The Interruption of Everything

Terry McMillan does a wonderful job at creating an atmosphere and setting the scene. While reading the book it really felt like these things were happening to a friend of mine as the story developed. You get to know the characters so well. While I did not necessarily agree with the ending it was still a solid conclusion to this wonderful heartfelt novel

It has been a few years since Terry McMillan came out with a new novel and it was well worth the wait. Frankly, I thought she was getting a little stale after her last novel - A Day Late and a Dollar Short. She proves with The Interruption of Everything that she is far from stale. Marilyn Grimes is the apotheosis of the middle-aged empty nester having a midlife crisis. She has set aside her own educational and career aspirations to be a wife and mother to three children. Thus her time was spent as a caretaker for others and she spent little time for herself. Once the kids are gone she realizes that her husband is never home and gives her little attention - something that was generally always the case but now it's noticeable and she's at loose ends. She fills the void with a part-time job at a craft store, being an unwilling cook, chauffeur and caretaker for her aging mother-in-law and dog, and worrying about her daughter's and sons' lives from arms length. But Marilyn is not happy. She realizes she has put off fulfilling her own wants and desires for others - and isn't quite sure how to start paying attention to herself. Then her world starts getting shaken. Her husband seems to be going through a midlife crisis of his own - going from a boring, typical, well-off suburban dad to buying a motorcycle, new spiffy clothes, and saying he's quitting his job. Her step-sister is a drug addict trying to take care of their mother and two kids. Her mother is becoming forgetful - so much so that clearly something is wrong. Her daughter is pregnant by the man she's living with. And Marilyn gets a few other, not so little, surprises along the way. This novel is about Marilyn trying to regain her life. She's unhappy and bored and realizes she needs to do things to please and take care of herself for once in her life - but at the same time not abandon the problems life has unfairly laid in her lap. McMillan does a brilliant job making this novel funny, sad, poignant, surprising, and compassionate all at the same time. The prose at times is laugh out loud funny and just wonderfully and entertainingly written. In fact, this should be a candidate for a Pulitzer Prize for its perceptive, recognizable, but also unique depiction of a part of life. The prose may be a bit too accessible to catch the eyes of critics, but in my view it's brilliantly written. I highly recommend this wonderful novel. Review by C. Douglas Baker

Terry Macmillan has been acclaimed for her on-target portrayals of African-American life (Waiting To Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, A Day Late and A Dollar Short). She does this with unequaled perception, sometimes ribald humor, and always with heart. Her characters speak to all of us, and are remembered with affection. Marilyn Grimes, a wife and mother in her mid forties, is both narrator and heroine in Macmillan's latest. Marilyn's facing what most women of that age confront - midlife assessment. Her three children have all flown the nest and her husband, Leon, has taken to trying to bring back his youth by buying a Harley, changing the way he dresses, and probably having an affair. Although she's always given unselfishly of herself to others: Arthurine, her mother-in-law who lives with them, a sister on drugs, and assorted friends, Marilyn is now beginning to consider her own needs. However, a visit to the doctor forces her to realizes there's someone she hadn't thought of who will need care - she's pregnant. To complicate matters even more Gordon, her ex-husband, comes on the scene again and she remembers feelings she thought long dead. Emmy Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield gives a dynamite reading on the Abridged Edition, and Desiree Taylor does likewise on the Unabridged Edition. First rate listening from two fine performers and the inimitable Macmillan. - Gail Cooke

The highly anticipated Interruption of Everything is everything you hope the novel would be and more. We're invited to look inside the busy world of Marilyn Grimes, a middle-aged woman who lives with her husband Leon in Oakland Hills, California. She tries to be patient with her nosey mother-in-law Arthurine, someone who also lives in their home along with her dog Snuffy, an animal that Marilyn doesn't particularly like. Her marriage isn't exactly what it used to be and it isn't hard to entertain second thoughts about whether the relationship is worth the effort. In addition to working part-time in a crafts store, Marilyn is involved in the lives of her family, a mother who's acting a bit bizarre and is experiencing the issues that go along with aging and health. Marilyn's three kids are in college and are making important decisions for themselves. And her mother Lovey, adopted sister Joy plus her two kids, are other family members with pressing matters that require attention. And Marilyn can't help herself - she is too concerned about them to not be bothered, but is it okay to pull yourself away from everyone else's worries and start thinking about what you want to do with your own bored and lonely existence? A steamroller of a novel, The Interruption of Everything builds slowly but picks up the action and unveils an intensifying plot chapter after chapter. The action is so subtle, it's scary, so surprising yet relatable, as it touches on women's issues, family, and friendships. And there are so many characters that do things you've done, that say what you think, and feel the way you feel. What's amazing about this book is how understated it appears -- the calm within the chaos -- that you'll eagerly watch how Marilyn handles the pressures of a life that is spinning out of control. A richly drawn story filled with thought-provoking scenes, the character Marilyn makes you laugh at things you know you shouldn't laugh at, but what the heck, it's funny, and it's real, and it's true. So go ahead and laugh. Embrace the warmth and sensitivity of the Interruption of Everything, a treasure of a novel that is highly recommended.

In Terry McMillan's latest book THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING she once again tackles everyday issues faced by average folks in a believable fashion. Marilyn, the main character and narrator of the story, has taken a good long look at her life and knows she has to make some changes. On the surface, her life is one that many would envy. She has financial security, and one by one her children are heading off to college and starting their own lives. Even her role as taxi driver for her mother-in-law, who lives with Marilyn and her husband, is eased because her mother-in-law has a new friend and a sudden interest in getting her driver's license back. As everyone moves on with their own lives, Marilyn no longer needs to be consumed by the needs of others and she feels underappreciated, unfulfilled, and when she is totally honest with herself, bored. Add in a husband with a mid-life crisis, menopause, a troubled sister, and her own mother's failing health and you have the recipe for a wonderful story. As Marilyn looks forward, she has to decide how she will live the rest of her life. Which deferred dreams will she go back and recapture? What changes are necessary for her to find true satisfaction in her life? With supportive friends, a flawed, but deep-down loving family, and a lot of reflection, she navigates through all that life throws at her and plots her course for the future. THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING is a book that made me laugh, cry, scream at the characters, and at other times, root them on. While all the characters were well developed, what really made the story work was Marilyn. Her voice was, at times sarcastic, at times humorous, and always forthright and full of heart. It made her come to life and in the process, drew me in. Terry McMillan has crafted a tale that truly captures the essence of life. While readers may not have personally dealt with every issue Marilyn and her family encounter in the story, they will know of someone who has. And even if they can't relate to the events, they can relate to the emotions - love, betrayal, loss, emptiness and too many others to name. (RAW Rating: 4.5) Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

You need not be an African American woman to relate to how Marilyn (the main character) in this book is feeling or thinking. As a 37 year old widow of four teenagers, I felt like this book was a perfect read for me because I along with other moms out there, are feeling dormant or that our lives are put on hold in order to deal with our children and families which are priorities...self-sacrifice comes with the territory and wanting to have a life of your own is only natural. It really hit home for me and unlike one writer for USA today a Miss Deirdre Donahue who reviewed this and felt that Marilyn was "whining too much". Perhaps Miss Donahue cannot relate to the emotions in this book and should not feel that THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING is a "setback" for readers. I disagree with her on that one.