Metro Reco: Mister Pip

Update: The 3 copies have been claimed!

“A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe.” --Mister Pip

I didn't stop breathing, but I was completely mesmerized by Mister Pip a two-sitting read, perfect for a couple of sunny afternoons in my backyard.

On a war-torn tropical island, all of the teachers have fled, and the sole remaining white man, the mildly eccentric Mr. Watts, takes on the job during a time of turmoil and upheaval. With only one classroom, and no lesson plan, Mr. Watts introduces his pupils to “Mr. Dickens” by reading Great Expectations aloud. One of Mr. Watts’ most promising students, thoughtful 13-year-old Matilda, is particularly captivated by Dickens, and identifies with his character, Pip. Soon her imagination is filled with the sights and sounds of Victorian England; her mother on the other hand, is suspicious of Mr. Watts and his influence on the children of the island.

A coming of age story, a sober reflection on the horrors of war, an allegorical metafiction, Mr. Pip affirms the power and magic of literature. The novel emphasizes the redemptive quality of stories: their ability to cross cultures; their gift of comfort and escape; their capacity to heal.

Mister Pip is now in paperback, and I have copies for the first three Canadian folks to email me at metro[underscore]mama[at]hotmail[dot]com.