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Mary After All: A Novel
In the tradition of Roddy Doyle's The Woman Who Walked Into Doors comes a brilliant feat of literary ventriloquism, a debut novel by a male author introducing a one-of-a-kind female narrator.
Meet Mary Nolan (née Marelli), a tough-talking Jersey City native who comes of age during the turbulent 1970s. Adored by the small-time mafia types in her extended Italian American family–formidable but doting figures like her grandpa Louie, Tony the Horse, and Charlie Cuppacoffee–Mary grew up believing she could always count on men to protect her. But after marrying young to escape her parents, Mary finds herself sidelined by life with a philandering husband and two needy young sons, her dreams as shattered as the city around her.
By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Mary tells of her unusual route to independence, and about the lives she touches–and is touched by–along the way. From Aunt Dot and Aunt Loretta, who get her started in "business," to the ex-nuns who listen to her troubles even as they ask her for relationship advice, to the nosy neighborhood housewives determined to befriend her, Mary finds allies in the unlikeliest of places. How she learns to stand on her own "legitimately"–triumphantly–is the heart of Bill Gordon's remarkable first novel.
From the Hardcover edition.
Meet Mary Nolan (née Marelli), a tough-talking Jersey City native who comes of age during the turbulent 1970s. Adored by the small-time mafia types in her extended Italian American family–formidable but doting figures like her grandpa Louie, Tony the Horse, and Charlie Cuppacoffee–Mary grew up believing she could always count on men to protect her. But after marrying young to escape her parents, Mary finds herself sidelined by life with a philandering husband and two needy young sons, her dreams as shattered as the city around her.
By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Mary tells of her unusual route to independence, and about the lives she touches–and is touched by–along the way. From Aunt Dot and Aunt Loretta, who get her started in "business," to the ex-nuns who listen to her troubles even as they ask her for relationship advice, to the nosy neighborhood housewives determined to befriend her, Mary finds allies in the unlikeliest of places. How she learns to stand on her own "legitimately"–triumphantly–is the heart of Bill Gordon's remarkable first novel.
From the Hardcover edition.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 3, 2016
A story of a New Jersey housewife. Decent writing, but I had trouble caring about the plot.
August 11, 2018
Far more entertaining and nuanced than you'd expect a story about a New Jersey housewife in the 1970s to be, this has great characters, believable dialogue, a great arc, and a surprising and satisfying ending. A gem discarded by my library, I know my Mom will enjoy it too. Recommended.
December 27, 2020
This is a good, little book with a truly authentic character at its heart. Everything about her in that setting - Jersey City in the 60s and 70s - rings true.
September 18, 2024
Like being there
Just great fun to hear the names of places and people I know or know of. Jersey City is where I went to High School but not where I lived. The book reads like a memoir a warm remembrance of interesting times.
Just great fun to hear the names of places and people I know or know of. Jersey City is where I went to High School but not where I lived. The book reads like a memoir a warm remembrance of interesting times.
August 4, 2010
read: 3.5,4.5,3,3,3.5, 3.5
June 17, 2009
Slow start, but great middle and end.
Want to read
February 22, 2010Nj Italian
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews