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| Sunday, January 11, 2004 |
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| Sunday, January 11, 2004 |
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Pip
Pip McCabe, a thirty-year-old woman, claims that she needs neither man nor money in her life. She works as a clown sometimes in kids’ parties, sometimes in the parks and sometimes in the wards of children’s hospitals. Her work is her passion and she claims: "I was born to be a clown." In her acknowledgements, Freya North, the author, mentions that Pip’s character has been inspired by the work done by the trained clowns employed by the Theodora Children’s Trust. "This foundation trains and funds talented artistes to work with sick children in hospital every week of the year. Theodora Clown Doctor Programmes have been established in nine countries." Thousands of sick children benefit from their work every year. Pip is an endearing character, whether as Merry Martha or as Dr Pippity or plain Pip. Her effervescence and energy shows, though she has all sorts of curtains and veneers around her which she has erected to prevent anyone—especially a man—from getting too close to her. "Of course, she wasn’t going to let him in—not physically, certainly not metaphysically, and it didn’t really have much to do with her busy schedule the following day. There hadn’t been a man in her house let alone her bed to say nothing of her life for months. And even then, she didn’t truly let one in." Clowning to her is no joke. As she tells her lover one day when he’s down in the dumps as she prepares to make him up as a clown: "We’re going to wipe that frown from your brow and give you something to smile about. You’re going to see just how therapeutic clowning can be." The book, though a romance, is not quite in the tradition of the Mills and Boon romances with their larger-than-life, inscrutable, inexplicable heroes with whom beautiful heroines "irrevocably" fall in love. The hero, Zac, an accountant, and the heroine, Pip, are both human, with human values and foibles. If Zac has a gastric problem, he says so. Pip, in her "eagerness to be the Great Looker-After and Dispenser of Laughter, guards against inquiries into her own welfare. Pip wants everyone to be safe and happy, but she is also aware that as long as they are the ones in need, they won’t probe into her well being". Neither is perfect. Zac even has a failed relationship behind him and a son. Both Pip considers enough "baggage" to be a detriment to forwarding their relationship. Zac and his ex-wife are great friends and the "feel-goodness" of the book lies in the fact that no trauma is allowed to impinge upon the comfort level of the reader. Zac’s ex and his sister-in-law even contrive to get the two lovers together. Through all the ups and downs—none of them too jerky or startling—it is almost a given that a happy ending is ahead. There is plenty of laughter in the novel. "What a guy gotta do to get a drink around here? Sport a cleavage?" says Zac to the bartender who is taking time to serve him a drink. Zac’s ex-wife says about a glamorous woman he’s seeing: " She’s Zac’s new squeeze and I’m intrigued. Gorgeous shoes and amazing legs—the cow. But that’s all I’ve clocked so far. I’m hoping she has unfortunate teeth. Or no personality`85I’m happy for him (Zac), to feast all he likes as long as it’s bland." The novel is vivid and energetic. The tongue-in-cheek demeanor of the author displays an amused acceptance of their idiosyncrasies. Pip’s two sisters, Fen and Cat, and her peculiar uncle who brought up the girls after they had been deserted by their mother, all romp through the book, satisfied and comfortable with themselves. Pip is a fun, feminine book, easy to read and comprehend. It has no philosophical pretensions. |
PIP
by Freya North is an out and out, no holds barred mushy romance. It’s
utterly sweet in tone with Pip as its zany, cutesy heroine and Zac, a
hero who can hold his own in any feminine company. Pip must
certainly appeal to any woman who wants to settle down to a
"comfortable read" with a cup of coffee after she has packed
off the kids to school and is done with her housework. Pip is
definitely a "feel good" book, which is peopled by a host of
amiable folk, who happily co-exist and whose sole aim in life appears to
be to make the reader feel content and secure in the world they have
created for her.