Book
It was the way she said it : short stories, essays, and wisdom / Terry McMillan ; edited by Kristine Bell ; foreword by Ishmael Reed.
"For the first time ever, renowned author Terry McMillan brings together her previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works in a single volume. Before McMillan found success as a novelist in the early 1990s, she published provocative, boundary-pushing short stories, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black life in America with vitality and honesty. From the work-a-day factory man's malaise in The End, to the cast-aside lover's resolve in Touching, to the aging woman's wile in Ma'Dear, McMillan's inimitable voice bravely explores the dark corners of human relationships with compassion, humor and nuance. This collection also features five unpublished short stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in this era, from domestic abuse in Mama, Take Another Step to extreme poverty in Can't Close My Eyes To It. Whether she's revealing life lessons, pontificating about aging, recalling her sources of inspiration, or laying bare the beginnings of her life as a writer, McMillan approaches every piece with enduring candor, wit, and fearlessness"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780593357149 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: xxiv, 216 pages ; 22 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Ballantine Books, [2025]
- Copyright: ©2025
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Published fiction -- The end ; Touching ; Reconstruction ; Ma'dear (for Estelle Ragsdale) ; Quilting on the rebound ; From behind the counter -- Unpublished fiction -- Can't close my eyes to it ; Every 28 days ; Mama, take another step ; Gossip ; Curtains up : hands on experience -- Sketches & starts -- In spite of it ; Rented horses ; Shivering ; Human noise ; Confrontation ; Don't, Vernita ; Today I got a letter ; Three zeroes ; Walk by -- Essays, speeches, & opinions -- Looking for Mr. Right ; This is America ; An icon, but not a hero ; Dick for a day ; UC Berkeley class of 1999 commencement address ; Life lessons. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | African Americans > Fiction. |
| Genre: | Short stories. |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | FIC McMil | 31681010433134 | FICTION | Checked out | 11/28/2025 |
- Baker & Taylor
A renowned author brings together her previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works of short fiction, in a single volume that spans her remarkable career. - Baker & Taylor
"For the first time ever, renowned author Terry McMillan brings together her previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works in a single volume. Before McMillan found success as a novelist in the early 1990s, she published provocative, boundary-pushing short stories, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black life in America with vitality and honesty. From the work-a-day factory man's malaise in The End, to the cast-aside lover's resolve in Touching, to theaging woman's wile in Ma'Dear, McMillan's inimitable voice bravely explores the dark corners of human relationships with compassion, humor and nuance. This collection also features five unpublished short stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in this era, from domestic abuse in Mama, Take Another Step to extreme poverty in Can't Close My Eyes To It. Whether she's revealing life lessons, pontificating about aging, recalling her sources of inspiration, or laying bare the beginnings of her life as a writer, McMillan approaches every piece with enduring candor, wit, and fearlessness"-- Provided by publisher - Random House, Inc.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale comes a remarkable, career-spanning collection of short fiction and essays about love, aging, culture and all the things in between.
For the first time, a single volume brings together renowned author Terry McMillanâs previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works.
Before McMillan found success as a novelist in the early 1990s, she published provocative, boundary-pushing short stories, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black life in America with vitality and honesty, from the workaday factory manâs malaise in âThe Endâ to the cast-aside loverâs resolve in âTouchingâ to the elderly womanâs wiles in âMaâDear.â McMillanâs inimitable voice bravely explores the dark corners of human relationships with compassion, humor, and nuance. This collection also features five unpublished stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in short fiction, from domestic abuse in âMama, Take Another Stepâ to extreme poverty in âCanât Close My Eyes to It.â
Whether sheâs revealing life lessons, pontificating about aging, recalling her sources of inspiration, or laying bare the beginnings of her life as a writer, McMillan approaches every piece with enduring candor, wit, and fearlessness.
Devoted fans and new readers alike will be delighted to discover these treasures spanning McMillanâs long, groundbreaking career. Indeed, it wasnât only what Terry McMillan has said that made her so beloved . . . it was the way she said it.
