Po Man's Child

by Marci Blackman

After sustaining a serious injury during an S/M scene, Po Childs checks herself into a psychiatric hospital where she recalls her life's most memorable incidents and unconventional relatives. After a poignant exploration of her family's curses and blessings, Po allows the healing process to begin.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Lesbian, African American, Mental Health

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Hyacinth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often as I read books I think to myself, "how do they write like that?" This book was a dark, hard, yet amazing read. It is difficult to read without your own particular bias. The dysfunction of the Childs family is heartwrenching. How can you name your child Po and expect them to thrive? Po, Bobby, and Onya's story is so tragically sad that it is hard for me to wrap my brain around someone being able to come up with this story...how do you do that? The writing is amazing. There are so many stories in this one story. There are so many books in this one book. Will we get to hear each person's story? One could only hope.

[Kirsty Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book about sex. It has some sex scenes in it and to be honest I nearly put it down after the first few pages as the graphic detail is not my cup of tea but it's worth it to persevere. This is a book about parenting, generational beliefs, mental health, race and religion. So many themes wrapped up in the story of the Child's family which leads you to consider the nature/nurture debate of poor mental health and whether we are in control of our own future. The only thing I'm not sure about is why I haven't come across Marci Blackman or Po Man's Child sooner.

[Taylor G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional use of interchanging, chronological stories to develop the main character. Reminds me of Assata Shakur's autobiography in that way you get to know Po and how she ends up where she does. Very balanced when it came to heavy subject matter and not shying away from topics.

[La Toya Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been said the sins of the parents sometimes come to rest on the back of the children; that in order to shake free of past tragedies, one must fully face them and accept the lessons they aim to teach. Based on my reading of Po Man’s Child by Marci Blackman, I understand the validity of dealing with family history in order to fully move on and achieve a better sense of self.

The book travels back and forth through time as Po’s family legacy is revealed. The action of an ancestor is thought to have cursed his descendants. Uncle George was a slave that repeatedly attempted to kill himself in horrific ways after being apprehended while trying to escape from slavery. Eventually, he succeeded, but his legacy to not have any family member crack under the pressure of life failed (described as falling to “The Curse of Uncle George). Po blames the curse for her numbness, which she addresses by self-mutilating. The book details how the curse impacts the lives of her siblings and parents. Drug addiction, physical and mental illness, infidelity, and multiple suicide attempts cling to the family from one generation to the next. It even extends itself to a woman who married into the family and fled her husband after he attempted to kill himself in front of their daughter.
Po Man’s Child is a challenging read, but I recommend it based on the writer’s craft. While there are multiple low points, there are high notes as well. There are joyous occasions, and in the end, it seems the curse is bent through Po’s will. Blackman weaves in traces of the spiritual world, which helps to guide the characters in stressful times. Once you commit to the novel, the characters’ choices will keep you turning the page to the conclusion.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very haunting, disturbing book that will always stay with me. Despite it's hard to handle nature at times, it was so truthful and so real that I can even imagine it as being a memoir. the characters are all so highly developed and have such deep backstories. I read this book about three times over when I first got it around ten years ago. Despite the dark nature, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading stories with thorough character development and honest portrayals of real people. Even if these are just characters, the complexities of each of them makes this book read just like a memoir.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.examiner.com/books-in-denv...

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book. I wish more people knew about it.