Perfect Peace
A Novel
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4.5 • 476 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
As seen on TikTok, Daniel Black’s Perfect Peace is the heartbreaking portrait of a large, rural southern family’s attempt to grapple with their mother’s desperate decision to make her newborn son into the daughter she will never have—“a complex, imaginative story of one unforgettable black family in mid-twentieth century Arkansas” (Atlanta Magazine).
When the seventh child of the Peace family, named Perfect, turns eight, her mother Emma Jean tells her bewildered daughter, “You was born a boy. I made you a girl. But that ain’t what you was supposed to be. So, from now on, you gon’ be a boy. It’ll be a little strange at first, but you’ll get used to it, and this’ll be over after while.”
From this point forward, Perfect’s life becomes a bizarre kaleidoscope of events—while the rest of his family is forced to question everything they thought they knew about gender, sexuality, unconditional love, and fulfillment.
“A morality tale of the consequences of letting our selfish needs trap the ones we love into roles they weren’t born to play. The characters here are as flawed, their sins numerous, as any living human being held under the lens, but the author brings a compassion and understanding to their plights.”—Mat Johnson, award-winning author of Invisible Things
“Part cautionary tale, part folk tale, part fable, Daniel Black’s Perfect Peace is a complete triumph…In Emma Jean Peace, Dr. Black has created a character as complex, equivocal and unforgettable as Scarlett O'Hara.”—Larry Duplechan, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Got ’Til It’s Gone
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Black (The Sacred Place) explores the fateful decision of Emma Jean Peace to raise her seventh son, Perfect, as the daughter she has always wanted. Her plan, nutty as it is, works out until Perfect is eight years old and his blind older brother, Bartimaeus, makes an innocent discovery about his sister's body. Soon after, Perfect's friends begin talk of womanhood, prompting Emma Jean to reveal to Perfect the truth. So begins an education for Perfect rechristened Paul on manhood while his small Arkansas town casts an unforgiving eye on its newest curiosity. While the rural South backdrop is overly familiar and the dialogue is painfully hoary ( What chu talkin' 'bout, Emma Jean? ), Black manages a nuanced exploration of sexual identity and social structures without elevating his characters to angels or martyrs.
Customer Reviews
Had me in a chokehold
This book right here.. whew... I couldn't put it down and when I did I was constantly thinking of the characters and what would/ could happen next. It was well written and keeps you engaged the whole time. It was a bit trauma heavy which could be triggering for some. But I would still recommend this book. 10/10 I wasn't ready for it to end.
Buy it now
I’ve been trying to get back into reading since high school. I love a good read. I can’t just read anything. This book had me hooked! I wish it never ended! This book has so many twists and turns. It gives you the craziest feelings. You love will fall in love with each character even when they make you mad! I found myself rushing home from work to read it!
A real page turner.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. From the first page I was instantly captivated into the livelihood of the Peace family. The first chapter sucked me in like no other. Daniel Black is an excellent storyteller. This book has easily became one of favorites. I love how he outlines the lives of every single member of the family as well as the overall meaning of love and family.
I do wish that he would’ve went more in depth about the remainder of the lives of each peace member. I sort of feel like I was left with a cliffhanger considering how close I felt to the characters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and am excited to read more by Daniel Black.