Waiting to Exhale

In this proud, poignant tale, four thirty-something African-American women rely on one another for love and support. McMillan's portrait of these friends, who struggle with differing aspects of loneliness, is indelibly etched with love and understanding. Her empathy is vividly realized in her reading of the work. McMillan's passion is infectious. Deft character-ization and a rich, resonant narration sweep the listener along in the beauty and grace of a vision ably articulated in this powerful reading. R.W.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

May 4, 1992
A racy, zesty, irreverent and absorbing book with broad mainstream appeal, McMillan's third novel (after Mama and Disappearing Acts ) tells the stories of four 30ish black women bound together in warm, supportive friendship and in their dwindling hopes of finding Mr. Right. Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria are successful professional or self-employed women living in Phoenix. All are independent, upwardly mobile and ``waiting to exhale''--to stop holding their breaths waiting for the proper mate to come along. (Bernadine is married, but her husband walks out on her for a white woman as the novel opens.) They also share speech patterns that some readers may find disconcerting: they utter profanities with panache, unceasingly. Indeed, the novel's major drawback may be the number of times such words as shit , fuck and ass are repeated on every page. These women have a healthy interest in sex, while deploring the fact that most of the men they meet are arrogant, irresponsible and chronically unfaithful. Each character is drawn with authenticity and empathy, and McMillan pulls no punches about their collective bad judgment in choosing partners for romance. After many vicissitudes, two of the heroines find love, but until then McMillan keeps us constantly guessing about which members of her lively quartet will be thus rewarded. There's nothing stereotyped in her work here: it is fresh and engaging. 100,000 copy first printing; $100,000 ad/promo; first serial to Essence; BOMC and QPBC selections; author tour.

Dorothy Gray presents a commendable narration of McMillan's much acclaimed portrait of four black women. The main characters possess vocal personalities equal to their individual uniqueness. Selfish Robin speaks quickly and crudely; endearing Savannah likes everyone; Bernadine is the survivor; and maternal Gloria's ill health is evident in her speech and shortness of breath. Even the male voices are splendidly handled. Accent, pace and presentation make this a revealing and enjoyable listening experience. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine