It Was the Way She Said It - Large Print by Terry McMillan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works.

Before Terry 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 man's malaise in "The End" to the cast-aside lover's resolve in "Touching" to the elderly woman's wiles 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 This collection also features five unpublished stories that reveal how she wrestled with controversial topics rarely addressed in short fiction, from domestic abuse in "Mama, Take Another Step" to extreme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.

Devoted fans and new readers alike will be delighted to discover these treasures spanning McMillan's long, groundbreaking career. Indeed, it wasn't only what Terry McMillan has said that made her so beloved . . . it was the way she said it.

Review Quotes

"This stunning collection from one of the great writers on Black culture covers the gamut: aging, love, poverty, trauma and plenty of lightness in between."--People

"Terry McMillan . . . has assembled a collection of short stories and essays that portray candid vignettes of Black American life. With unflinching honesty and verve, McMillan writes stories that suck readers in from start to finish."--Harper's Bazaar

"Decades after Stella got her groove back, Terry Mcmillan just gets better. . . . McMillan's new book shows the author at the top of her game. . . . This collection contains a multitude of truths."--The Washington Post

"The best part of reading this entertaining collection of published and unpublished fiction, sketches, and nonfiction is the sheer delight of immersing yourself in the works of a writer who has plenty to say and has never been afraid to say it. . . . An entertaining reminder of McMillan's storytelling abilities and unflinching honesty."--Kirkus Review, starred review

"McMillan is a sharp writer who never fails to give readers memorable, richly developed characters and powerful insights."--Library Journal

Praise for It's Not All Downhill From Here

"A wise and wisecracking novel of aging, heartbreak, and the quest to 'pump up the volume' in late midlife."--O: The Oprah Magazine

"[A] baldly honest, laugh-out-loud story."--Good Housekeeping

"A hopeful and hilarious novel."--Travel & Leisure

"I couldn't put this book down."--BuzzFeed

"This is a story of the power of women and the inspiring lives they lead."--She Reads

"McMillan proves once again that she is a skilled master."--Associated Press

"Lively, perceptive . . . Terry McMillan writes with a staggering depth of feeling, credibly capturing the characters' emotions as she unpacks their interpersonal conflicts. This delightful novel balances inspiration for renewal with the hard facts of aging."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author