Synopsis
Since Terry McMillan's breakout novel, Waiting to Exhale, surged onto the bestseller lists, her irreverent, hilarious, and pitch-perfect tales of women's lives and contemporary issues have captivated critics and readers alike. With The Interruption of Everything, McMillan takes on the fault lines of midlife and family life and reminds us once again of the redeeming power of friendship.
Marilyn Grimes, wife and mother of three, has made a career of deferring her dreams to build a suburban California home and lifestyle with her workaholic husband, Leon. She also troubleshoots for her grown kids, cares for her live-in mother-in-law (and elderly poodle, Snuffy), keeps tabs on her girlfriends Paulette and Bunny and her own aging mother and foster sister— and holds down a part- time job. But at forty-four, Marilyn's got too much on her plate and nothing to feed her passion. She feels like she's about ready to jump. She's just not sure where.
Highly entertaining, deeply human, a page-turner full of heart and soul, this time McMillan turns her eye to the question of how one woman can start putting her own needs higher on the to-do list while not shortchanging those she loves. The Interruption of Everything is a triumphant testament to the fact that the detour is the path, and living life “by the numbers” never quite adds up.
The Washington Post - Jabari Asim
Marilyn's willingness to recognize such qualities where others may be inclined to overlook them is consistent throughout the novel. Her nuanced approach to life encourages her to look for deeper explanations. Whereas her friend Paulette says all men "seem to go a little nuts after they hit their forties," Marilyn tries to fathom her husband's difficulties instead of just dismissing him as a head case. Her willingness to listen inspires him to be candid, and, tentatively, a genuine conversation begins. Whether are not they resolve their differences will not be disclosed here. I will say that I'm holding out hope for Marilyn, whom I came to care about a great deal as the novel proceeded.