Raising Fences: A Black Man's Love Story (Today Show Book Club #4)

by Michael Datcher

Book Overview

A profound and heartrending memoir of a man who grew up fatherless in inner-city LA, coming to understand as his mother worked overtime to feed him that men were not to be trusted. But as a young man,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573223301
• ISBN13: 9781573223300
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Hope for Black Love Relationships....

This book was unbelievably refreshing. In fact I was so impressed with the level of honest reflection and emotional depth in Raising Fences that I have discussed it with almost every man I know. Datcher's willingness to let us see inside his soul had provided a contextfor Black men and women to discuss the issues that are plagueing our relationships. He gave me hope for Black Love and also set a new standard for communication between the sexes. I may start a book club just to keep talking about how good it is. The icing on the cake is the beauty of the poetry and prose throughout the book. I predict that this is a classic that will keep people coming back again and again. Beyond the love story, we have a basic "coming of age" formula within a battleground of tumultuous experiences that could easily have shaken the foundation of anyone's belief system. Yet, Datcher captures the struggle and creates a jewel for his readers to enjoy. Buy two. Read one and share the other.

INCREDIBLE!!

I must admit, I was going on a book buying spree and picked this book up because: 1) the title was intriguing, and 2) the book store had nothing else at that time. It took some time for me to pick up the book, and finally did so on a recent vacation. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Michael Datcher brings so much emotion and reality about growing up fatherless and facing the near-reality of bringing a child into this world, and having her grow up fatherless as well. He tells the story of so many young Black men in America, yet gracefully adds his artistic side (through poetry) to bring the point home. I must say, toward the end of the book, I nearly cried... but had to hold my emotions back because I was on an airplane! This book is a must-read!

Breathtaking

I was chapter or two into this book before I realized it was non-fiction. Michael Datcher's style is so vivid and fluid I thought "Raising Fences" was a story he'd spun from his imagination. Once I realized it was a memoir, I was that much more intrigued by his story.Datcher takes the reader through some of the defining moments in his life. His tale may not be much different than many other men, but he bravely lays himself wide open for his readers in a way that must have been painful but also necessary. His life-long ache for a father, his stuttering speech impediment, his painful spiritual soul-searching (which leads him to join a cult-like religion), and his damaging experience with a dishonest woman are all shared with honesty and grit.Happily, Datcher's story ends on a high note, and by the time you reach the end of this book you'll want to cry tears of joy for him. Read this book. You won't be disappointed. I admire the hell out of Datcher for having the heart to write this book.

The Fences were Raised, Painted and even Climbed

Without a doubt this is the best book I've read in the past 2 years or so. Everything from the characters, to the plot to the writing style was a great gift delivered by the author. His writing is poetic without needlessly waxing poetic. Vibrant words drifting from a very good Queen's English to a very real street Ebonics brought this memoir to life.Much of Datcher's world is far from mine, but as a black man living in my own skin, I really felt him as he moved in and out of the different situations brothers have to move through just to make it through each day. I like how he showed how some black men hate, how some black me love, how we can carry our fear and can show our courage, and most of all how sometimes we get beat down (physically, psychologically and emotionally from both endogenous and exogenous factors - often at the same time), yet often times manage to get up and carry on.Thanks for the words Mr. Datcher, but more importantly thanks for the story behind them (for some reason I wanted your wife's book to be a better read than yours - think I just liked her jacket picture better), but I think you edged her out a bit. Hope you pen another piece of prose at some point.

A VERY MOVING STORY!!!

RAISING FENCES is a breathtaking account of one black man's (Michael Datcher) journey from childhood to the remarkable man he is today. Told with such truth and emotion, RAISING FENCES depicts Mr. Datcher's experience being parented by an adoptive mother, who definately sets a solid foundation for his growth into manhood, and moves through a forest of obstacles that ultimately leads him into lifelong decisions about and for his future.This book is not only about family, friends, relationships, love and deception...... but also about growth and identity.Exceptionally written and poetically told, RAISING FENCES is a book for ALL to read so much so, you will be left intoxicated with words of wisdom!