Kissing the Pink

by Jane Holland

Competitiveness is not attractive in a woman. From a man's point of view, that is, not to mention my mother's. Men may feel admiration, even respect, for someone they consider to be a ball breaker with all the charm of a JCB, but they rarely like you, and even more rarely wish to sleep with you. Once you start exhibiting a tendency to beat men at their own game, they close ranks. Political correctness may drag a chilly smile out of them occasionally, but beyond that, you're on your own. Being a woman player is not a wise career option for the squeamish or easily offended. When Zoë began playing snooker, men thought it was a great joke--until she started to beat them. So they closed ranks; except for the misfit Kevin, who didn't fit into the macho Working Men's Club society and agreed to coach what was an obvious talent. Everything goes well until Zoë's progress upsets her sponsor's former favourite and she is banned for bringing the game into disrepute. But the chauvinism of the regular circuit was only the first problem Zoë had to face--after splitting up with her partner there was her two kids to consider, not to mention her disapproving mother and an ever-shrinking budget to finance her new passion. Once she was on the circuit, these paled into insignificance at the side of the ice maiden Sylvie, the bitchiness of the lower ranks and the ever- complicated world of the now-unfamiliar one-night stand. Jane Holland's first novel reflects the fortunes of its main characters--a woman author is almost as unfamiliar a sight in the male-dominated world of sports writing as Zoë was in the Working Men's Clubs. But Holland takes on the competition with passion and style. Adopting the language of the snooker hall, she gives a vivid insight into the closed, masculine world of smoky clubs and all- night drinking sessions in a prose that is both animated and accessible. But more than that, it is knowledgeable--Holland is not a woman with time on her hands who likes to shoot a few balls now and again. As a former champion snooker player who achieved world ranking, she certainly knows her stuff and readers will learn as much about the techniques as the morals of the snooker hall. This is a very welcome addition to that all-too-sparse good sports fiction. -- Lucie Naylor Jane Holland is also author of A Brief History of a Disreputable Woman and a Gregory Award Winner.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Jane Holland is an award-winning British poet and novelist, and proud mum of five amazing kids. The middle child of romance legend Charlotte Lamb, she grew up in Essex and the Isle of Man, but now lives in Cornwall. As Jane Holland, she writes poetry, thrillers, historical suspense and some romance. She also writes commercial women's fiction as Betty Walker, best known for her Cornish Girls wartime sagas. ALSO, try her popular contemporary romance and romcoms as Beth Good! (She also writes as Victoria Lamb, Elizabeth Moss, and Hannah Coates, among other names.)

Photograph credit: Anand Chhabra

Reviews

[Samantha Henthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story, and different too. I don't think I've ever read a snooker-setting novel. This read is a great observational comedy, to quote Jane Holland 'Nothing like a touch of cheerful arrogance' (that line really made me chuckle. Zoe's relationship has ended and she finds solace in the world of snooker, but human nature interferes and threads of competitiveness, family dynamics and good old fashioned lust run through the plotline. Another reason I enjoyed this book was nostalgia, taking me back to the 9os - and even further (but they were my own family memories).

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wondered what it was/is like for ladies playing snooker, then this is the book to read.

The book charters the fictional character Zoe, wannabe Champion snooker player, desperate to rise the ranks on the Ladies tour, but she is at every attempt, pushed back by the very fact she is a woman, and "women can't play snooker, as described by one male chauvinist in the book." Ironically, how things have changed now - slightly, anyway...With women like Reanne Evans and Ng On Yee making headway in a male dominated sport, this book lets you know how tough it can be for women playing in male dominated clubs, and with chauvinistic men who think women should be tied to the kitchen sink or tied to the bedroom.

Mordecai Richler, in his book "On Snooker" suggested in his book that Kissing the Pink would have been better as non fictional account - rather than a fictional one - I disagree. The characters all speak for themselves, and when you read through you really feel like you are in the room, (or club) watching them play, and watching the banter, the rivalry, the female wit, and the dry sense of humour. It all adds to the atmosphere of the ride.

The novel is well written - and amazingly sarcastic at times. I liked the way the main character Zoe had the struggle towards the end of whether she should go all out and play snooker or give in and indeed just be the dutiful mother. Ironically, it's the kids who cheer her on the most...

This isn't a book about how to play the game if you're looking for tips like that, but it is a book about how to survive the game. If you look deeper, there are some good tips in there for both men, and women.

Have a read yourself, and then, if you love snooker, get playing...

[celene irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read

The storyline in this book would not be my typical book to read but it caught my interest on the first chapter. I have read other books from this author and thoroughly enjoyed them but this book did not give the big bang at the end . I was very surprised when the book finished and there was no conclusion to it . I was very disappointed