Perspective: Family dysfunctions upclose and personal

See, Viola Price's children have some serious problems. Paris, her oldest daughter, is hooked on pain pills. Charlotte -- wrought with "middle child syndrome" -- has anger management issues. Janelle is a career student at 35 and still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. And Lewis -- poor, down-on-his-luck Lewis -- is an alcoholic who spends more time in jail than just about anywhere else.

But none of them are victims. Or villains. In A Day Late and a Dollar Short, McMillan's latest character-driven novel, the author lets each of them in turn have their say.

The alternating points of view make for tedious reading at first, but smooth out once the voices become familiar. About halfway through the story things start to lag, until some of the real issues plaguing the Price family unravel, and we understand that we're doing more than just listening to them kvetch.

The novel is all about family. Not just a contemporary, black middle-class one like the Prices, but everyone's. With side-splitting candor, McMillan tells the story of just about every household from Seattle to Miami. As it happens, this one -- most of it -- lives in Las Vegas, save Charlotte, who's still in Chicago (and the distance between them may be the only thing that keeps the rest of the family from strangling her).

Viola Price may not be your mother, but you know her from somewhere. Maybe she's your neighbor, or your aunt -- when the children or Cecil (a "bad habit" Viola's "had for thirty-eight years, which would make him my husband") narrate, the reader is eager for her return. She's hilarious and blunt -- and doesn't always speak the king's English. Ms. Vy doesn't pull any punches when it comes to her children, but she would do anything for them. And they for her.

Anything, except get along.

"Sometimes I wish God had made me a witch," she says, "or at least given me some magic powers. I'd start by rewiring my son, give him a clean start, put him on a wholesome path: one that lead somewhere."

The Michigan-born McMillan's other best-selling novels -- Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back -- were made into popular movies. This one won't easily translate to the big screen. A Day Late and a Dollar Short is based on thought, emotion and conversation: not your typical mainstream film fodder.

McMillan is an accessible writer (an accusation in some circles). She is also an insightful and funny one. Her characters -- her strength -- are real and complex; we relate to and root for all of them. Sure, the sappy ending of A Day Late and a Dollar Short is hurried and cliche'd, but McMillan's point is worth repeating: If you haven't made amends with your family yet, do so now.

-- Samantha Puckett is on the Times staff.

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A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT

By Terry McMillan

Viking, $25.95

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