Book Review: Disappearing Acts by Terry McMillan

Loved it! Disappearing Acts is among my favorites...among the first movies I ever owned (Dirty Dancing was the first...my all time favorite movie...it was a gift). I have it on VHS and whenever I'm in the mood, AND one of my VCRs is wired correctly, I watch it. It's out on DVD now, so I'll need to hook that up. This film was the beginning of my love of Sanaa Lathan (Zora), and with the name "Zora". I already knew and loved Zora Neale Hurston, but never considered naming my potential future daughter that until I saw this movie and heard it spoken so many times. And I've always thought very highly of Wesley Snipes' general appearance, so this movie was easily one of my favs. Now about the book...

This is a love story about some grown-up love...that make-it-through-the-fire love. It's the kind of love you want, but without all the pain. You know, like you want to love somebody so much that you love them and forgive them unconditionally...not becasue you're a punk, but because you need them like breath...like air. You want to love like that, but to not have that joint tested...does that make sense? The moral of the story (in my opinion)is that it's important to maintain your own identity...your sense of self...once you're in a relationship. Ever seen a couple who are so alike...love the same things, have the same freinds, the same hobbies, the same style? It's easy for people to "disappear" in relationships...either by compromising to the point of conforming so much that they end up morphing into who they think partner wants them to be, or simply morphing into their partner becasue they don't have a strong sense of identity themselves...when it's best (for everybody's sanity) to just stay the person they are, and roll with that...be a constantl reminder of why they fell in love with you in the first place. Of course growth is natural, but to grow together... and maintain personal identity...there's the rub. Now back to the book...

Anyway...great characters. Very enjoyable read. I'm actually glad I saw the movie first...and that the book was so different from the film. I got to experience these characters again, but the story for the first time, which was cool. I'm not surprised the book was so much better. To squeez this story into 2 hours a lot of characters were cut out and some things were rearranged. I guess to tell the whole story, they'd have had to make a mini series, like they did with Alex Haley's Roots or Queen. This story is actually good enough to have a series inspired by it...like Soul Food...which how cool would that be? The characters in this story are like that...you just want more of them. I didn't want it to end. That's the same way I felt after I read The Interruption of Everything. As much as you want to, you don't know what will happen next, but you know everything will work out alright. Terri McMillan is really good at those kinds of endings.

This is only the second novel of her's that I've read. I bought Waiting to Exhale after I saw the movie too...still haven't read it. I'm sure I'll play catch up with her other movie inspiring novel How Stella Got Her Groove Back. 'Specially since this was based on her personal love story...and her groove giver has recently turned up gay. I'll save them (and I'm sure her other stuff eventually) for when I need some detox from heavier reading.

Comments

[Schanina]

I have to disagree Quel..the book and storyline were excellent, but the movie would have been a lot better without Wesley Snipes. I can't stand him!!!! I love Sannaa Lathan..and I would have loved the movie more with a different male costar.

[terri]

i agree with schanina on wesley snipes. i thought the book was a lot better and it probably would've been a good mini-series. and i don't know if you remember this or not, but that was my second "can't put down" read. my freshman year @ cbu people teased me about walking to and from classes with my face buried in it-- they thought i was going to run into something. i just loved loved loved how she told this entire story in both characters' perspectives...

[afrochelle]

I love Dirty Dancing. I've put that movie on so many times that my husband can't stand the sight of it and it's now his least favorite movie. Disapearing Acts was a great movie and book, but Mama is my favorite Terri McMillian book. I really wish they'd turn it into a movie, but Terri's said that she won't ever let that happen because it's her favorite book as well.

[stepchile]

I haven't looked at my fridge the same since.

[Quel]

To Schanina-Regarding Snipes not being the best choice for the movie...touché. However, I think a "prettier" male lead wouldn't have been as believable.

To Terri- I don't remember you reading this book, but you were always reading something...I do remember that. And the way she alternated narrators with each chapter was one of the things I liked most about the book.I can't believe I forgot to mention that in my review. Thanks for mentioning it.

To Afrochelle-Girl, I know there are a lot of "us" out there who love Dirty Dancing. It's such a cheesy film, but there's something about it..."Nobody puts baby in a corner." LOVE it!

To Stepchile-You nasty!

[Berry]

Read the book first so I was disappointed in the movie. Remember liking the book. Bought it and have been trying to reread it. I think I was in a different place when I first read it and now it is just too painful to try to read. Terri can get really gritty. Plus she uses way too much profanity in her writing. I know that is how she speaks as well but it can get to the point of overload. The first book I read by her was her first novel, Mama. I loved that book but haven't read it since I was a teen. I was into her work pre-Waiting to Exhale. Another movie I was disappointed in. I think I have outgrown her writing style. Sorry for writing the disertation on Terry McMillan in your comments section. Have to learn to keep it concise like Step ;-)

[MzNewAgenda]

I loved Disappearing Acts, Mama, and Waiting to Excel circa 1990 something these were her first 3 and I loved em!

[dave arhin]

i really like the site so much