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Joy's sister. She is twenty-three years older than Joy and they do not have anything in common - Joy is frightened of her since she used to abuse her as a child, perhaps due to having a miscarriage around the same time as Joy was born.
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An ex-student of Joy's school where she teaches. Partner in Joy's affair while with Paul. Currently in college David returns after
Michael's death and from then on spontaneously calls and visits Joy usually resulting in sex.
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He was the husband of Norma Fisher, and Joy's lover. He drowned in a swimming pool in Spain when on holiday with Joy before the novel's own timeline. His death is retold throughout the novel in italicized text.
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Joy's boss at her part-time job. He calls her on a semi-regular basis to take her out to various events, usually resulting in Tony forcing himself on Joy.
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in 1989. The novel won the MIND/Allen Lane Book of the Year and was also shortlisted for both the
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Joy's friend who is also a teacher. For the duration of the novel she is teaching in
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Joy's ex-boyfriend. Childhood sweethearts, they were together for seven years.
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The novel's protagonist and narrator. She is 27 years old. She lives on a
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For the song by the
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