Mary After All
Mary After All by Bill Gordon is a debut novel published by Random House Publishing Group in December 2005. This edition, part of the Dial Press Trade paperback series, spans 274 pages and is presented in English. The story introduces Mary Nolan, a resilient Jersey City native who navigates the complexities of life during the 1970s, shaped by her relationships with her Italian American family and the challenges of her marriage.
Readers will find a narrative that blends humor and poignancy as Mary recounts her journey toward independence amidst personal and societal upheaval. The novel explores her interactions with a cast of characters, including family members and neighborhood acquaintances, who influence her path. Through her experiences, Mary learns to assert herself and redefine her identity, making this work a reflection on resilience and self-discovery within a richly depicted community.
Official synopsis Publisher
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.
FAQ
What is “Mary After All” about?
Who is the author of “Mary After All”?
When was “Mary After All” published?
What is the ISBN for “Mary After All”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
