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Summary: "To Be Young, Gifted, Black and Fatherless"
Review: This autobiography read like a novel. Mr. Datcher tells his story of growing up in an adoptive home after being given up by his teenaged mother as a toddler. The author relays the story of his childhood in the 70's, alternately selling Kool-Aid at a stand to robbing houses with his group of friends called the "Money Gang". This book was so honest that I did not like the author, or choices that he made at certain times during the book. He does not sugar coat anything about his life. He discusses having unprotected sex with a girlfriend that he didn't love and then getting mad at her when she became pregnant. He enrolls in UCLA and completes a master's degree, while working as a writer and spoken word poet. Though it is more a story of survival, because of his childhood, the author overcomes every obstacle. It does turn into a love story more than halfway through when the author meets his future wife, novelist Jenoyne Adams.Reviewed by Sandra Pettiford
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Summary: Review of "Raising Fences"
Review: "Raising Fences" by Michael Datcher is a mind opening book that allows the reader to gain new perspectives about life. It is a novel about the life of the young black man, Michael Datcher, and his quest for love and his place in life. The novel follows Datcher through his young years living in inner-city LA without a father, his years at Berkley, and his years of writing in graduate school.
Anyone can gain knowledge from this book. As a young white woman living in Midwestern suburbia, I found this novel to be completely mind bowing. Datcher describes situations and images that I could only begin to imagine in my own sheltered life. "Raising Fences" reminds readers that the world is big, and full of many different ideas and perspectives. It is amazing how one thing can bring about so many different feelings from different people. For example, to me the police represent safety, and order. To Datcher, the word "police" evoked fear and hatered.
In writing the novel Datcher included many of his own poems, and the poems of his friends. This writing style allows readers to deeply feel the emotions Datcher is trying to convey. Datcher also makes great use of vocabulary and imagery. He uses words that may be unfamiliar, and they make his writing come alive on the page. He also creates great scenes and images, allowing the reader to feel as though he or she is really there. The only downfall is his tendency to, at times, run on in the explanation of his feelings or events.
"Raising Fences" made me hungry to learn more about the world and the people living here. This book is a teacher, not only about Datcher's premise of black men searching for love, but also of his culture and lifestyle. It reminds readers that this world is a big place and we should try and learn as much as we can. I would recommend this book to anyone on a higher reading level who wants to learn more.
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Summary: The other side of the fence
Review: What a wonderful and ultimately disturbing look at inner city life for a young African-American male. And the insights this book possesses are remarkable, almost like some of those in McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood," though that book is through an entirely different set of eyes. Still, Datcher has given us a heart-felt, yet non-sappy view from "the other side of the fence," and the subtle writing, accompanied by the honest, no nonsense views, make this one of the best reads you'll come across. My only hesitation was with the final chapters which wrapped it up a little too quickly. Other than that, a great read.
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Summary: Pages Readers Group Reviews "Raising Fences"
Review: Raising Fences by Michael Datcher is truly a black man's love story. A story of love found love lost betrayal and everything in between. Michael Datcher opens up to his readers in way that lets you know he is not holding back! From his feelings on being an adopted male, to his discovery of the opposite sex, he brilliantly places the reader in his life situations allowing you to see how his choices helped develop him into the successful man he is today.
Lastly, just when you think you know him well, he expertly uses his poetry to give the reader an even deeper insight into his true self. Raising Fences is definitely a great read. One that leaves "Pages" anxiously waiting for more.
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Summary: Hope for Black Love Relationships....
Review: 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 context
for 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.
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Summary: I couldn't put it down!!!
Review: Michael Datcher is a very gifted writer. He was so honest in detailing his mistakes as well as the triumphs he has had in life. I think by reading this book, women will get a better understanding of what men want in a relationship. Some younger women in particular think that all they have to be are good bed partners. But men want the same things women want: someone who can relate to them on a spiritual, mental and physical way. Without giving the end away, I will say that the book has a happy ending for Mr. Datcher.
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Summary: Memoirs of an honest talented black man
Review: I was browsing around the African American section of a bookstore recently and Raising Fences caught my eye. It was a powerful story for me because Datcher is so open with us, and such a talented writer, that it reads like a combination of novel and diary. At times, I felt naughty reading the book because I was being taken into such intimate moments of revelations, as well as flashbacks of his first sexual experiences. One of the things I found to be so inspiring about this work is that he doesn't try to whitewash the selfishness of youth that we all go through in our twenties, and yet he doesn't make me feel sorry for him, either. This shows how much he has learned from life experience, and he knows that true strength comes from sharing our vulnerability. I am a white woman with a biracial daughter. I try to soak up as much of the black culture as possible, so that I can have more of an understanding of my daughter's other half. My hope is that my daughter will write her story one day with as much honesty as this one, and that her story might end with a realistic but happy ending like Datcher's discovery of his wife. It's a must-read!
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Summary: The other side of the fence
Review: What a wonderful and ultimately disturbing look at inner city life for a young African-American male. And the insights this book possesses are remarkable, almost like some of those in McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood," though that book is through an entirely different set of eyes. Still, Datcher has given us a heart-felt, yet non-sappy view from "the other side of the fence," and the subtle writing, accompanied by the honest, no nonsense views, make this one of the best reads you'll come across. My only hesitation was with the final chapters which wrapped it up a little too quickly. Other than that, a great read.
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Summary: More than a memoir...this book is inspiration
Review: Although this book has exceptionally high reviews, I am still amazed at how much this book affected me. Michael not only bares his soul, his passions, disappointments and dreams with the world but it is such a fascinating and well-crafted story that you forget that it's true. After all, how many of us have a story that is so insightful and inspirational much less be able to tell it so beautifully? The raw honesty of the book combined with Michael's obvious passion for all things literary is what completely inspired me. After two years of not writing, I immediately picked up a pen and started several poems. He just draws that out of you, like a therapeutic energy. As he took his path of healing, you began to take yours too. On one last note, the way he revealed the African American culture was honest without being hard, heartbreaking without being depressing, and truly reflective of the realities of black culture, right down to where you feel like he knows the same people you do.
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Summary: Good reading, but disappointing ending
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Datcher's style of writing...the chapters alternate between childhood and adulthood....he allows the reader to connect the dots (so to speak) between how his childhood experiences moulded his adulthood life. Mr. Datcher does not insult the reader's intelligence....he allows the reader to use their imagination, i.e., he doesn't spell everything out. However, I was disappointed with the ending...it seems like Mr. Datcher had to meet a deadline so he had to wrap it up quickly and not go into depth in the final chapters....or maybe I was enjoying the book so much I was disappointed that it came to the end...I'm still trying to decide....a definite read for young African-American males.
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