 | |
| Author | Joolz Denby |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
Publication date | 2005 |
Billie Morgan is a 2005 novel by English writer, poet and tattooist Joolz Denby. It was shortlisted for the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction. [1]
| | |
| Author | Joolz Denby |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
Publication date | 2005 |
Billie Morgan is a 2005 novel by English writer, poet and tattooist Joolz Denby. It was shortlisted for the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction. [1]
The central character, Billie, is a 46-year-old woman who runs a new age shop in Bradford, England. However, she keeps a dark secret, that when younger and part of a biker gang, she murdered Terry, an unpleasant drug addict and the father of her godson Natty, and covered it up with the aid of her lover Mickey. The novel takes the form of a confession written by Billie when she fears a journalist will expose her past. [2] [3]
Most reviewers noted the strong central character and the abundance of depravity, violence and criminality, while differing on its literary merits.
The New York Times praised the central character's verve, which they felt made up for the other less well developed characters. [4]
Linda Herrick in the New Zealand Herald found it overwritten, with so much crammed in, and a tendency for over-the-top melodramatic passages. [2]
Publishers Weekly found it "fascinating" but hard to read, with a "raw power". [3]
Entertainment Weekly scored it B+, noting the extensive catalog of depravity and suggesting it was ripe for turning into a movie. [5]
Billie Paul Piper is an English actress and former singer. She initially gained recognition as a singer after releasing her debut single "Because We Want To" at age 15, which made her the youngest woman to ever enter at number one on the UK Singles Chart. Her follow-up single "Girlfriend" also entered at number one. In 1998, Piper released her debut studio album, Honey to the B, which was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Her second studio album, Walk of Life, was released in 2000 and spawned her third number one single, "Day & Night". In 2003, Piper announced that she had ended her music career to focus on acting.
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Joolz Denby is a poet, novelist, artist and tattooist based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
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