Billy & Girl

Billy and Girl are two dysfunctional kids who live alone in England, struggling to forget their past and forge a future that will bring them happiness and reunite them with their mother. They support and torture each other, creating alternative personalities to survive and conquer. The reader is left bewildered as to whether they have found Mom or are out of control.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2024
Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press

In this captivating and intricate farce, Deborah Levy unveils the epitome of dysfunctional children, Billy and his sister Girl. Left abandoned years ago by their parents, they now reside alone in an unknown location in England. Girl dedicates her time to searching for their mother, visiting random doors and addressing any woman who claims to be their mother, often referred to as "Mom." On the other hand, Billy indulges in vivid fantasies, envisioning himself as a renowned figure, possibly in the United States as a movie star, psychiatrist, doctor specializing in breast enlargements, or even the author of "Billy England's Book of Pain." Despite their shared struggles and fragmented memories, they support and torment each other, desperately striving to create a future that will bring them happiness and reunite them with the elusive "Mom."

Billy and Girl, like many children grappling with the pain of their pasts, struggle to forget what they must and forge new worlds they believe will offer a better existence. However, their attempts often result in prolonging their nightmares as they develop alternative personalities, seemingly meant to enable them to survive, conquer, and punish. As the story unfolds, the reader finds themselves equally perplexed as Billy and Girl. Have they finally found their mother and a sense of family, or are they completely lost in control, teetering on the brink of an explosive breakdown?

Through their tumultuous journey, Levy explores the complexities of childhood, the search for identity, and the consequences of trauma. Billy and Girl's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as they navigate through the darkest depths of despair and emerge with a glimmer of hope. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us of the importance of seeking help, understanding our past, and striving for a brighter future.

Weight: 258g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781628975031