do ur thang!!!
Review: I thought Raising Fences was nothing but humourous, poetic and reflective. I'm proud of Michael Datcher for writing such a strong realistic book which other people can relate to. In my opinion if you've read the book and didn't like it, that's you but don't hate on a brotha trying to succeed! Michael keep doing your thang brotha because through my eyes you've already succeeded!
And that's my review!!!
Rating:
Summary: Memoirs of an honest talented black man
Review: I was browsing around the African American section of a bookstore recently and Raising Fences caught my eye. It was a powerful story for me because Datcher is so open with us, and such a talented writer, that it reads like a combination of novel and diary. At times, I felt naughty reading the book because I was being taken into such intimate moments of revelations, as well as flashbacks of his first sexual experiences. One of the things I found to be so inspiring about this work is that he doesn't try to whitewash the selfishness of youth that we all go through in our twenties, and yet he doesn't make me feel sorry for him, either. This shows how much he has learned from life experience, and he knows that true strength comes from sharing our vulnerability. I am a white woman with a biracial daughter. I try to soak up as much of the black culture as possible, so that I can have more of an understanding of my daughter's other half. My hope is that my daughter will write her story one day with as much honesty as this one, and that her story might end with a realistic but happy ending like Datcher's discovery of his wife. It's a must-read!
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: I was chapter or two into this book before I realized it was non-fiction. Michael Datcher's style is so vivid and fluid I thought "Raising Fences" was a story he'd spun from his imagination. Once I realized it was a memoir, I was that much more intrigued by his story. Datcher takes the reader through some of the defining moments in his life. His tale may not be much different than many other men, but he bravely lays himself wide open for his readers in a way that must have been painful but also necessary. His life-long ache for a father, his stuttering speech impediment, his painful spiritual soul-searching (which leads him to join a cult-like religion), and his damaging experience with a dishonest woman are all shared with honesty and grit. Happily, Datcher's story ends on a high note, and by the time you reach the end of this book you'll want to cry tears of joy for him. Read this book. You won't be disappointed. I admire the hell out of Datcher for having the heart to write this book.
Rating:
Summary: A VERY MOVING STORY!!!
Review: RAISING FENCES is a breathtaking account of one black man's (Michael Datcher) journey from childhood to the remarkable man he is today. Told with such truth and emotion, RAISING FENCES depicts Mr. Datcher's experience being parented by an adoptive mother, who definately sets a solid foundation for his growth into manhood, and moves through a forest of obstacles that ultimately leads him into lifelong decisions about and for his future. This book is not only about family, friends, relationships, love and deception...... but also about growth and identity. Exceptionally written and poetically told, RAISING FENCES is a book for ALL to read so much so, you will be left intoxicated with words of wisdom!
Rating:
Summary: TOUCHING and Engrossing!
Review: REVIEW
FEBRUARY 2005
Michael Datcher, Michael Datcher!
Although this book has exceptionally high reviews, I am still amazed at how much this book affected me. Michael not only bares his soul, his passions, disappointments and dreams with the world but it is such a fascinating and well-crafted story that you forget that it's true. After all, how many of us have a story that is so insightful and inspirational much less be able to tell it so beautifully?
The raw honesty of the book combined with Michael's obvious passion for all things literary is what completely inspired me. After two years of not writing, I immediately picked up a pen and started several poems. He just draws that out of you, like a therapeutic energy. As he took his path of healing, you began to take yours too.
On one last note, the way he revealed the African American culture was honest without being hard, heartbreaking without being depressing, and truly reflective of the realities of black culture, right down to where you feel like he knows the same people you do.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened?
Review: The first part of the story was really well put together. I was excited to learn about a man's take on abortion and how he deals with unwanted children, etc. Camille was interesting to read about from the male perspective. But then when she disappeared, the story went downhill, like the poetry. Whew, I didn't like one poem in the whole book and dropped my head every time I had to read another one. I lost so much respect for the character when his white buddy got beat up, but it was even WORSE when he didn't even stand up to his friend. I'm supposed to sympathesize with this cat, who was supposedly so gangsta when he was younger, who's as soft as a pillow now. On top of that, characters (especially his friends) were introduced but had no depth. But then they did amazingly wild things and I was supposed to be shocked, but instead it was like watching it on the news. I didn't really know these characters towards the end, so to find out that they were doing these things was just like "So what?" instead of "He did that? Oh! I don't believe this!" Jenoyne was kinda thrown into the plot and I still don't really know who she was besides religious and having wavy hair and light skin. The first part was five stars, the last part was no stars...this book felt like a rush job.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: This was one of the best comtemporary African American based books I've read in a long time. My hat goes off to Michael for writing such a powerful, suspenseful, evocative and moving account of his life. I could not wait to read chapter after next. I think his technique of flipping from past to present and then eventually merging the two was effective--it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. The first 2/3rds of the book was completely intriguing.
I loved the style of language he used-- so powerful, punchy and raw. I loved that he kept ot real all the way, not holding back any punches on himself. This was an introspective, deeply soulful and emotional account. And totally relatable to our generation.
I agree with some of the reviewers about the budensome poetry-that's why it gets 4 not 5 stars from me. At the end it was just too top heavy and some excerpts just weren't that good. And it just made the last 1/3 of the book just drag too much. In addition the end meandered a bit too much--I understand why--he wanted to give Jenoyne her fair share--but it took away some from the energy and momentum of the first section.
My dream is to write my own memoir within 10 years--if I do even as half a good a job as Mr Dacther does here I would be proud of myself.
I'm waiting for Part 2 of this story!!
A huge fan.
Rating:
Summary: My Flip Side of Love Revealed
Review: When I first purchased this book, I wondered if the title would live up to its claim - "A Black Man's Love Story". I have always been an avid reader of African American romance novels and all contemporary African American male authors have not disappointed thus far. From E. Jerome Dickey to Colin Channer, I have grown to appreciate the emotional upheaval African American men go through dealing with their loves on a daily basis. I was delighted to find Michael Datcher experiencing a lot of the same things in his life that I have come across in mine. His eloquence in writing about his lack of a relationship with his Father and his desire to be a better husband for his spouse helped me realize my husband deals with a lot of baggage that I bring to our table. I am awed by the love for his wife Mr. Datcher so openly shares with the reader. It sounds like he has found a way to raise his fences. My husband and I continue to raise ours. Thanks for sharing what's in your heart and soul with me.
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