Product Description

Billy is a lad. He's a laugh, he's loud, he behaves badly and Sarah is besotted with him. But after another 'accident' involving Billy's temper, Sarah's face and a night in the A&E, Sarah's friends Martha and Flower decide that it's time to take action. What should they do? Reason with him? Send him to anger management classes? Hire a hit man? Martha and Flower have problems of their own: Martha is seven months pregnant by one of three possible blokes (she did this mainly to wind up her sanctimonious vicar father); and hippie Flower's career as a stand-up comic is more sit-down after some nasty encounters with south London's finest hecklers. Will Martha survive single-motherhood on a council estate in need of a peace-keeping force? Will Flower find the perfect put-down? And will they sort out Billy before he gets to them first...? Jo Brand tells it like it is in her darkly comic and sharply observed debut novel.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #555949 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-10
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

About the Author
Jo Brand is a stand-up comic with many TV and radio shows to her name. She is married with two children and lives in South London.

Customer Reviews

Sorting out Billy
I was quite looking foward to reading Jo Brand's first novel. But I found it to be slightly repetitive with regards to Flower's stand up routines and her subsequent downfalls. The chracters didn't feel rounded and by the end I still didn't feel connected with any of them. I did find it easy reading however - finishing it in a weekend, so maybe this is one for a weekend away or a long train journey.
I liked the style of writing and some parts were enough to produce a laugh out loud, I hope Jo continues to write because I think she could write something so good. I will definatley give her next book a go - fingers crossed.

Surprisingly subtle
I'm not normally a big fan of Jo - I can find her humour sometimes a little too close to the bone. Sorting Out Billy however is much more subtly funny and very realistic. The sarcasm is still evidence, but its more an ironic view than acerbic.
Overall a very good read genuinely funny in places, but genuinely reflective in others. I'd definitely recommend it.

Very enjoyable.
A very enjoyable book, with some laugh-out-loud moments, with a bit of a surprise at the end.

Recommended.