High Society - Ben Elton
Ben Elton's new novel High Society initially appears to be a cautionary tale about Britain
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today, but its vision of a society totally in thrall to criminality has elements of the visionary novel about it. Happily, the state of the nation is not (yet) quite as awful as it's rendered in this terrifying kaleidoscope. We're taken into a world in which drug use holds total sway, and the whole world essentially functions as a single criminal network. From royalty and the upper crust to drug abusers and prostitutes--right across the social spectrum--we are (in Elton's unsparing universe) plunging into a criminal world. Elton's cast of characters is massive, but all (notably a government minister who is trying to push through a bill to legalise drugs) are etched in with maximum vividness. Interestingly, although Elton casts a cold eye across the whole of society (including an unforgiving look at the media) the final effect of the book is anything but bleak. All the trademark wit is here, along with a sense of focus that is considerably more sophisticated than anything Elton has tackled before. As a serious satirical novel (yes, there is such a thing), High Society makes an indelible mark. --Barry Forshaw
Inconceivable - Ben Elton
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But
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wife Lucy can't walk past Mothercare without crying. What's more, she can't seem to conceive--not by traditional methods, anyway. Hippy confidante Drusilla suggests an array of New Age remedies, including the intimate use of nutmeg oil and al fresco lovemaking. As Lucy faces a possible verdict of infertility, her love for Sam enters tailspin, accelerated by the advent of arrogant actor Carl Phipps. Meanwhile Sam, desperate to escape his tedious BBC job, conceives the inconceivable--turning the intimacies of their battle for babies into an acclaimed movie script. Inconceivable tells a poignant and heart-rending story with Elton's trademark wit, creating a novel that is entertaining and emotionally satisfying; as explosive as Popcorn and with the incendiary humour of Blast From the Past. It courageously tackles its central theme from both the male and the female points of view, and while delivering laughs on every page, it steers clear of laddish clichés. Lucy's tale, though pregnant with unfulfilled emotion, never stints on humour. "There seem", she fumes, "to be more urban myths attached to infertility than there are to ... film stars filling their bottoms with small animals." Aside from the rich vein of gags about DIY conception (Sam has to leave a power lunch with the excuse: "Sorry, my wife is ovulating ..."), Elton also subjects the TV industry to relentless stand-up-style bombardment, giving birth to some brilliant asides, which enrich the main story but never overpower it. Funny, tragic, true and ultimately heart-warming, this book should be available on the National Health Service. --Matthew Baylis
...This book is a must read for fans of BenElton's writing. From the hollywood star to the scandanavian adonis this book is full of strong characters and intreguing twists. Elton's characteristic ecological view of the world is present in its entirity but is not forced upon you and does not distract you from the books humour. Having read all but one of Elton's novels (Stark being the odd one out) I can safely say that in my mind this is the best. I purchased this on the back of reading Gridlock (which I also found to be enjoyable) and was not disapointed to find that Elton had bettered himself....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Very funny, innovative layout, realistic characters, well written Disadvantages: none
...Recently made into a film called 'Maybe Baby', BenElton's sad but hilarious novel, Inconceivable, is written as extracts from the diaries of a husband and wife. The couple have been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for many months and Elton depicts their ups and downs perfectly. The husband, Sam, is a BBC employee, while his wife, , works in a showbiz agency. Their day to day goings on provide the bulk of the laughs in the book, especially the squirrel scene on Primrose Hill (read the book to find out more!). Eventually there is conflict in the relationship which Elton deals with in a very sensitive but entertaining manner. This book will appeal to readers in their late teens or early twenties, and also to fans of BenElton's other books. The book is much, much better than the toned-down film so go and read it now!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Easy reading Disadvantages: Very similar to other books out now
...Please do not judge this book on the film. 'Maybe Baby', although taken from the book, was nothing like how I had pictured the characters or anything. Try to put the film out of mind whilst reading because the book is a lot better.
I really enjoyed reading 'Inconcieveable'. I love BenElton's writing style and this book more than lives up to his normal standard. It had humour, drama and a lot of emotion. Embarrassingly, I was seen to laugh, gasp and cry out loud all through reading it and hated finishing the book, as I wanted to keep on reading.
Although the book is written about a very serious subject, BenElton, handles it with a great deal of sensitivity even through its light heartedness.
It is definitely a book that I could read again soon....
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21.09.2000
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