Books : THE COMEDIENNE - 2006

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THE COMEDIENNE is the story of Joanie Littler, part time gardener, aspiring stand-up comedienne. It traces her life from childhood, living in Birmingham with her mother and the bossy neighbour Mrs. Botolph, through Joan's several relationships - with Steff who preferred 'gentle sex' and sad droopy Rachel, with Sandy Banks who preferred her mum and her blazer collection, with the love of her life Susan who seemed to prefer almost anybody.

Left alone with just Edith Piaf the cat for company, Joanie invents a lover for herself called Freddy, a woman who lives in Littlehampton and is always on call to sick and aging parents. Freddy will be part of her proposed comedy act and also her passport back into the world of couples. However, Freddy's fictional life becomes so complicated that Susan begins to suspect Freddy is not all she seems.

'When did you see her last?', Susan persisted. 'You're always telling us what she's doing, but I'm never quite clear where you are in these stories'.
'Well, I',m either there or I'm not there', I replied weakly. 'We talk every day on the phone. Actually', my imagination rallying at last, 'her mother's been in hospital for most of the summer. Touch and go really. Freddy's been torn in half between hospital, home and her horticultural practice'.
'Torn in three Joan', Susan said. I wasn't quite sure whether she was making fun of me or not.