Customer Reviews

Mary After All: A Novel

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mary was born in Jersey City in the 70's to an American Italian family. She has and "Uncle" who has done time, and a Grandfather who runs a "Coffee House". You learn this early in the story as you are told snippets of Mary's life as a child, through her memories. At the age of 12 Mary finds out that her mother has Scleroderma and she takes over caring for the house and her mother. Her father a "musician/truck driver" spends most of his time away from the home.

Mary winds up marrying too young (17), has two kids too young and finds herself taking care of everyone but herself. Her husband is never home, her father drops her mother off every day to be cared for my Mary and she has 2 young boys. Along the way friends come in and out of her life and relatives offer advice. When Mary figures out that her husband has moved his "fling" upstairs in their duplex she takes matters into her own hands. She kicks him out and starts to make changes in her life.

Follow Mary and see how she deals with what life deals her, and what she will and won't forgive. This is a heartfelt story about life's realities.

I have to say that at first I was unsure about the format. You are reliving Mary's life by her telling short stories about her past. But, at the same time I was intrigued by the reality of her stories. There are tough decisions to be made about taking care of her mother and the infidelity of her husband. I found that after a bit I couldn't stop reading the book. I wanted to know that she was ok in the end and that even if it wasn't a fairy tale ending that it was one where the character was still a strong woman and dealing with what life had dealt her.

One of the most surprising parts of this debut novel is that it was written by a man...

This is a great book, and I was surprised to like it as much as I did. I never expected a man to write a female character so well, with humor, truth, it is right on the mark. I also did not expect to like it as much as I did, because Bill Gordon started the story with so many characters, that at first it is difficult to get them quite straight, but suddenly the book just takes off, and you are in Mary Nolan's world of family, friends, aunts, you name it. Plot driven, character driven, and it just rings true. Read this book!

Mary Nolan grew up in Jersey City. She married young and had two
sons. Her husband cheated on her, her father forced her to care for her dying mother, and her best friend moved away.

Bill Gordon is a genius. His book is written in the first person. The man totally understands the mind of a woman.
Bravo!

Forget Dave Eggers, Bill Gordon has written a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. Mary is clutch-your-stomach-and-fall-down-laughing hilarious, and then suddenly you find yourself crying. This book is brilliant -- the voice, the humor, the sadness, the story which somehow I found myself identifying with though I have absolutely zero in common with a 1960s housewife in Jersey City. This is one of those books you don't want to read all at once because you want to save some to read later, but then you can't help yourself. A great find -- a great new author.

MARY AFTER ALL - a most enjoyable read. I loved the character, descriptions, attitude of Mary - definitely not a contrary lass - and could identify with her wholly; call me a FEMINIST? I don't know - but I am most surely for one being self-made, determined, responsible, etc. etc. but/and wanting to live life to the optimum, of course without treading on the next man's/woman's feet -ouch!! I loved the neighborhood scene, the people who live there and make it a 'heimish' venue, with their
particular quirks...that word should read HAMISH (but it does not refer to the folk who live up the mtn.side in the States) and is an excellent Yiddish word, desceptively invoking scenes of home, homestead, home of warmth, and togetherness...AND all that goes with those 'little' conflicts, bumps between folk.

Mary After All was truly remarkable in all aspects. The wonderful synergy of intricately working together a strong sense of place, willful characters and roller coaster emotions makes you yearn for more about Mary, her family, and yes, even Jersey City, New Jersey. My only question is why did it have to end, but I guess as the old saying goes, "all good things must come to an end". But we can always hope that one day there will be more. Thanks Bill Gordon for bringing me back to the Jersey City I once knew and still have to love.

Obviously, Mary After All has struck a chord of truth with the reviwers on this page! Bill Gordon has written something universal, and you can't help but feel strongly about it. Like all good stories, this book marries truth, sadness, & humor. It's brutal at times, but never sentimental, and always real. Such a funny book might not usually be called "gritty," but this one is. The writing is deceivingly snappy & exuberant; I didn't fully realize how painful a book it was until I had finished. Mary After All stays with you a long time.

A very uplifting story of a woman who made a life for herself and did it on her own terms. The characters were realistic but not overdrawn: all in all a very pleasurable read.

Too many people had recommended this book for me to not read it. Understandably: it's so well done, from the very first sentence -- it's lunch-pukingly funny and pillow-drenchingly sad. It's really inspiring, so far and beyond worth the $20-something to buy it. I am reading it for a second time, but this time out loud to a good friend who likes to be read only the best, pre-screened books.

MARY AFTER ALL

I liked this book; however, it is not one I will think about forever or recommend to friends/family. I will probably forget it as soon as I am done writing this review.

Meet Mary Nolan who grows up in New Jersey during the 70's. She has an Italian family that goes beyond her parents, such as aunts, uncles, friends, and so forth. Mary has a good life; however, nothing in her life is perfect, but hey, whose life is perfect?! We wish!

Mary's dad is NEVER home: he works, plays in a band, and has a girl friend. Her mom, resentful and angry at her father, keeps Mary under her thumb. All through Mary's childhood and teenage years, her Mom tries to keep her home with her. Then Mary's mom becomes ill and Mary really has to stay home. However, this illness is the convenient type of illness -- even though she was truly ill, she feels bad when she wants/needs to and good when she wants/needs to.

Mary meets Bobby and they marry young. Mary's mom still doesn't want to let her go and Mary's dad doesn't want to deal with Mary's mom, so you can guess that Mary's marriage becomes a threesome.

Life throws some hard knocks Mary's way and we travel with her through her marriage, children, friends, family. Mary starts to become a stronger woman and takes matters into her own hands.

I did enjoy this book as stated above, but I could see where it was headed and I felt it was quite predictable. Mary was the typical norm of a woman in a book such as this -- a young woman who doesn't stand up for herself, meek and mild, not wanting to make waves, and then slowly but surely she stands up for herself, takes charge and becomes super woman.

I felt the characters were shallow except for Mary, Bobby, and Mary's mom. I felt this book could have been much better, but just never made it there.

Thank you!

Pam