When Joanie Littler moves back home to look after her mother, she quickly falls for their stylish neighbour Susan, who has an admirable lounge but never invites Joanie to her patio parties. Finding herself with just her cat Edith Piaf for company, our heroine invents a new lover. Freddy will provide hilarious material for Joanie s proposed comedy act and her passport back into the world of couples. This is the 10th anniversary edition of VG Lee s first novel. In the special Afterword the author reveals how life imitated art when she embarked on a stand-up comedy career of her own.
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Review
A touching evocation of loneliness and the complex relationship between an ageing mother and daughter. A light touch, a wonderful laconic style and spot-on humour made it a joy to read. --Andrea Levy, author of 'Small Island'
The Comedienne has an intrinsic truth that pulls you in before you know it. --Time Out
Straddling the knife edge between funny and sad, it leaves you giggling days later. --Gscene
The Comedienne has an intrinsic truth that pulls you in before you know it. --Time Out
Straddling the knife edge between funny and sad, it leaves you giggling days later. --Gscene
From the Author
This was my first novel and was initiated by a series of stand up readings in London of stories around the central character Joanie Littler. Several of the chapters were complete stories. Because they were being read before an audience who expected to laugh or at least feel some rousing emotion, at some point they had to reach either a conclusion or a climax which is why the novel is episodic. It also makes it very enjoyable to read now the books published, at book events. I hope you enjoy it.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By M. Philips
Format:Paperback
I love this writer. For me this is what (lesbian) life is all about: being slighty depressed, being slightly hopeful and being funny en route. In the end everything will be alright. Great novel! Thank god for this writer (and the publisher who had theinsight to go for it). There's hope.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
VGLee has enormous talent. Every book she writes is fantastic. Her stories are realistic and tug at the heartstrings without too much mushy stuff. They make you nod your head and smile...
This is another winner!
This is another winner!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book really struck a chord with me. I found it both funny and sad in places and I thought that Joan was a wee soul. I was particularly moved by the themes of being an outsider and achieving things later in life. I love this writer's work and will be reading more. Kindle titles would be good.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By FShelling
Format:Paperback
Like a good comedienne, this wonderful book is a clever work of comic fiction. I found myself completely absorbed by the heroine, Joanie Littler, as she struggles to find her place in the world. Nothing comes easy to Joanie but her trials and triumphs make for thoroughly enjoyable reading. Original, funny and charming. A winner.
By Wayne
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
VG Lee has captivated and captured the art of writing fantastic comedy prose with a sting in the tail. She invariably writes about the ordinary and makes it funny and sad in equal measure. We meet all her main characters laid bare, with their flaws open wide, but I have loved getting to know each and every one of them.
Here we find Joannie Littler struggling to find her place in life and in love, whilst trying to care for an elderly mother and associates. She decides to try her hand at stand up comedy and there is a wonderful moment with a hot water bottle accompanied by an unintentional crowd dive.
This novel will have you absolutely laughing out loud, so warning if reading on public transport as funny looks from fellow passengers often ensue! I couldn't help myself and let out an enormous belly laugh on the Piccadilly line!
Anyone who has not read at least 1 VG Lee is missing out on a great modern writer.
Here we find Joannie Littler struggling to find her place in life and in love, whilst trying to care for an elderly mother and associates. She decides to try her hand at stand up comedy and there is a wonderful moment with a hot water bottle accompanied by an unintentional crowd dive.
This novel will have you absolutely laughing out loud, so warning if reading on public transport as funny looks from fellow passengers often ensue! I couldn't help myself and let out an enormous belly laugh on the Piccadilly line!
Anyone who has not read at least 1 VG Lee is missing out on a great modern writer.
By Cat
Format:Paperback
Snowed in, wrapped in a duvet with a cup of tea and an open box of Thornton's I settle in with The Comedienne.
The central character in the book Joanie introduces you to the women in her life over a period of 19 years.
You can relate to how Joanie handles situations, especially relationships and her Mother and how this changes as she ages. Joanie develops in confidence, has successes but is still vulnerable and still repeating the same mistakes. A true underdog that you can't help but love.
Each of the characters are strong, even if they only appear fleetingly. You could probably get a book out of each of them! This book is funny, touching and wonderfully observed. It will make you laugh, cry, cringe and reminisce.
I love VG Lee's writing style, although all of her books are different there's something familiar about them, comforting even. VG Lee writes wonderful stories that reflect real life, people and situations that everyone can identify with. The characters from her books stay with you long after you've finished reading, you find yourself thinking "I wonder what happened to...." which I think is the sign of a great author.
This book, although bittersweet, will leave you with a certain warmth, just what is needed on a cold and snowy day.
The central character in the book Joanie introduces you to the women in her life over a period of 19 years.
You can relate to how Joanie handles situations, especially relationships and her Mother and how this changes as she ages. Joanie develops in confidence, has successes but is still vulnerable and still repeating the same mistakes. A true underdog that you can't help but love.
Each of the characters are strong, even if they only appear fleetingly. You could probably get a book out of each of them! This book is funny, touching and wonderfully observed. It will make you laugh, cry, cringe and reminisce.
I love VG Lee's writing style, although all of her books are different there's something familiar about them, comforting even. VG Lee writes wonderful stories that reflect real life, people and situations that everyone can identify with. The characters from her books stay with you long after you've finished reading, you find yourself thinking "I wonder what happened to...." which I think is the sign of a great author.
This book, although bittersweet, will leave you with a certain warmth, just what is needed on a cold and snowy day.
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed reading this book,I wasn't sure what to expect but I was enthralled with it.The description of the mother daughter relationship was wonderful, very bitter sweet and true for a lot of us I think.There were moments in the book where I laughed out loud and moments where I felt quite sad on behalf of the main character, I felt hurt for her when she wasn't invited to join in , and felt her sense of being alone.I also loved the relationship with her former n'bour and friend of her mother,and the descriptions of the couples at the dinner party.This book is all about relationships, and VG Lee is a mistress of her trade, her observations are spot on,and she has written a wonderfully entertaining book,I loved it!
By Jess
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this book, as usual V.G.Lee has managed to create some very strong characters and write a great story with all the emotions in it. I would definitely recommend V.G.Lee to anyone who wants to read some decent lesbian fiction which will make you laugh!
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