• The Interruption of Everything

  • By: Terry McMillan
  • Narrated by: Desiree Taylor
  • Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (610 ratings)

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The Interruption of Everything  By  cover art

The Interruption of Everything

By: Terry McMillan
Narrated by: Desiree Taylor
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Publisher's summary

Since Terry McMillan's breakout novel Waiting to Exhale surged onto the best seller lists, critics and readers alike have been captivated by her irreverent, hilarious, pitch-perfect tales of women's lives and contemporary issues. With The Interruption of Everything, her sixth novel, McMillan takes on the fault lines of mid-life and family life, reminds us once again of the redeeming power of friendship, and turns her eye toward the dilemma of how a woman starts to put her own needs higher on the to-do list while not shortchanging everyone else.

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 husband, Leon. She troubleshoots for her grown kids, cares for her live-in mother-in-law, Arthurine (and elderly poodle, Snuffy), keeps tabs on her girlfriends, Paulette and Bunny, and her own aging mother and foster sister...all the while holding down a part-time job. But at 44, 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, The Interruption of Everything is vintage Terry McMillan, and a triumphant testament to the fact that the detour is the path, and living life "by the numbers" never quite adds up.

©2005 Terry McMillan (P)2005 Penguin Audio and Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"With her trademark ability to write thought-provoking tales inspired by the lives and loves of contemporary African-American women, McMillan offers another novel sure to resonate with readers grappling with the questions Marilyn poses to herself." (Publishers Weekly)

"Terry McMillan keeps its real...easily her most accomplished tale...by turns laugh-out-loud funny and gut-punch painful. McMillan has painted a convincing portrait of the kind of woman who can say yes to everyone but herself.” (Boston Herald)

“[McMillan] has…a cutting wit, a knack for capturing the way real people think and speak, a fearless willingness to engage complex, painful issues, and an unerring instinct for fashioning characters that enchant readers’ imaginations.” (The Washington Post)

What listeners say about The Interruption of Everything

Average customer ratings
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Great story

All of Terry McMillan’ books that I’ve listened to have been great and this one is no exception. The book started off a little slow, but after all the introductions, it remained engaging the whole time. The Narrator did a great job, her voice reminded me of Terry McMillans. Great story.

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  • 12-12-22

Great Story Entertaining Reading

I loved the story. it was not fantasy but real life situation. This is a good read. I enjoyed this book.

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overall good

love the story line and the reader. Would definitely listen to more stories by her

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Life relationships require constant rehab.

Midlife crisis, that impacts four generations, with a positive resolution. As a "Baby Boomer" nyself, I absolutely loved it!

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Excellent book

I loved this book. It was so well written. I could see all the characters in my mind and eyes. Great read for all but, definitely for the 40 and 50 age group. What a life.

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One of my favorites.

I've listened to this one about three times.
Great performance and story. one of my favorites.

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Great Read

This book was surprisingly very good! The beginning was a little slow but I enjoyed the characters and it was easily relatable!

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Really good read

I enjoyed this book, it was a really good read.I recommend it to everyone who believes in second chances,and the power of love.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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When it rains it pours

Marilyn, the protagonist, has life hitting HARD. So much so, that it was hard to process it all. I kept thinking of those stress lists that correlate to major life events and how if an average non-fiction woman had to face it all at once? Yikes. I did enjoy the talking to that the mother-in-law gave to Marilyn’s husband! It was amazing!

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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

great narrative. love the life challenges that i could apply to my own life situation

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