Book Review: The Interruption Of Everything

I was at the bookstore in downtown Toronto and I read the first page of Terry McMillan’s latest novel “The Interruption of Everything.” I thought the opening of the book was very funny and decided to buy the book. Terry’s novels all have an autobiographical theme. In “Stella Got Her Groove Back” it was about McMillan marrying a younger man Jonathan Plummer. And in this new novel the main character Marilyn Grimes is a middle aged black woman that works at a craft store. Marilyn’s three children have all grown up gone to college or moved out. Marilyn has a bit of the empty nest syndrome she feels as though her family takes her for granted. Marilyn’s marriage to her husband Leon is on the rocks. Next, Marilyn’s mother in law Arthurine and her annoying dog Snuffy are driving her crazy. Arthurine finally decides she wants more out of life and gets a boyfriend . Marilyn is having a mid life crisis. Marilyn’s two best friends Paulette and Bunny are very funny and well written.

In this novel McMillan definitely still has her sense of humor I was laughing so hard at times. However, I find it really irritating the way Marilyn constantly complained about her husband Leon it was getting on my nerves. So women are perfect and all men are scum? I wonder why no one speaks out about this misandry?

It was so obvious McMillan is bitter about her divorce to her ex husband Jonathan Plummer. Terry says Jonathan lied to her about his sexuality. I kind of wondered why didn’t Terry make the Leon character have a homosexual affair instead of a heterosexual one? At least it would of been more honest. Maybe Terry’s next novel will be about that whole down low thing?

In this novel the main character Marilyn complains and goes on and on about her husband Leon. Leon decides he has to go to Costa Rica to “find” himself. Leon admits to having an affair. I found the Leon character flawed but I didn’t find him to be this kind of “monster” that Terry was attempting to paint this character as. I found myself actually having sympathy for Leon and finding myself hating the Marilyn character she is so annoying. I wanted to know more about Leon and why he cheated on Marilyn? Leon’s character wasn’t developed enough he was the typical lousy cheating husband. I think that’s a total copout. I am sure Marilyn had character flaws yet that was just glossed over. I didn’t get a complete sense of Leon’s character and it was just a cheap way for Terry one again to do some serious male bashing. It was obvious to me that Leon represented her ex husband Jonathan. Of course Terry denies this but I mean its pretty obvious Leon is Jonathan.

The writing isn’t up to the same standard as “Waiting To Exhale” or “Disappearing Acts.” I found myself bored at times the story dragged a bit. Also there wasn’t enough character description and too much dialogue. I did find the other main storyline which was the drama going on with Marilyn, her adoptive sister Joy, and their elderly mother Lovey much more interesting. I felt like the novel came to life when Terry concentrated on that storyline. She should of concentrated on that section of the story more.

I know some gay black men are pissed at Terry because of the whole Oprah show incident. Some gay black men were annoyed that Oprah and Terry were “attacking” Jonathan on the show. I agree with them. What was the purpose of Oprah having Jonathan on the program yet he had no support? Why wouldn’t a young Jamaican kid pack up and move to America for a new life? Terry says her ex husband used her. Well didn’t Terry use Jonahtan as well? Its a two way street. Its called sex tourism. City TV in Toronto has a TV show called Sex TV and on that program a few years back there was an episode about rich North American and European women that fly down to the Caribbean to chase young black men for sex. Terry wanted a young black man to screw and make her boy toy. She exploited Jonathan even though he didn’t know anybody in America and he obviously lacked life experience . He matures meets new people and understands he’s gay and Terry loses the boy toy she once owned so of course she’s going to be bitter. Jonathan could of been honest with Terry that’s for sure. What did Terry expect?

And in this new novel all Terry is doing is stereotyping and trying to blame black men for her own personal problems. Why can’t some women take responsibility for their own actions and lives ? Why is everything the black man’s fault? Where is the agency? Despite the problems Terry McMillan is having in her personal life she is a good writer. Terry McMillan along with E Lynn Harris opened the book industry’s eyes to black writers. For so long contemporary black stories had been ignored. I don’t know if I will read anymore of Terry’s books? I am tired of reading books that put down black men. Yes black men have flaws but the way Terry goes out of her way to write the Leon character had me rolling my eyes. Its just bad writing. I think the next book I will read deals with gay black men. I have had enough with these kinds of books that put black men down.