|
Marilyn Grimes is a middle-aged black woman who loves working at CREATIVE CREATIONS part time, buying craft items and creating artful things out of knick knacks she finds. But she's realizing that her life is going nowhere. Instead of pursuing a career, she gave up her life to cater to her husband, her mother and mother-in-law, her three children (now on their own), plus she has spent an endless amount of time worrying about her adopted sister who is in and out of trouble with drugs and booze. And with her sister not being a totally responsible adult, Marilyn also worries about her sister's children.
The charm of this book is the characters who populate it. Leon is Marilyn's workaholic husband who also is trying to "find himself," whatever that means! He seems to be going through a mid-life crisis, wearing outfits that are way too young. Her mother-in-law, Arthurine, lives with them and can sometimes drive Marilyn up the wall. It doesn't help that Arthurine has an old dog as her companion, Snuffy, that also drives Marilyn crazy. Arthurine has a new beau, Prezzle, and they make such a cute couple. Leon is nervous about this new development in his mother's life, thinking that this type of behavior is inappropriate at her age.
Marilyn's mother is starting to lose her memory, and they think it's Alzheimer's. Lovey currently lives with Joy, Marilyn's adopted sister, but unfortunately Joy is not reliable, which worries Marilyn constantly. With Lovey and Joy living in Fresno, a good two-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay area, it's not like Marilyn can travel back and forth between her house and theirs at the drop of a hat. And with traffic, it definitely is more than a two-hour commute. Then there are Joy's children, one of whom seems wiser than her young age of seven. These children are the victims of their mother's irresponsible habits and often are left alone in the house with their ailing grandmother.
Last but not least, you have the best friends, Bunny and Paulette, both of whom are standout characters in themselves. As in all Terry McMillan novels, these friends are close --- they laugh together and cry together. It's what friendships are all about. But keeping up with Bunny and Paulette wears out Marilyn too.
Basically, Marilyn has a lot going on, including a little "surprise" she isn't sure she really wants right now. With a husband who is never home and so many people she needs to look after, it's a wonder that she already hasn't had a nervous breakdown.
While I enjoyed this book, it doesn't quite hold up to McMillan's best works (in particular HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK). But as a fan, THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING is worth the read. It is very light-hearted, while at the same time there are heavier themes underneath it all: aging parents, life after 40, working on a marriage that seems to be headed toward divorce. As in most McMillan books, her female characters are strong and capable; although they don't always get to where they want to go, they are survivors. Marilyn is tired of putting her life on hold and finally feels that it's her time to fly.
THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING, if nothing else, is a story of one woman's need to break out and live the life she has waited for.
--- Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton (Ratmammy@lofton.org)
 Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.
Click here to get the audiobook from Audible.com.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
