Oh!

by Mary Robison

"At first, Oh! seems a satire, a sitcom stripped of its sentiment and foolishness. But it is far more. Mary Robison is trying to show us how the the incredibly complicated dance of family life works." —The New Yorker

Those who know Mary Robison's work will not be surprised that her first novel leaps from one prodigal moment to the next, for as Kenneth Burke has said of this startling writer, "Robison outguesses the shrewdest reader—even several times on a single page."

In Oh!, these marvels have their source in a summer's romp with a madcap Midwestern family flourishing under the eccentric protection of a father like no other. He is the wifeless Mr. Cleveland, now an enthusiast at gardening and insobriety since passing from active service as ruler of his soda-pop and miniature golf domain.

Cleveland's is the contented life of the man who knows who he is. The same might be said for his motherless children, Mo and Howdy, though they are scarcely children still. The loutish, loafing Mo is, in fact, a young single mother to little Violet.

Like the rest of the Clevelands, Violet is nobody's fool. For in all their seeming misadventures, the Clevelands are guided by the reliable intelligence of the heart. Beneath the pastel frames of their lives, the Clevelands have modeled a design for living with the unlucky nature of things, a way of being happy in the world.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1981

About the author

Mary Robison is an American short story writer and novelist. She has published four collections of stories, and four novels, including her 2001 novel Why Did I Ever, winner of the 2001 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for fiction. Her most recent novel, released in 2009, is One D.O.A., One on the Way. She has been categorized as a founding "minimalist" writer along with authors such as Amy Hempel, Frederick Barthelme, and Raymond Carver. In 2009, she won the Rea Award for the Short Story.

Reviews

[Emad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Subtle Alchemy of Everyday Life



Mary Robison’s "Oh!" is a poignant exploration of familial ties and the subtleties of everyday life, emerging as a standout piece that encapsulates the essence of American minimalism while embracing hyperrealism in a way that transcends the conventions of its genre. Robison, a monumental figure among American minimalists, touches upon the mundane with a deftness that makes the ordinary feel extraordinary—a feat that few can achieve, and one that arguably positions her work above even that of Raymond Carver.

At its core, "Oh!" chronicles the lives of the Cleveland family and their maid, Lola, weaving a narrative rich in human connection, struggle, and the quest for personal liberation. Set against the backdrop of a wealthy patriarch—Cleveland, whose life revolves around his soda bottling business—the novel casts a sharp lens on the emotional and interpersonal intricacies that define the modern family unit. Cleveland is on the cusp of a new chapter in his life, yearning to marry Virginia, the pious presenter of a television children’s show. Maureen, Cleveland’s daughter, finds herself mired in a tumultuous past with her ex-husband, Chris, as she wrestles with the decision to invite closure in her life while planning a reconciliatory trip to Ireland with her brother, Howdy. Compounding her internal struggles is her six-year-old daughter, Violet, whose welfare weighs heavily on Maureen’s conscience. As she grapples with the challenge of raising Violet, Maureen’s indifferent character instinct often complicates her efforts to provide a nurturing environment. This adds an intricate layer to her journey, as she confronts the daunting task of rendering a better life for her daughter while wrestling with her own unresolved issues from the past.

Robison shines a light on the dynamics between family members, particularly through the relationship one has with expectation and forgiveness. This theme is palpable in the fraught but tender exchanges between Maureen and Chris, whose attempts at redemption are met with a mix of annoyance and lingering attachment. Howdy’s aspirations to marry his girlfriend Stephanie and their joint mission to reconnect with their estranged mother add layers of complexity to the narrative, illustrating the precarious balance between familial loyalty and the desire for individuality.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Oh!" is the character of Lola, the family’s maid. A literature student with aspirations of her own, she provides the emotional anchoring that the Cleveland family so desperately needs. Her interactions with the family add a rich texture to the novel, subtly grounding the more affluent characters while highlighting the class dichotomies inherent in their lives. Lola’s warmth and intelligence become a counterpoint to the family’s internal strife, demonstrating that comfort can often be found in unexpected places.

Robison's prose is marked by its economy, yet it brims with evocative detail. The use of brand names, a hallmark of minimalism, creates an almost tactile familiarity with the characters’ environments. The reader is drawn into their world through the unremarkable facets of their daily routines—the mundane rituals that often go unnoticed become poignant reflections of their emotional states. However, readers anticipating dramatic climaxes or tumultuous upheavals should adjust their expectations; "Oh!" is not a novel of grand gestures but rather a meticulous examination of life’s quieter moments.

In conclusion, "Oh!" is a masterful tribute to the human experience, resonating deeply with those who appreciate the intricacies of life’s subtleties. Robison's hyperreal minimalism is not boring; it is fascinating in its clarity and insight, capturing a slice of existence with both humor and heart. For those who celebrate the nuances of American minimalism and relish in narratives that linger in the quiet spaces between words, "Oh!" is a remarkable and rewarding read.

Furthermore, I'm intrigued by the film adaptation "Twister" (1989) and look forward to witnessing how the cinematic medium encapsulates the subtle layers of Robison’s narrative. I am eager to experience how this story translates to screen and will be sure to update my review upon viewing. Until then, "Oh!" remains a shining example of a literary work that refuses to diminish the weight of the ordinary, reminding us that there is beauty in the overlooked details that construct the essence of life.

[Simon A. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book needs cover art! Why is it blank? That really bothers me for some reason...

Anyway, I think this book was pretty good. It's a really hard one to put into words. I think I might need more time. I know it will stay with me. I originally picked this up because the chapters are super short and I'm working on a novel that uses the same sort of formatting. For that, I think it helped. I also got a great deal of enjoyment out of it. It was a very fast read of course...

Let's see, what else? It was mostly funny, but sometimes really sad. One of the most disfunctional families I've ever read about. It sorta reminded me of a Salinger short story stretched out over 200 pages... smart kids with weird quarks, lots of family drama and odd dialogue. But I do love dialogue and Robison's was pretty damn good.

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. I just found out there was one. I keep picturing Crispin Glover. I have no idea if he's in the movie, but I feel like he'd play the character of Howdy pretty well... Give this one a look. I don't think you'll be too disappointed... Although the ending wasn't the best... I better stop.

UPDATE: Holy crap! Crispin Glover is in the movie! I honestly had no idea. And so is William S. Burroughs and Tim Robbins. Crazy! I'm going to order it right now.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

engrossing in the best way. unlike why did i ever which conjured robison's neurosis, this book was an island of its own, all the characters so fully realized that the author wasn't there at all. i love a big boisterous wildly inappropriate family with a veritable DSM-V of personalities. xoxo.

also not to make judgements on bodies but the author photo on the back flap is the fucking babeliest, all skintight black with perfect bardot hair and a tangle of limbs.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disfunctional family, early 80's. Liked her style, wish there was more of a point. But that was probably the point.

"Virginia was decked out in a golfish wraparound skirt, immaculate sneakers, and a polo top. She gestured and laughed from one end of the sofa, and capped the point of her crossed knee with her white canvas hat. She pushed the telling of her anecdote as Violet sprinted at her. "So there I was, with a thimble on my finger, sewing on this mysterious jacket - all for this little dog I used to have - Dante."

or

"He hung up the phone. He took the cord from around his neck and began to assemble his apartment. First, he collected all the shards of broken glass and made a pile of them on top of the television. He turned on the set. He sat down and watched. He watched until he fell asleep."

[Tonjia Atomic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I thought it was fun and charming. The writing was clever and the characters were interesting. I also liked that the story was told in a non-traditional manner. I saw the movie "Twister", with Crispin Glover and Suzi Amis. It was pretty much exactly the same. The movie is very charming and funny as well.

[Lisa Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh. A family of drunks living out their boring lives bolstered by lots of money and serious arrested development. Their unstructured life bounces from one emergency to the next, some natural, a tornado, some homemade, an exploding shed. Madcap is sometimes used to describe stories such as this. I just found it depressing.

[cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

didn't want it to end

[Cardee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So great, so perfect. But the highpoint of perfection was the dialogue. Craft-wise, this book is genius. Not craft-wise, still genius.

[Isaac L · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is crisp as a fresh shirt, but the characters lack causation and emotion, half-baked ideas surface then submerge just as quickly, and the story is non-existent. There are moments of brilliance, where a single scene comes together to make something more than the sum of its parts, but these are too far between to elevate the book as a whole, and would probably have benefitted from being published as short stories in their own right.

[Evan Grillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wacky rich family fails a child over and over again until things boil over. The last section is the best (things escalate without warning) and the ones that precede it are often unmoored from the gravity of the situation. Hard to care when the characters don't. That's why Violet, the girl, is necessary. She can't help but care.

Robison is hilarious though and earns your forgiveness that way.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Razor sharp. Smooth as glass.

[Kw]

DNF 55 pp (26%). I found Oh!'s worldview disappointingly Reagan-ish. The characters were oddly out of touch and tough on each other, and in a flat, not funny, way. Not for me.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Refreshingly different

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book seemingly written for the purpose of being written. There is no plot to speak of, no purpose, and no real arc. It follows the quirky lives of those in a quirky (rich & unrelateable) family; still, it was unique and I haven't really read a book like it before. Simple, and read for simply the pleasure of reading something.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! (Nonpareil Book, 50.) by Mary Robison (1988)

[Leota · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for plot, 5+ for the dialogue and language. I love the way she tells stories.

[Caleb L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A literary Royal Tenenbaums, highlights Robison's soon to be realized potential.