Customer Reviews
Marvellous storytelling - By: L. H. Healy, 26 Nov 2008 
I loved this short novel by Lloyd Jones. The story is told through a child's eyes, a girl named Matilda, living on the island of Bougainville, where a cruel war ensues. Matilda narrates the events that happenin the small community that surrounds her, events that range from touching, & sad, to horrific & life-changing.
Somehow some of the children manage to keep going to the little makeshift school, & the only white manin this black community tries to be their teacher, using as his teaching material the novel 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. Matilda becomes a captive audience, & sees within Pip characteristics which endear her to him & with which she can identify. There are many tragic occurrences happeningin the community, & it is very moving & affecting to read these as viewed by a child, but importantly, there is also hope.
The author also explores how Matilda relates to the teacher, Mr Watts, & comes to develop her understanding & views of him as a person, & explores the relationship she has with her mother, with her absent father, & also religion & non-belief is discussed, as some of the parents visit the classroom to impart little storiesin between the class's reading of 'Great Expectations'.
I hadn't guessed at the way the story had come about,in terms of Matilda, but I won't go further here so as not to spoil the story.
I would highly recommend this novel.
disappointing after the hype - By: Jane, 14 Oct 2008 
The opening of this book caught me up & I was immediately engaged & looking forward to the adventure of reading this novel but I became disappointed with the lack of any real hints about the reasons for the war, & more importantly for me, that there wasn't really a strong sense of place. By the time I got to the end I wondered how well the author knew Bougainville & its history, & I also wondered whether he has truly portrayed the way women relate to each otherin this kind of society. Is he qualified to write with a female voice?
Wonderful book - By: Sile Nic Chormaic, 19 Aug 2008 I bought this book by chance & what a delight it turned out to be. While, at times, disturbing, the book was a gread read & I'd strongly recommend it. I've now gone out & bought other books by the same author to see if they compare. I felt for all the characters, found the story to be sad & intriguing, while at the same time I enjoyed the whole approach. Read this book!
Great Expectations... - By: Muppet, 14 Aug 2008 
Although I enjoyed Mister Pip, for me the best thing about this book was that it spurred me on to read Great Expectations. Dickens was one of those authors that I could never really get to grips with... I just couldn't get past the first page on a lot of his books as I just found them too dismal, I think it's possibly having been forced to read his stuff at school. However having read Mister Pip which I thoroughly enjoyed (great yarn & interesting concept) I immediately ordered GE & managed to fly through it - now it's one of my favourite books!
A good read - By: Ms. K. Marsh, 13 Aug 2008 Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
Amazon synopsis:
'You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight & a reader deepin a book will not look up until the wallpaper isin flames.' Bougainville. 1991. A small village on a lush tropical islandin the South Pacific. Eighty-six days have passed since Matilda's last day of school as, quietly, war is encroaching from the other end of the island. When the villagers' safe, predictable lives come to a halt, Bougainville's children are surprised to find the island's only white man, a recluse, re-opening the school. Pop Eye, aka Mr Watts, explains he will introduce the children to Mr Dickens. Matilda & the others think a foreigner is coming to the island & prepare a list of much needed items. They are shocked to discover their acquaintance with Mr Dickens will be through Mr Watts' inspiring reading of Great Expectations. But on an island at war, the power of fiction has dangerous consequences. Imagination & beliefs are challenged by guns.Mister Pip is an unforgettable tale of survival by story; a dazzling piece of writing that lives longin the mind after the last page is finished.
I found this to be an incredible book. I loved it from the first page. Jones touches on the issues of race & civil war. It was interesting watching the battle between Mr. Watts & his book Great Expectations & Matilda's mum & her Bible. Jones wrote this so well, expressing the naivety of the islandersin a sensitive manner.
There are some heart breaking moments throughout the book which actually added to the magic of the book as it drew youin more.
My favourite character was Mr. Watts, even after his ex-wife's story. He was sensitive & brave. He stood out for being the only white manin the village but that didn't seem to faze him at all. He stood up & was counted, & I liked thatin him.
8/10 - a good read
