Why Did I Ever: A Novel
Robison has constructed her third novel, the first in a decade,  as a series of brief segments (527 in all), reflecting narrator  Money Breton's ADD syndrome. Because she is undermedicated,  Breton must struggle to maintain her concentration long enough  to keep her Hollywood script-writing position and her sense of  humor. By night, Breton is hammering nails or painting every  object in her house; by day, she seeks to provide the right bits  of advice and the right amount of motherly support to her  methadone-addicted daughter and to her son, the victim of an  unspeakable crime. With questionable assistance from several  well-meaning friends, including a filthy-rich boyfriend with a  limited vocabulary, Breton balances her difficulties long enough  to see the proverbial thin ray of light at the end of the  tunnel. Robison's characters are vivid, colorful, and likable,  and their story is absorbing. Her humorous presentation does not  cheapen the tragic content of her novel but realistically  portrays one method of survival. Highly recommended for all  public and academic fiction collections. Rebecca A. Stuhr,  Grinnell Coll. Libs., IACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.