Biloxi

by Mary Miller

Mary Miller seizes the mantle of southern literature with this wry tale of middle age and the unexpected turns a life can take.

Like her predecessors Ann Beattie and Raymond Carver, Mary Miller brings an essential voice to her generation. Building on her critically acclaimed novel, The Last Days of California, and her biting collection, Always Happy Hour, Miller slyly transports readers to her unapologetic corner of the South—this time, Biloxi, Mississippi, home to sixty-three-year-old Louis McDonald Jr. His wife of thirty-seven years left him, his father has passed—and he has impulsively retired from his job in anticipation of an inheritance check that may not come. In the meantime, he watches reality television, sips beer, and avoids his ex-wife and daughter. One day, he stops at a house advertising free dogs and meets overweight mixed-breed Layla. Unexpectedly, Louis takes her, and, newly invigorated, begins investigating local dog parks and buying extra bologna. Mining the absurdities of life with her signature “droll minimalist’s-eye view of America” (Joyce Carol Oates), Mary Miller’s Biloxi affirms her place in contemporary literature.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Animals, Literary Fiction, Dogs, Contemporary, Book Club

255 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2019

About the author

Biloxi, Always Happy Hour, The Last Days of California, Big World

Stories in Paris Review, McSweeney's Quarterly, American Short Fiction, New Stories from the South, Oxford American, Mid-American Review, Ninth Letter, Indiana Review, and Mississippi Review.

Nonfiction in the NYTBR, American Book Review, The Rumpus, and The Writer.

Reviews

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biloxi is about 62 year old Louis, who is trying to figure out how to live after his wife left, his father died, and he "retires" from his job.

Louis reminds me of Ignatius J. Reilly (A Confederacy of Dunces) if suddenly left to his own devices as an older man, but not in a funny way. He doesn't really know who he is without his roles with other people, he doesn't know how to take care of himself (but then gets a dog,) and he does a lot of things out habit that he doesn't even enjoy (watching Fox News seems to be one of these things.) This is probably a pretty realistic depiction of aging these days.

I would have liked the perspectives of the other characters because they are obviously seeing that he needs looking after. I didn't find it to feel particularly southern the way it is described, maybe just not big city.

I'm trying to catch up on my eARC backlog. This came out May 21 from LiveRight.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I have a thing for grumpy protagonists, I was pleasantly surprised by my like for Louis, even though he’s a negative character and lives a pretty ordinary and depressing life, but the laughs were big in this book. I think I got a chuckle at almost every page, and that’s pretty much a big part of my extreme enjoyment of this book. Not much occurs in Louis’s life, he’s a divorced 63 year old man who sits on the couch avoiding life at all costs, until a random act finds him caring for a dog and suddenly his perspective on life changes and we see a reluctant softer side emerging. This book is full of charm and it’s the everyday wry observations which kept me engaged and entertained the whole time.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gentle, humorous Southern novel from short story writer Mary Miller (Always Happy Hour), had me from the first scene, where her protagonist, Louis McDonald, takes a new route to the Walgreens and stops at a house with a FREE DOGS sign in front. He knows it's odd, there's something odd about the man, the whole setup. The man goes to get the dog. "He pointed at me as if we were in on a joke and shuffled back up his driveway. I looked at my car. I could just get in my car and drive to Walgreens to pick up my diabetes medicine and a two liter bottle of Pepsi as I'd intended...."

It's this kind of self-defeating self-acceptance that makes for the humor in this book, the 2 Liters of Pepsi and the diabetes meds. He does pick up a dog--which changes his life in small but significant ways--but its just spending time in his consciousness that made the book so charming for me. Perfect for anyone who suffers from depression but doesn't want to be cheered up by saccharine fakery either. The book reminded me of the gently humorous Southern novels of James Wilcox (Modern Baptists), the sort of world William Eggleston would have photographed.

[Sherwestonstec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why are so many books written with whiny unhappy main characters with no redeeming qualities? Louis is an alcoholic who is living a miserable existence. He has many strange and awkward meet ups with some very unappealing people. The only likable characters in the book are Layla the dog, his daughter Maxine and granddaughter Lauren. A short book that seemed long and at the end he vows to change, but does anybody really care? I would not recommend this book.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 thoughts soon.

[Jonathan K (Max Outlier) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often we read a book summary and decide to read it. Such was the case with this story which failed to hold my interest on many planes. The central character is dull beyond measure while the narrative lacks substance. Rather than belabor the obvious, I decided against reading more. End of story.

[Juliet Escoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed a lot at this book. Mary Miller as a 63-year-old divorced man is hilarious, sharp, and feels true to life. It's also deceptively heart-warming, in a way that I found both surprising and gratifying. This was a quick, smart, nuanced and all together very enjoyable read.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story made no sense to me, and if you are going to describe a dog in a book and put a dog on the cover at least make it look like the same dog....This story went no where for me and the main character was not likable so I really didnt care what he was up to or why...

[Janet Newport · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy little read.
Taking place mostly in Louis' head.
Not much happens, but a lot is revealed

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I have really mixed feelings about "Biloxi." They don't take away from the fact that I'm glad I picked this book up, but truth be told, I didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated or hoped.

Louis McDonald is 63 and just quit his job. His father recently passed away and expecting to come out on the winning end of the inheritance, he decided why continue working. He's also recently divorced and to say that his relationship with his family is strained is an understatement. One day while on the way to the pharmacy, Louis ends up stopping at a local home where they are advertising dogs for sale. Never considering himself a dog person, he somehow returns home with a dog named Layla and his life will never be the same. During the next few weeks he learns that the dog wasn't actually "for sale," takes in a wayward individual, tries to mend fences with his daughter and her family, and starts dating.

So I love books featuring dogs and I have a soft spot for grumpy all men. So in all reality, this book should be a hit. However, while I loved Layla, and she basically earned a star all by herself for just existing, Louis rubbed me the wrong way. Now I understand that Louis is older and lives in the South but he came across as a borderline pervert and racist. At one point, he even talked about how he didn't really like his daughter and how she have her child a stupid name. Also, when he meets Layla's real owner, he's more fascinated about her yellow underwear showing than he is anything else that is happening in the scene. Admittedly as the book progressed, some things happened which lessened my initial feelings some, but they never fully left.

This was also an extremely slow paced book. When I finished, I was left with the feeling that nothing ever really happened. Louis did show some character growth, but I just don't think it was enough to rescue the book. And brace yourself, the dog on the cover? It doesn't look the way Layla is described. I found another edition which is much more accurate. So why couldn't they just use this dog for all covers?

That being said, if you enjoy books about crotchety old men and cute dogs, you should pick this one up. It's not a bad read, but it is kind of "meh."

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm not sure what to think of this book. I had intended to begin the review along the lines of "Do you like bologna and feet? Well, then you and Louis McDonald Jr. should get along just fine!" but about three quarters into the book, I started to have doubts.

You see, this is not a great book. Louis is an awful person and the people he surrounds himself with aren't much better. The story is about Louis--60's, divorced, and something of a putz. He ends up getting a dog (long story) and it's supposed to turn his life around. That's what the tropes tell us, anyway. Instead, we get a jerky man who constantly talks about feet, makes nasty comments to people (sometimes he keeps them to himself, but they're still pretty mean), and generally comes across as unlikable. And yet, we're clearly meant to feel bad for him. His wife left him, he's bored and unemployed, etc. But, Louis constantly shirks all connections. He doesn't really have much of a relationship with his daughter and granddaughter, and that seems to be by design. You get the impression that the only real relationships Louis is looking for revolve around sexual encounters, but he's too scared to even try it.

I was expecting a heartwarming story about an old curmudgeon finding love. But, instead, I got a story about how Louis loves when his dog licks his feet, how much he'll go out of his way to get her to do that, how he loves looking at panties, how he robbed a church of its $1 pamphlets so that he could spy on a woman while pretending to be a missionary, etc. He's weird and mean and a pervert.

But, the thing is, about halfway through, we're introduced to Sasha. And Sasha is clearly meant to be a love interest (or so you think). But, she turns out to be worse than Louis. And while she ends up being a catalyst to making him a better person, I can't help but feel that she only makes Louis look better because she managed to be a worse person than him.

And yet, for all my complaints, I couldn't stop reading. I mean, I seriously could not put this book down. It was really well-written and kept my interest, cover to cover. So, while I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this to everyone, I can't help but admit that I enjoyed reading it.

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I love books like these. Books that talk about the every day, mundane tasks of a person trying to figure their life out, even if they are past their prime.

Everything leading up to the end showed the progression of a man divorced, with no kids at home, tense relations with his daughter, and surrounding characters that push him in the right direction, even if they're not outright great people.. The right direction being simply figuring out who he is in this new chapter of his life.

We get so wrapped up in the big events in our lives or next big event that we never realize how much the little every day tasks, decisions, words, and feelings play into the bigger picture. The author did an amazing job portraying this and left a beautiful little ending that left joy in your heart for the main character.

Highly recommend for those that get pleasure out of reading about the little things with grumpy protagonists and less than stellar surrounding characters.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to thank the author for not killing off the lovely dog, Layla. And I thought the author did an amazing job of getting into the mindset of a 63 year old man. But I just about spent the entire book being annoyed with one character and the next.

[Booknblues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, Biloxi was an odd book for me. Everything about it said that I should love it, but I came close to hating it. We have a grumpy old man, one Louis McDonald Jr. which I usually love as a main character. We have a dog, who doesn't love a dog, even one that gags can be lovable. Miller is a gifted writer, I love her voice and she can be downright funny.

Louis is not endearing as Ove is in A Man Called Ove. Louis is annoyingly pathetic. He lives alone since his wife left him and he clearly doesn't have much going for him until he stops at a sign which reads "free dogs." He winds up with Layla a border collie. Louis imagines that the dog will change his life:

"There we’d be, smiling at the other dog walkers, the bike riders and joggers. Even the few homeless men on benches, dropping some change into their cups. Looking out at the water with the breeze in my hair. I had been living a very small and quiet life, but no longer! No longer would I live a small life; it might still be quiet—I had yet to hear Layla bark—but it wouldn’t be so small."

While Miller may be a gifted writer, I found myself annoyed by such incidentals as Louis continually throwing slices of baloney on the floor for the dog to eat and then lick the floor. Then there was the annoying ex-brother-in-law who continued to visit him, who brought Louis half eaten cartons of food.

I hope others read this and get more enjoyment from it than I did. It did earn a star rating from Kirkus reviews, which was why another reason I was inclined to give it a try.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. Having been a resident of Biloxi for many years before Katrina came and took it all.

While I enjoyed reading about places I know, I never got a good handle on Louis.

Louis McDonald, Jr. is a 63-year-old man who has had a bad time of it lately. Almost a country songs worth. His wife left, his daughter is a mother now and living her life and Louis has absolutely no 'get up and go'. And honestly, I'm not sure he ever had any!

Expecting a large inheritance from his recently dead father, he quits his job and waits for the money to arrive. Some would call him grumpy, or eccentric. I called him whiny and lazy. 63 is not old. He drives out of his way to avoid seeing his ex and finds a sign for a free dog. On an impulse, he stops. The dog is his if he wants it and he does. 

So far all we see him do is drink, watch reality television and wait for Frank to drop off his leftovers each night. But the dog gets him up and out of himself. Until the dogs real owner shows up and while she robs him blind, he keeps the dog.

Basically if I had to say anything about his attitude toward life it would be 'Meh'. I just could not picture the character in my mind at all. I don't mind a grouchy main character, but this wasn't grouchy, it was dull.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty much a book where nothing happens. In spite of that, I liked the book a lot. I laughed out loud four, count 'em FOUR, times. I never laugh aloud at books so that is saying a lot. I felt that throughout the book Louis grew emotionally, but it was two steps forward and one step back for him. Layla was endearing and, again, I'm not a dog person, so that's saying a lot. By the end of the book I liked Maxine and Laurel and, of course, Louis. So all in all, I liked the book and the ending. What more can I ask for?

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up (despite the dog on the cover) because I liked Miller's previous novel. I didn't like this one as much. It definitely offers a unique perspective (a 63-year old recent retiree) and it has the same oddball/outsider sense that I appreciated about her work (a loner who rejects overtures of friendship/connection), but I just never connected with the main character. I couldn't get in his skin. So although I appreciated the kernels of truth, I never cared enough about where this story was going. Ultimately, I liked it but not enough to sing its praises.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to W.W. Norton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be released May 21, 2019.

Loved it. The character of Louis McDonald, Jr was both simple and complicated at the same time if that makes sense. The real star of the book is of course Layla - the overweight dog that frequently gagged.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book held so much promise and didn't deliver.

[Georgia]

A humorous and bittersweet curmudgeon story with a retired and depressed divorcé who spontaneously adopts a gagging dog, which pushes him out into the world again, sort of. Not exactly as virtuous as A Man Called Ove, Louis McDonald Jr. is a frequently unlikeable and frustrating character who is either at the end of his life or about to start a new chapter.

I picked this one up because it's set in Biloxi, near where I grew up and where I am currently sheltering-in-place during the coronavirus. Mary Miller captured the area well and had great details about life on the Gulf Coast.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Louis was an exasperating character but I found myself liking him. In a way, the writing reminded me of some of Ann Tyler's work. I thought several times "I know these people."

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book, but it made me feel like life is so depressing. :(

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Miller does a great job of depicting 64 year old Louis, the protagonist, having a post mid-life crisis and at crossroads. He is a very believable character, at times irritating, but also vulnerable and lovable. There is sadness in this story about family relationships, but also some wonderful humor. The author does a great job of balancing both, with the Mississippi gulf coast setting vividly described.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally believable read to me, perhaps because I've lived/worked/otherwise spent so much time in Mississippi and as an adult whose face shows every one of her fifty-something years, or however that was exactly phrased in the book.

I broke with pattern and read several reviews/reactions to this book before writing mine. Not sure why. But I was kinda floored at how many people didn't "get" what Mary Miller was trying to do here. And, yes, I know it's awfully presumptuous of me to think I do, especially when I tried typing presumptuous correctly three times before giving in and googling the spelling.

Anywhoodles, I think she was doing a character study of a type of white Southern male of a certain time and from a certain era and area, one whose life is ordinary to him and those around him, so much so that they almost never recognize how it could be different. And if they do, they're not so sure that different means better.

If my friend the author Brad Watson were still alive, I would for sure want to get his take on the book, see if he read it the same way I did. And of course we would need to have this discussion at one of the Biloxi joints the locals haunt, and most definitely not the Beau Rivage.

[Alison Hardtmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louis is on the way to the drug store to pick up his diabetes medicine when he sees a sign saying "FREE DOGS" taped to a mailbox and stops to see what the deal is. Then he's on his way home, in the company of a dog named Layla, who "...didn't look particularly smart of energetic or interested in me. In other words, she wasn't anything you might want in a dog." And so begins the story of Louis, a 63 year-old divorcé, who took early retirement on the expectation of a windfall from his deceased father's estate, although the lawyer is no longer returning his calls. He mainly sits in his chair, drinking and watching Naked and Afraid. Can a dog change a life, even one as lackluster and prone to gagging as Layla?

This is a novel that relies on the voice of the main character and narrator. Mary Miller's writing is wonderful and she makes what could be a somewhat treacly story a delight to read, rooted in a specific place and full of grit and hope.

[Ellen Morris Prewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read a book I really like, I come to Goodreads and read the "bleh" reviews to remind myself that connecting with a book is a matter of taste, and the key is finding books that suit your taste. It's harder than it sounds. If I'd gone by the book jacket, I would have never bought Biloxi—it's not my subject matter (older white male who's recently lost a loved one tries to figure out life) and, in fact, I recently put down a similar book because it was boring, boring, boring. The difference is Miller's comic high-wire act. As you're laughing with Louis, you worry in the back of your brain that he's going to snap and veer into violence, and you're gonna wind up indicted for finding him humorous. Miller is a wonderful writer who's told a wonderful tale.

[Jeri Saper · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Mississippi born girl, I'm always interested in books based in Mississippi. When I read a review of this in the Austin American Statesman, I immediately requested that my library get it. What could be better than a book about someone about my age developing a relationship with a dog...in Mississippi? I have to say that reading the book was agony. Depressing characters facing depressing situations with no light at the end of the tunnel and no lesson hidden within. What did the author intend for the reader to get out of this book? I couldn't wait to finish it, hoping there would be some redeeming "aah ha" moment at the end. The only thing I felt was relief that I was finished.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Louis is a 63 year old man going through a life crisis after the death of his father and the dissolution of his 37 year marriage. He is purely alone with no idea how to fix that situation and, seemingly, without much desire to do so. He pushes everyone left in his life away, drinks too much, eats lots of junk food, ignores his diabetes and watches mindless TV shows. That is Louis' life until a random decision to get a dog changes everything. Not what you might expect. Louis is no one I would want to know but the story was entertaining in its way.

[Matt Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can understand some of the criticisms I've read about this book, but personally, I really enjoyed it. It's a Carver-esque character study about a man, Louis McDonald, Jr., who spends too much time inside his own head. He's not very likable, but that's the point. In fact, his only redeeming quality might be the fact that many of us have family members just like him. The story is quirky, dryly humorous, well-written, and relatable enough with modicums of truth sprinkled throughout. Oh, and there's a dog named Layla (easily the best character). 4/5 would recommend for dog owners.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book depressing as hell, though there were some good lines sprinkled here and there. If you want to read a book about a miserable old man who has no idea how to live his life then it is a good choice for you. Despite the somewhat saccharine ending, it feels like the reader is being dragged down with all of the characters.