Perfect Peace by Daniel Black (2010, Hardcover)

Better World Books (2736693)
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About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherSt. Martin's Press
ISBN-100312582676
ISBN-139780312582678
eBay Product ID (ePID)77195288

Product Key Features

Book TitlePerfect Peace
Number of Pages352 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicFamily Life, African American / General, Literary
Publication Year2010
GenreFiction
AuthorDaniel Black
FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1.2 in
Item Weight19 Oz
Item Length9.5 in
Item Width6.4 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2009-040237
ReviewsPerfect Peace is a morality tale of the consequences of letting our selfish needs trap the ones we love into roles they weren't born to play. The characters here are as flawed, their sins numerous, as any living human being held under the lens, but the author brings a compassion and understanding to their plights., Mr. Black's novel nudges our sense of awareness and accountability. His narrative eloquently poses difficult questions with disarming kindness: 'Do you know who you are? Do you know what you do? Do you know that there is never an excuse?' The relevance of this work with regard to all we are and all we do far exceeds his adroitly simple telling of the tale., Daniel Black has pried open the isolated lives of rural southerners, allowing us to peek inside. To understand the complexities of the southern experience, read Perfect Peace ., Part cautionary tale, part folk tale, part fable, Daniel Black's Perfect Peace is a complete triumph. It bursts with emotions as intense as opera. Perfect Peace will bring you to tears and laughter. You will recognize characters from your own life, and perhaps even recognize yourself. In Emma Jean Peace, a mid-20th-Century rural Southern black woman who wants a daughter so desperately that she raises her infant son as a girl, Dr. Black has created a character as complex, equivocal and unforgettable as Scarlett O'Hara., Craft is not the word for this joyfully inscribed novel. The proper word is art . The book is a brave and complicated story perfectly told. Mr. Black offers a cultural gift to be welcomed., Daniel Black understands the racial psychology and culture of the South so well that he can show, not tell, and his characters' actions always ring true. This novel is a powerful exploration of a small group of individuals who hold each other in high regard. The love among members of this family is severely challenged, but the challenge is triumphantly met. Each child grows to manhood and achieves success according to his gifts. Through their lives we experience disappointment and sorrow, but also fulfillment and joy. Perfect Peace is an intense and satisfying read., "Daniel Black understands the racial psychology and culture of the South so well that he can show, not tell, and his characters' actions always ring true. This novel is a powerful exploration of a small group of individuals who hold each other in high regard. The love among members of this family is severely challenged, but the challenge is triumphantly met. Each child grows to manhood and achieves success according to his gifts. Through their lives we experience disappointment and sorrow, but also fulfillment and joy. Perfect Peace is an intense and satisfying read." --Greg Iles, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil's Punchbowl "Daniel Black writes of growing up in a small town with humor, grace and forgiveness." -- Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Very Valentine and the Big Stone Gap Series " Craft is not the word for this joyfully inscribed novel. The proper word is art . The book is a brave and complicated story perfectly told. Mr. Black offers a cultural gift to be welcomed." --Houston A. Baker, Jr., author of American Book Award winning Betrayal: How Black Intellectuals have abandoned the Ideals of the Civil Rights Era " Perfect Peace is a morality tale of the consequences of letting our selfish needs trap the ones we love into roles they weren't born to play. The characters here are as flawed, their sins numerous, as any living human being held under the lens, but the author brings a compassion and understanding to their plights." -- Mat Johnson, award-winning author of Incognegro, Drop, and Hunting in Harlem "Daniel Black has pried open the isolated lives of rural southerners, allowing us to peek inside. To understand the complexities of the southern experience, read Perfect Peace ." --Dr. Karyn Lacy, professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, author of Blue Chip Black: Race, Class, and Status in the New Black Middle Class "Mr. Black's novel nudges our sense of awareness and accountability. His narrative eloquently poses difficult questions with disarming kindness: 'Do you know who you are? Do you know what you do? Do you know that there is never an excuse?' The relevance of this work with regard to all we are and all we do far exceeds his adroitly simple telling of the tale." --Keith Hamilton Cobb, actor "Part cautionary tale, part folk tale, part fable, Daniel Black's Perfect Peace is a complete triumph. It bursts with emotions as intense as opera. Perfect Peace will bring you to tears and laughter. You will recognize characters from your own life, and perhaps even recognize yourself. In Emma Jean Peace, a mid-20th-Century rural Southern black woman who wants a daughter so desperately that she raises her infant son as a girl, Dr. Black has created a character as complex, equivocal and unforgettable as Scarlett O'Hara." --Larry Duplechan, author of Blackbird, Captain Swing, and the Lambda Literary Award-winning Got 'Til It's Gone, "Daniel Black understands the racial psychology and culture of the South so well that he can show, not tell, and his characters' actions always ring true. This novel is a powerful exploration of a small group of individuals who hold each other in high regard. The love among members of this family is severely challenged, but the challenge is triumphantly met. Each child grows to manhood and achieves success according to his gifts. Through their lives we experience disappointment and sorrow, but also fulfillment and joy.Perfect Peaceis an intense and satisfying read." --Greg Iles,New YorkTimesbestselling author ofThe Devil's Punchbowl "Daniel Black writes of growing up in a small town with humor, grace and forgiveness." --Adriana Trigiani,New YorkTimesbestselling author ofVery Valentineand theBig Stone GapSeries "Craftis not the word for this joyfully inscribed novel. The proper word isart. The book is a brave and complicated story perfectly told. Mr. Black offers a cultural gift to be welcomed."--Houston A. Baker, Jr., author of American Book Award winningBetrayal: How Black Intellectuals have abandoned the Ideals of the Civil Rights Era. "Perfect Peaceis a morality tale of the consequences of letting our selfish needs trap the ones we love into roles they weren't born to play. The characters here are as flawed, their sins numerous, as any living human being held under the lens, but the author brings a compassion and understanding to their plights." --Mat Johnson, award-winning author ofIncognegro,Drop,andHunting in Harlem "Daniel Black has pried open the isolated lives of rural southerners, allowing us to peek inside. To understand the complexities of the southern experience, readPerfect Peace." --Dr. Karyn Lacy, professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, author ofBlue Chip Black: Race, Class, and Status in the New Black Middle Class "Mr. Black's novel nudges our sense of awareness and accountability. His narrative eloquently poses difficult questions with disarming kindness: 'Do you know who you are? Do you know what you do? Do you know that there is never an excuse?' The relevance of this work with regard toallwe are andallwe do far exceeds his adroitly simple telling of the tale."--Keith Hamilton Cobb, actor "Part cautionary tale, part folk tale, part fable, Daniel Black'sPerfect Peaceis a complete triumph. It bursts with emotions as intense as opera. Perfect Peacewill bring you to tears and laughter. You will recognize characters from your own life, and perhaps even recognize yourself. In Emma Jean Peace, a mid-20th-Century rural Southern black woman who wants a daughter so desperately that she raises her infant son as a girl, Dr. Black has created a character as complex, equivocal and unforgettable as Scarlett O'Hara."--Larry Duplechan, author ofBlackbird,Captain Swing, and the Lambda Literary Award-winningGot 'Til It's Gone, "Daniel Black understands the racial psychology and culture of the South so well that he can show, not tell, and his characters' actions always ring true. This novel is a powerful exploration of a small group of individuals who hold each other in high regard. The love among members of this family is severely challenged, but the challenge is triumphantly met. Each child grows to manhood and achieves success according to his gifts. Through their lives we experience disappointment and sorrow, but also fulfillment and joy. Perfect Peace is an intense and satisfying read."   -- Greg Iles , New York Times bestselling author of The Devil's Punchbowl   "Daniel Black writes of growing up in a small town with humor, grace and forgiveness." -- Adriana Trigiani , New York Times bestselling author of Very Valentine and the Big Stone Gap Series   "Craft is not the word for this joyfully inscribed novel. The proper word is art . The book is a brave and complicated story perfectly told. Mr. Black offers a cultural gift to be welcomed." -- Houston A. Baker, Jr ., author of American Book Award winning Betrayal: How Black Intellectuals have abandoned the Ideals of the Civil Rights Era.   " Perfect Peace is a morality tale of the consequences of letting our selfish needs trap the ones we love into roles they weren't born to play. The characters here are as flawed, their sins numerous, as any living human being held under the lens, but the author brings a compassion and understanding to their plights." -- Mat Johnson , award-winning author of Incognegro , Drop, and Hunting in Harlem     "Daniel Black has pried open the isolated lives of rural southerners, allowing us to peek inside. To understand the complexities of the southern experience, read Perfect Peace ."  -- Dr. Karyn Lacy , professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, author of Blue Chip Black: Race, Class, and Status in the New Black Middle Class   "Mr. Black's novel nudges our sense of awareness and accountability.  His narrative eloquently poses difficult questions with disarming kindness:  'Do you know who you are?  Do you know what you do?  Do you know that there is never an excuse?' The relevance of this work with regard to all we are and all we do far exceeds his adroitly simple telling of the tale." --Keith Hamilton Cobb, actor   "Part cautionary tale, part folk tale, part fable, Daniel Black's Perfect Peace is a complete triumph.  It bursts with emotions as intense as opera.  Perfect Peace will bring you to tears and laughter.  You will recognize characters from your own life, and perhaps even recognize yourself.  In Emma Jean Peace, a mid-20th-Century rural Southern black woman who wants a daughter so desperately that she raises her infant son as a girl, Dr. Black has created a character as complex, equivocal and unforgettable as Scarlett O'Hara." -- Larry Duplechan , author of Blackbird , Captain Swing , and the Lambda Literary Award-winning Got 'Til It's Gone
Dewey Edition22
Dewey Decimal813/.6
SynopsisThe heartbreaking portrait of a large, rural southern family's attempt to grapple with their mother's desperate decision to make her newborn son into the daughter she will never have When the seventh child of the Peace family, named Perfect, turns eight, her mother Emma Jean tells her bewildered daughter, "You was born a boy. I made you a girl. But that ain't what you was supposed to be. So, from now on, you gon' be a boy. It'll be a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it, and this'll be over after while." From this point forward, his life becomes a bizarre kaleidoscope of events. Meanwhile, the Peace family is forced to question everything they thought they knew about gender, sexuality, unconditional love, and fulfillment.
LC Classification NumberPS3602.L267P47 2010

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  • Perfect peace like no other...

    The best novel I have read in years. Plots and sub plots; the name of characters; their past; their destinies are all woven into this beautiful homage to survival. It feels like an intricate piece of art. I love this story and these people. So much of me, parts of my story is reflected.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • I Can Add a New Author to My List

    What a sad story! It was such a page turner that I read it in a weekend! I can "smell" a sequel coming. Daniel Black is definitely going to be one of those authors whose material I "eat up". I am already reading my next Daniel Black novel!

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Best

    My absolute favorite book. Story was engrossing

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Unexpected EVENTS

    I was truly surprised by the mother. What she did to the boy is unbelievable. I wonder if this happens often to boys and girls.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • ............

    great book

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Excellent

    Excellent book in excellent condition

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned