Things I Should Have Told My Daughter

Lies, Lessons, & Love Affairs

By: Pearl Cleage

Narrated by: Pearl Cleage

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

In this inspiring memoir, the award-winning playwright and best-selling author of What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day reminisces on the art of juggling marriage, motherhood, and politics while working to become a successful writer.

In addition to being one of the most popular living playwrights in America, Pearl Cleage is a best-selling author with an Oprah Book Club pick and multiple awards to her credit. But there was a time when such stellar success seemed like a dream. In this revelatory and deeply personal work, Cleage takes listeners back to the 1970s and '80s, retracing her struggles to hone her craft amid personal and professional tumult.

Though born and raised in Detroit, it was in Atlanta that Cleage encountered the forces that would most shape her experience. Married to Michael Lomax, now head of the United Negro College Fund, she worked with Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African American mayor. Things I Should Have Told My Daughter charts not only the political fights but also the pull she began to feel to focus on her own passions, including writing - a pull that led her away from Lomax as she grappled with ideas of feminism and self-fulfillment. This fascinating memoir follows her journey from a columnist for a local weekly to a playwright and Hollywood scriptwriter, an artist at the crossroads of culture and politics whose circle came to include luminaries like Richard Pryor, Avery Brooks, Phylicia Rashad, Shirley Franklin, and Jesse Jackson. By the time Oprah Winfrey picked What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day as a favorite, Cleage had long since arrived as a writer of renown.

In the tradition of greats like Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, and Nora Ephron, Cleage's self-portrait raises women's confessional writing to the level of great literature.

©2014 Pearl Cleage (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Life's poetry

I loved this book. It made me think about... well just me and how I see myself, how other's see me. Does it matter?

Absolutely Wonderful ❗

I love Pearl...she is so down to earth..so humble..so real...I loved the book..her journals gave a glimpse of History..sociol economics..political events..and even gender differences and equality...And so much more...she's like a Cool Cousin..that you can sit and talk to .. and have a Good time...I have so many questions..is her Mom ok..how is her daughter..? Seriously..its a Great Book..and the reader was Amazing ❤

Enjoyable

It was a bit choppy but it was clearly understandable written in tidbits thus explaining each thought to include the parts and pieces thus giving the whole meaning.

journaling

while I've never been one to have long term devotion it takes, I've heard of people who do and always wondered about the care and maintenance of the collection they must become over decades, now I have an inkling. I could just see the handwriting change as the maturity and the experiences affected the mood and feelings of each entry and if course the letters, notes, pictures and such that get stuck in the pages for memory sake. creative point of view.

A Treasure!

I really loved this book, am very grateful that I started it, completely unaware of the treasure I was unearthing. I was drawn by the title and swept into a life and time and place so vividly expressed that I felt I was there almost every step of the way. I appreciated the personal descriptions of music, film, political life of the particular times, of friendship and family and love, but I really felt into Pearl Cleage’s writing about writing ~ my only regret is that in listening to an audio version, mostly on my dog walks, I didn’t have a chance to jot down the many quotes that most resonated. Will seek out the written book so I can again feel the thrill of recognition, of “yes! - that’s it, that’s how it feels!” ~ shared with someone whose life is so different from my own, a tiny point of connection, communion.

Glad I am not the only one

I most thoroughly enjoyed this read as she has as colorful life as I. She has inspired me to continue my own journaling account, in all its colors, unapologetically.

I saw myself

Pearl is older than myself but I truly felt that I only had some of these thoughts. Thanks for sharing a piece of you as it solidified I am going to be ok in being myself.

A MUST listen for all women

Are you a woman or femme? Great, listen to this book. Learn about sisterhood and personal growth with this book.

More than amazing!

What are you waiting for, click the button and get on with it. Best use of a credit in the last year! So in love with this intimate side of her...I want more!

Love hate relationship with this book

This book was recommended by I don't recall who. It is the first book I read that is like this. I did not like it for many parts but then I did love other sections. Its very interesting to be able to be part of someones life this way. I did not know who Pearl Cleage was until I got frustrated and googled her when I was half way in this book, I will read another one of her books and make my mind up then.

I do believe that this author / artist has a very strong mind and make a lot of sense and I respect her and think she is a great role model for girls/young women.