Monkey Grip (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Helen Ford
- First Published: 1977
- Type of Work: Romance in the form of a personal diary and existential journal
- Time of Work: 1974-1975
- Setting: Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania
- Principal Characters: Nora, Gracie, Javo, Eve, Rita, Juliet, Angela, Martin, Julian, Francis, Lillian, Gerald, Clive, Jessie, Georgie, Claire
- Genres: Long fiction, Existential literature
- Subjects: 1970’s, Acting or actors, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Friendship, Obsession, Substance abuse, Feminism, Drug addiction or addicts, Loneliness, Filmmaking or filmmakers, Cocaine, Australia or Australians
- Locales: Sydney, Australia, Melbourne, Australia, Tasmania
The Novel
Monkey Grip begins randomly one Australian summer in 1974, when Nora, the narrator and protagonist, is relatively happy, living with her five-year-old daughter Gracie in a Melbourne commune and sleeping with Martin, who is more friend than lover. Nora shares the house with three friends: Eve, Georgie, and Clive, a former lover.
Nora’s life changes when she meets Martin’s friend Javo, who is hooked on heroin. Despite his addiction, she falls hopelessly in love with Javo, although she continues to sleep with others. (Nora is famous for her...
[The entire page is 2480 words long]
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