| Author: |
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Lloyd Jones
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| Title: |
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Mister Pip |
| Moochable copies: |
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No copies available |
| Amazon suggests: |
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| Recommended: |
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| Topics: |
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| Published in: |
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English |
| Binding: |
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Paperback |
| Pages: |
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| Date: |
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2006 |
| ISBN: |
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1921145579 |
| Publisher: |
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JOHN MURRAY |
| Weight: |
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0.15 pounds |
| Size: |
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5.1 x 7.7 x 1.0 inches |
Amazon prices: |
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| Description: |
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Product Description
Mister Pip
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| Reviews: |
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Marianne (Australia) (2013/02/04):
Mister Pip is the 11th book by New Zealand author, Lloyd Jones. Set against the background of civil war in Bougainville in the early 1990’s, the story is narrated by a teenaged island girl, Matilda Laimo. Matilda’s story starts in about 1990, when her father has gone to Townsville to work, the mine at Panguna has closed, the island is blockaded, supplies of power and food are cut off and the lifestyle is like that of her grandparents. The villagers live in fear of the rambos (rebels) and the redskins (Papuan army). The school is overgrown with vines. Then, the last white man left in the village, Tom Christian Watts, nicknamed Pop Eye by the villagers, reopens the school and tries to teach their lessons. This enigmatic Mr Watts, married to an islander, Grace, gets the villagers in to teach the children what they know of life; he himself reads them Dickens’ Great Expectations. Matilda and the children become wholly absorbed in Pip’s tale but her strictly Christian mother, Dolores, opposes his heathen teachings with her own lessons about God and the devil. As hostilities escalate, the village suffers at the hands of the redskins; the threat of danger is also felt from the rambos, with Mr Watts having to give an account of himself that is part fiction, part fact. A violent climax tests the loyalties and spirit of many of the villagers; Matilda witnesses her mother’s incredible bravery and morality. Matilda finds that Pip’s story gives her the courage to save herself, to escape and eventually, to return. Jones has created a very moving tale with an unexpected twist at the end. His characters have depth and appeal; his descriptions ensure the fragrance and humidity of the jungle are palpable. He conveys the potency and magic of a story brilliantly. This is a powerful read.
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| URL: |
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http://bookmooch.com/1921145579 |
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