Everyone is given their own distinct traits, storyline and purpose. Within this novel there are so many unforgettable characters most notably Perfect’s father and brothers. Yes-all these topics are tackled in 1 book! What then ensues within the family and town is heart wrenching, suspenseful and reveals so much about gender, social status, education, forgiveness, self-awareness, domestic violence and even the role of the Black church. When Perfect is around the age of 8, Emma Jean reveals the truth to her “daughter” that she is really her “son. She imagined dresses and dolls and yellow ribbons in her hair and birthday parties with cake! Of course this plan is doomed to fail when Perfect and her friends get old enough to ask questions and experiment with their sexuality. Having been abused by her own mother as a child she longs to raise a girl the way she wishes she had been raised. Her husband is none the wiser since as the mother Emma Jean solely takes care of her “daughter”. Perfect Peace-Peace is the family’s surname.

In a rural, poor, Southern town in Arkansas a Black mother decides after giving birth to 6 sons to raise her 7th son as a girl.

The story in the novel Perfect Peace is not a settling one. When a member of our group suggested it as one of her favorite novels I knew we had to read it.

I initially come across this novel via goodreads, online and word of mouth from fellow book lovers. So how many of you knew that along with practicing medicine, traveling and blogging I also organize and run a book club? It is called “A Novel Bunch”! A Novel Bunch is a virtual book club via our Facebook Group page and Skype discussions as well as a live book club here in Atlanta! Our last novel was Perfect Peace by Dr.Daniel Black.

Perfect peace by daniel black