Mary Robison's novel 'Why Did I Ever' is a unique and fragmented narrative that delves into the life of Money Breton, a divorced mother juggling multiple crises while dealing with her troubled children and dysfunctional relationships. The book is written in a stream-of-consciousness style, with numbered chapters resembling diary entries, providing glimpses into Money's chaotic life filled with nocturnal drives, sad children, and personal struggles. Despite the lack of a traditional plot, the novel weaves together emotions and thoughts to portray the disparate and fragmented nature of memory and human experience.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and troubled, with the protagonist embodying the chaos and challenges of modern life amid significant personal crises.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is fragmented and reflective, conveying an ADD-like experience and blending moments of humor with poignant themes.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative primarily focuses on personal crises, intertwined with satirical elements in a fragmented storytelling style.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary and familiar, centering around the protagonist's everyday life and emotional challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing aligns with the fragmented style, creating a brisk reading experience that captures fleeting thoughts and moments.

I end up at Appletree—the grocery—in the dead of the night. I’m not going to last long shopping, though, because this song was bad enough when what’s-her-name sang it. And who are all these people at ...

Notes:

The book is written in a fragmented style with 536 sections over 200 pages.

The main character is named Money Breton who struggles with ADD and personal issues.

The narrative includes elements of dark humor and satire, particularly in Hollywood settings.

Key themes include family struggles, emotional pain, and coping with trauma.

The book is described as having a unique voice that combines humor with tragic elements.

The writing style reflects a stream of consciousness approach, often jumping between thoughts and events without a linear plot.

Readers have a mixed response, with some finding it engaging while others struggled to connect with the narrative.

The novel offers moments of beauty and poignant observations among its chaotic structure.

Many readers appreciated the short, impactful vignettes that convey emotional depth without melodrama.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes content warnings for trauma, sexual assault, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

Has Romance?

While the focus is not primarily on romance, relationships play a significant role in the narrative, making the presence of romance medium.

From The Publisher:

After a ten-year silence, Mary Robison has emerged with a novel so beguiling and funny that it has brought critics and her live-reading audiences to their feet. Why Did I Ever takes us along on the darkest of private journeys. The story, told by a woman named Money Breton, is submitted like a furious and persuasive diary-a tale as fierce and taut as its fictional teller.

Reader Stats (1):

Not Interested (1)

What can you read after
Why Did I Ever?

See the list (50 books)

About the Author:

Mary Robison was born in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Johns Hopkins, where she studied with John Barth. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Pushcart Prizes, an O. Henry Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction. She is the author of three previous novels, Oh! (1981), Subtraction (1991), and Why Did I Ever (2001), and of four story collections, Days (1979), An Amateur's Guide to the Night (1983), Believe Them (1988), and Tell Me (2002). Robison has written for Hollywood and has been a contributor to The New Yorker since 1977. She lives in Gainesville, Florida.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Why Did I Ever

Mary Robison