Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Biloxi
Mary Miller
Review by Priscilla Comen
Biloxi
Mary Miller
Review by Priscilla Comen
Biloxi” by Mary Miller is the story of Louis McDonald Jr. told in his own words. His wife, Ellen,, has just left him, and he is retired from his job. He doesn’t have much to do. On his way to the pharmacy to get his diabetes pills, he sees a sign, “Free Dogs.” He stops and finds himself taking home a dog, Layla. She’s a mixed breed who licks his bare feet. Louis loves her.
When his ex-brother in law Frank comes over, Layla bites him and chews on his trousers. This is a humorous , but also pathetic story of Louis’ life. He sees his daughter Maxine, once or twice a year, doesn’t like her too much. She has a little girl she calls Baby still. He isn’t too thrilled with her either. He goes to the pet store and buys a big bag of dog food, a chewy toy, dog shampoo. He spends over $180 dollars. But his inheritance is coming soon, so it doesn’t disturb him. He thinks about buying a new mattress, but can’t imagine trying this out in the store, moving from one to another. Louis takes Layla to a dog park. He doesn’t like the people, but likes the dogs. Layla doesn’t fetch a rope he throws for her. He blacks out on the way home, but doesn’t worry about it.
He’s about to inherit over 700 acres. He thinks about traveling to see the United States, especially Grand Canyon. Asks Layla if she’d like to do that with him. It has been five months since his father died. He is getting anxious, his bank account is getting low. Frank comes over with left-over chicken wings and invites Louis for Thanksgiving dinner.
Louis wants to marry Harry Davidson’s wife although he’s never met her. Layla was Harry’s dog as a pup. In order to meet Harry’s wife, Sasha, Louis poses as a missionary on his way to Africa. He stops at a church and picks up dozens of pamphlets to hand out to Sasha. He pulls into a Burger King and gets a couple of burgers and fries. He’s getting fat, but doesn’t care. He gets a call from his daughter Maxine. She’s coming to Biloxi and will visit him with her daughter, Laurel. Meanwhile, he drives to where Harry’s wife lives. She tells him Layla is her dog and Harry said she had run away or been killed by a car. She hates Harry and says she’ll leave him. She’s been married four times; it’s a pattern she has. They spend the day together. When he hears Harry drive up outside, he runs out the back door. Sasha and Layla come home with him and he puts them in Maxine’s old room.
When Louis goes to see his lawyer, he learns that he has been left nothing by his father except $14,000 dollars. The land belongs to the bank, there are big debts to the funeral home, to the nursing home, to the lawyers, money to his ex-wife and to his daughter. Only $14,000 to Louis. He thinks about blowing his brains out. How much worse can things get? He meets Diane at a bar, she buys him drinks. When he returns home, Sasha has gone and taken the DVD player, his I Pad, the blender, a watch, and his wedding band. And his checkbook. He changes the locks on his doors and when the locksmith is there, he and Louis and Frank who has come over, have a beer and watch T.V.
Author Miller creates a good story out of ordinary routines. Will Louis ever be happy? Layla the dog, is his best friend, forever and ever. Will Louis visit his daughter and go to his grand-daughter’s birthday party? Will his life change? Find this delightful book on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
When his ex-brother in law Frank comes over, Layla bites him and chews on his trousers. This is a humorous , but also pathetic story of Louis’ life. He sees his daughter Maxine, once or twice a year, doesn’t like her too much. She has a little girl she calls Baby still. He isn’t too thrilled with her either. He goes to the pet store and buys a big bag of dog food, a chewy toy, dog shampoo. He spends over $180 dollars. But his inheritance is coming soon, so it doesn’t disturb him. He thinks about buying a new mattress, but can’t imagine trying this out in the store, moving from one to another. Louis takes Layla to a dog park. He doesn’t like the people, but likes the dogs. Layla doesn’t fetch a rope he throws for her. He blacks out on the way home, but doesn’t worry about it.
He’s about to inherit over 700 acres. He thinks about traveling to see the United States, especially Grand Canyon. Asks Layla if she’d like to do that with him. It has been five months since his father died. He is getting anxious, his bank account is getting low. Frank comes over with left-over chicken wings and invites Louis for Thanksgiving dinner.
Louis wants to marry Harry Davidson’s wife although he’s never met her. Layla was Harry’s dog as a pup. In order to meet Harry’s wife, Sasha, Louis poses as a missionary on his way to Africa. He stops at a church and picks up dozens of pamphlets to hand out to Sasha. He pulls into a Burger King and gets a couple of burgers and fries. He’s getting fat, but doesn’t care. He gets a call from his daughter Maxine. She’s coming to Biloxi and will visit him with her daughter, Laurel. Meanwhile, he drives to where Harry’s wife lives. She tells him Layla is her dog and Harry said she had run away or been killed by a car. She hates Harry and says she’ll leave him. She’s been married four times; it’s a pattern she has. They spend the day together. When he hears Harry drive up outside, he runs out the back door. Sasha and Layla come home with him and he puts them in Maxine’s old room.
When Louis goes to see his lawyer, he learns that he has been left nothing by his father except $14,000 dollars. The land belongs to the bank, there are big debts to the funeral home, to the nursing home, to the lawyers, money to his ex-wife and to his daughter. Only $14,000 to Louis. He thinks about blowing his brains out. How much worse can things get? He meets Diane at a bar, she buys him drinks. When he returns home, Sasha has gone and taken the DVD player, his I Pad, the blender, a watch, and his wedding band. And his checkbook. He changes the locks on his doors and when the locksmith is there, he and Louis and Frank who has come over, have a beer and watch T.V.
Author Miller creates a good story out of ordinary routines. Will Louis ever be happy? Layla the dog, is his best friend, forever and ever. Will Louis visit his daughter and go to his grand-daughter’s birthday party? Will his life change? Find this delightful book on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.