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.
Gayblackcanada 
this is an interesting and controversial topic u picked! i think jonathon treated her terribly. it has nothing to do with the sexual orientation factor, it appears to me like he just damn well used her as a meal ticket. i know that sounds harsh but her life was shattered when he revealed his true feelings. i am not saying that he should have kept quiet in the slightest (because he deserves happiness with whoever he wants to be with) but i think what made it so much harder for black women to accept is a stigma attached to black women & the elusive ideal of finding a black man.
I personally want to be with a black man but I think many black women such as Macmillan have become disillusioned with the ones who have hurt them. It is not fair to blueprint all black men like that and of course, not black men are hurtful. It is all case-sensitive.
Black men have been victimised by society but it is also important that all this male-bashing exists because many black men don’t want to deal with the issue. I especially hate the ‘white girls preference’ arguments that I hear some black men say for why some of them date inter-racially because black girls are too loud. I don’t have an issue with inter-racial dating when it’s for real love but so many of black men, ESPECIALLY IN THE UK, hate themselves and their skin so much. this makes it an even harder to pill to swallow. so when that pill is stuck in your throat, the bitterness is bound to happen.
good post!
I am talking from a broadly heterosexual standpoint so excuse that but I hope I got my point across.
Aulelia I do think there are good black men out there. I am looking for a good black man myself. In the gay community in North America the message the gay and mainstream media is sending is that white gay men are saviours and that’s FALSE. Its the same racist message that white men are better then black men and that is a LIE. I definitely think there are good black men gay and straight are out there. I don’t know about the UK but from what I have heard the whole interracial thing is forced upon blacks through the British media as though dating someone white means you are better. And I don’t agree with that. I dated a white guy in the past and by NO MEANS did I think that person was better in fact that guy was an SOB. But I do know in the UK the UK media sends racist messages to people of colour over there that whiteness is better I think its a way for them to bring down the actual people of colour population in the UK. Just my opinion.
I think its wrong for black men to go on and on about how white women are “easier”. And yes black men we do need to be HELD ACCOUNTABLE for our actions. However, Terry McMillan’s latest novel was a pathetic attempt to bash her ex husband. The book was WAY TOO ONE SIDED. The book wasn’t about Marilyn Grimes the character it was ALL ABOUT Terry McMillan. The writing was so bad it was a horrible read. I just didn’t enjoy reading the book because I was cognizant of ALL the drama going on with Terry and her ex husband. I mean when you read a book the protagonist is SUPPOSED to be LIKEABLE and Marilyn Grimes was NOT LIKEABLE. She was bitter and annoying just like Terry McMillan. On the issue of white women they can be very racist too. White women are by no means perfect and on my blog I point out the hypocrisy and racism of white women which the media loves to ignore. I have read the works of black feminists and white women have their own racist perceptions and prejudices about black people and specifically about black men. I mean some white women chase famous black men because they are gold diggers and just want them for their money and sex.
I am going to disagree with you on the part about Terry McMillan. I think Terry also is at fault here and I will explain why. Do black men lie and cheat on black women? OF COURSE. Yes, some men do lie and cheat. Are black women perfect? OF COURSE NOT.However, as I said is Terry perfect? NO WAY. On the Oprah episode I think Jonathan wasn’t smart he should of brought support. You had Oprah, Terry, and that annoying psychiatrist Dr. Robin attacking Jonathan. And I thought that was really low on Oprah’s part. Did you know Oprah already bought the rights to Terry’s latest novel? So Oprah already had her bias against the guy.
I think Terry used Jonathan as well. I still believe it was a two way street not one way traffic. I think they exploited each other. Terry used Jonathan for his youth and sexuality and he used Terry for her money. I think Terry and Jonathan had an AGREEMENT. I mean I know this sound politically incorrect but Terry McMillan is NOT ATTRACTIVE. Its as simple as that. Jonathan was a “kept man.” Terry didn’t want Jonathan to meet new people to gain new experiences she actually thought she could trap him and keep him all to herself and I think that’s wrong. I don’t think Terry McMillan is this victim she is painting herself to be. I also felt the book was a total dig at her ex husband and the writing was not all there.
Why can’t people see this? Terry wanted some young black dick so instead of going to America she went down to Jamaica to get some young black cock that she thought she could exploit. Because Terry knew in Jamaica due to the harsher economic conditions it would be easier for her to acquire the sex that she wanted. So Terry did what some Western women do its easier for them to get sex in Jamaica by giving the black man something in return. Did you know there is something called “Sex Tourism?” Its when Western people North Americans or Europeans go to the third world looking for young inexperienced young black people and exploiting them for sex. Some Western people think its easier to acquire sex or get a sexual thrill in the third world. Its the reason some American men go to Brazil, Africa, South America, Russia, or Asia for sex. They think sex is easier there without the hang ups. How could Terry fall in love so fast? She hardly knew Jonathan. No Terry saw a young black man that she thought she can use and dispose as her boy toy and she was shocked in the end that he matured and grew into his own person. Maybe Jonathan lied to Terry. But the guy was from a poor background in Jamaica. Of course, Jonathan wanted a way out? Terry does have a right to be upset. I am not disagreeing with you on that part.However, Terry met Jonathan at a very young age. Young people change as they age. Terry wanted sex and she got it. She thought that this guy would just BE FOR HER. And its like Terry get a clue. Of course, When Jonathan went to America he was bound to meet new people in this new culture. Also he’s a lot younger then Terry as well. Did she think it would last forever?
Oprah I personally believe is a misandrist and she has an axe to grind against black men. Now that’s my personal opinion. I will give you an example. I don’t know in England if you’ve ever heard of a white guy named James McGreevey he was the former governor of New Jersey. McGreevey stole tax payers money in that state, he was a coward and he was on the down low. McGreevey goes on Oprah talking about his sob story with his memoir last year. Oprah did not crucify McGreevey she did not ask him tough questions. McGreevey was just looked upon as an individual. The white media in America also did not go after McGreevey and write “RACE SPECIFIC” articles linking McGreevey’s WHITENESS to his DECEPTION. McGreevey had a wife whom he lied to as well about his sexuality. McGreevey had to step down because his ex lover a guy named Golan Cipel was going to let the world know the truth about him. Now there was a black writer JL King he wrote a book called “on the down low” and that show stereotyped every single black man in North America as gay or bisexual. And that’s just not right. The point is many men regardless of race are on the down low.
And I believe Terry is also culpable she took advantage of a young Jamaican man. Jonathan was inexperienced maybe he didn’t know he was gay.
i hate wordpress. just wrote a long reply and of course, it gets wiped off in front of my eyes! this is such a good subject to discuss. i agree actually on the issue of sex tourism that you raised there. maybe she did go there for sex tourism and is that wrong? i think it is because it is a form of exploitation. i have been to jamaica, in fact, spent some time in montego bay this summer. beautiful island no doubt but poorer than other west indian islands like grenada and barbados and i did see how important money coming into the island was to a certain extent (in terms of where we stayed).
i think the problem surrounding black men in the media is many black men still don’t know how to react in regards to the sex issue. many men such as the clown that is 50 cent perpetuate the ”black buck” stereotype yet actively try and come across intelligent in their interviews as if they are representative of ‘real black men’. another issue is many straight black men feel as if black girls should be ”proud” to have them since black girls outnumber black men more. is there this kind of arrogance within the black gay community to your knowledge?
i would run like a sprinter faced with a typical black british guy. many of them just hate their souls out if we are talking on the inter-racial dating front. of course not all, but many. in the UK, it is no joke that seeing a black couple together is like looking for the queen at a thrash-metal gig. you make a damn good point about the british media. many of them love praising the ones who have ”assimilated” like sir trevor mcdonald, trinidadian-british tv presenter.
”on the down low” — was the book controversial? i agree with you that is a male issue, not a race one. just as long as people are upfront of their sexual preferences, that’s the way to go.
i’m really glad i stumbled across your blog. your fearless in how you write and especially as a black man who is gay, i just really applaud that. i hope that doesn’t come across as heterosexism or anything but i just respect the honesty you put on this blog. i have been curious about the issue of inter-racial dating within the gay community (i think tyra did a show on it once). is it common to find black-on-black gay couples in canada? i can’t even front, i love seeing black people in couples together 🙂 black love all the way!
First just wanted to say thanks for enjoying my blog. I only started my own blog earlier this year. In the beginning I didn’t know what to write about. I just decided to write about things I think are important and interesting to discuss that I think the black media tends to ignore.
The book “on the down low” was written by JL King and I think its in British libraries. I think there is some VERACITY to King’s book. I know there was a lot of controversy about King’s book when he was on Oprah’s show but black women DO have a right to know about THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. But the whole down low thing isn’t just confined to blacks. There are men of other races on the down low as well. The media always ignores that OF COURSE.
Some of that cost is being borne through taxes already. ,
I have to say, you really dropped the ball this time. ,