Book Overview: The Interruption of Everything
Date: Monday, August 08, 2005
By: Sybil Wilkes, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com
For those of us feeling nostalgically anxious (is that a term?) in anticipation of another "Waiting to Exhale," or even "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," there may be some disappointment in Terry Mc Millan's latest book, "The Interruption of Everything." However, for those who recognize the maturation of our lives as well as our tastes, this may be a nice fit.
Ms. Mc Millan has introduced Marilyn Grimes, a woman who appears to be enjoying a world of "good living." Marilyn is a 40-something year old wife, mother of 3, daughter, in-law, best friend, sister and co-worker who glides into her middle passage on relatively calm seas until a personal shipwreck occurs. As a result, a personal, as well as a public, call of "woman overboard!" occurs. Faced with the arrival of per menopause, along husband Leon's decision to revisit his youth and other family crises, Marilyn must come to terms with her situation and the changes that come along with it.
[Listen to Terry's on-air interview on the TJMS!] and her exclusive BAW Podcast
"Being a lifetime wife and mother has afforded me the luxury of having multiple and even simultaneous careers: I've been a chauffeur A chef. An interior decorator. A landscape architect, as well as a gardener. I've been a painter. A furniture restorer. A personal shopper. A veterinarian's assistant and sometimes the veterinarian. I've been an accountant, a banker, and on occasion, a broker. I've been a beautician. A map. A psychic. Santa Claus. The Tooth Fairy. The T.V. Guide. A movie reviewer. An angel. God. A nurse and a nursemaid. A psychiatrist and psychologist. Evangelist. For a long time I have felt like I inadvertently got my master's in How to Take Care of Everybody Except Yourself and than a Ph.D in How to Pretend Like You Don't Mind......But I do mind."
Okay, so it doesn't sound as compelling as an episode of "Being Bobby Brown," but who among us, who have lived beyond three decades or so, hasn't felt or thought this? How many of us have stepped out and actually expressed this? That is what Ms. Mc Millan does, through her characters like Marilyn, sister Joy and mother-in-law Arthurine. All of these women at different stages in this spectrum we call life, are people we know, if they aren't us.
I must be honest that it took me more than a minute to get into the flow of "The Interruption of Everything." I kept telling people that the book wasn't "holding" me. And then, I can't identify the moment, but it happened, I couldn't put the book down. When I completed the book before the webcast interview on BlackAmericaWeb.Com, the story passed one of my tests, I missed it. There are a couple of storylines which don't go anywhere for me and appear to be a red herring, especially that concerning the ex-husband. But then again, that's life too, no?
There are moments in "The Interruption of Everything," which made me remember why I loved reading Terry's earlier works. I won't ruin it if you haven't yet read the book. I'll just say these scenes have such a universal identity and appeal for Black women in particular, that it appears the author has been eavesdropping on our lives. I love reading moments like this--when writers paint that verbal picture to perfection.
It's a shame that Ms. Mc Millan's personal story has interrupted a real discussion of this stage of a woman's life. But after her personal life settles down, I hope that readers will find their way to, and develop an appreciation of Terry Mc Millan's "The Interruption of Everything."
|
mtexas says:
I know I'm late, but I just joined this book club. I thought this book should be a must
read more
jessia2000 says:
I felt the same way at first...it was slow starting, however somewhere around the middle...it began to all
read more
anointed123 says:
this is one of the most difficult books to get into - it is not holding my attention and it is,
read more
|
