I have read books that have long drawn out chapters, I have read books that have short punchy three page chapters, I have read books written as diaries and even a book written entirely as e-mails but this was the first book that I have read that had no chapters and hence no sign posted markers ... Read review
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whenever Sam thinks about babies, he envisages rivers of vomit and sleepless nights. But ... more
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 suggest...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Lucy desperately wants a baby. Sam is determined to write a hit movie. The problem is that ... more
both their efforts seem to be unfruitful. What Sam and Lucy are about to go through is absolutely inconceivable. The question is, can their love survive?
Advantages: Funny in places and poignant Disadvantages: Not his best work
I have read books that have long drawn out chapters, I have read books that have short punchy three page chapters, I have read books written as diaries and even a book written entirely as e-mails but this was the first book that I have read that had no chapters and hence no sign posted markers to when you could consider taking a pause from reading instead this book is basically made up of two separate journals which record the thoughts and life experiences ... ...to start a family.
The story is set in London with the married couple Sam and Lucy Bell both enjoying reasonably successful careers, Sam with the BBC while Lucy works for an entertainment agency with a number of film and TV stars on their books. It was Lucy idea for both parties to maintain a secret journal to record their thoughts as secretly she hoped that it would make Sam open up with regards to his feelings as she felt him to ... more
I have read books that have long drawn out chapters, I have read books that have short punchy three page chapters, I have read books written as diaries and even a book written entirely as e-mails but this was the first book that I have read that had no chapters and hence no sign posted markers to when you could consider taking a pause from reading instead this book is basically made up of two separate journals which record the thoughts and life experiences of a thirty something married couple as they desperately try to start a family.
The story is set in London with the married couple Sam and Lucy Bell both enjoying reasonably successful careers, Sam with the BBC while Lucy works for an entertainment agency with a number of film and TV stars on their books. It was Lucy idea for both parties to maintain a secret journal to record their thoughts as secretly she hoped that it would make Sam open up with regards to his feelings as she felt him to be rather cold and emotionally withdrawn, at first Sam is reluctant and cannot think of anything to write but gradually begins to warm to the idea.
This style of presentation helps Elton switch the story telling between the two main characters and provides the opportunity for some delightful comedy moments such as immediately after one character recounts their side of an argument the reader gets to understand the other parties point of view and as with a lot of comedy the humour comes from the total failure to communicate between the two parties and the misunderstandings that follow.
Both of the two main characters are a little linear in their qualities, Sam is a middle management drone at the BBC who is faced with a stalling career beset by a number of major cock ups that in themselves are quite funny however it is the spin that he puts on them in an attempt to paper over the cracks that is also very funny as is the fact that no one at the BBC seems to really understand what their job title actually is, including Sam. Elton does a good job of mapping out the desperation of Lucy in her desire to have a baby and this desperation soon becomes an all consuming obsession which at times she seems aware of but as with Sam and his career she also attempts to paper over them providing a justification for her actions at every point possible. In her case the comedy moments spring from her new age friend Drusilla and her strange suggestions for helping with the conception and the fact that although at first always dismissing them Lucy still ends up giving them a try and raising both her and Sam’s hopes in the process.
I must say I enjoyed this book, it is not the best piece I have ever read by Elton but then neither is it his worst, there are some very funny moments in the book and there are also some quite touching moments as despite their deep love for each other the obsession with having a baby and the soul searching that takes place when they keep failing drives a wedge into their relationship that threatens their marriage.
The book does raise some interesting points about the fertility process as Sam and Lucy go through IVF treatment and there are some easy jokes about masturbation and sex in a public place but there is also a serious side to the book as it explores the desperation that not being able to start a family can cause for those affected and how society places such an expectation on couples to raise a family and adopt the various social norms that define a family in modern society. Certainly I felt a certain amount of pity for the plight of both characters even if both of them have some flaws to their characters, Sam is quite selfish while Lucy is obsessive and judgemental, the storyline also served to highlight the total need for open and honest communication in a relationship and how if neither party is really listening to the other then trouble can raise its head.
There is some debate over the ethics of providing treatment on the NHS and this is highlighted by both parties seemingly easy disregarding of their beliefs when it comes to paying for private treatment despite their left leaning political views on the subject.
This is a very readable book and I did find it hard to put down, not having chapters made me more inclined to want to read just one more journal entry, the text changes to italics when it is Lucy journal and normal font when it is Sam and with Lucy she is actually writing hers directly to an imaginary friend she had in childhood so the pieces take on a one sided conversational tone with the imaginary being the one to whom Lucy justifies her actions.
In summary I found this to be an entertaining and funny read with a good storyline, the ending was a little contrived but also had a nice uplifting feel to it as well and left me closing the book with a smile on my face even though the ending was not one that I saw coming even from a few pages out from the en of the book.
Published by Bantam Press I obtained a copy of the hardback version from readitswapit.c.uk as part of a swap and the ISBN is 0-593-04479-7. The paperback is available on Amazon for £5.28 new or from a penny in the new and used section.
Advantages: A really enjoyable read Disadvantages: Bumping into things because you can't put it down
Inconvievable is the book that the film Maybe Baby was based around. I read the book before I seen the film, and I’m glad I did it that way round – the book inspired me to go watch the film, but I doubt the inverse would be true. The film doesn’t create the same warmth in the characters and doesn’t develop them as well as people – put simply, I became a lot more attached to the characters in the book. The book is one ... ...style, and it isn’t a pain to read. I bought it shortly after Christmas, when I was revising, which turned out to be a bad idea as I ended up reading the book more than I did revising! (Still, I passed, so that’s the important thing!). The book is based around Sam and Lucy Bell. Sam and Lucy have been trying to conceive for years now, and at the start of this book they are debating on whether they should start tests to see what the problem ...
hugon 24.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Inconceivable - Ben Elton
Advantages: very funny, easy reading, good story, well observed Disadvantages: not a great classic
...and he’s right! He said Inconceivable by Ben Elton was a really good book and that I would like it. He was right. Damn.
The only Ben Elton book I have read was Stark, the first one. It was okay, not great. But recently, I have got into Chick Lit and rarely find myself reading male authors – Terry Pratchett being the exception.
But to appease my beloved one, I had a look at Inconceivable. The format initially put me off a bit, as it ... ...only one out there!
Inconceivable works on many levels – yes, it’s the story of a couple’s fight to conceive a child, but it’s also satirical, a modern social comedy. The BBC is picked apart from the inside, with a kind of critical affection that could only have come from someone in the know. It is definitely an adult book, with themes including sex, masturbation and various invasive medical procedures. My eight year old ...
KarenUK 08.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Inconceivable - Ben Elton
Advantages: An addictive and absorbing book. Disadvantages: The ending is a little weak.
...went against them. Inconceivable is not a classic, Inconceivable is not probably the best of Ben Elton, but it is however I book that I am enternally glad I bought, and a book I will enjoy reading for a long time to come. The book was recently filmed as 'Maybe Baby', directed by Ben Elton, starring Joely Richardson and Hugh Laurie. ...
everyplatewebreak 21.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Inconceivable - Ben Elton
Advantages: fascinating, easy to read, Disadvantages: far too absorbing
As I am currently not working I have plenty of time on my hands and am so far using a fairly large chunk of it reading and re-reading some of the heaps of books that litter my bedroom (I was meant to be tidying up, but you know how rude it is to pick up a book and not read it don't you?). This is one that for whatever reason had previously been overlooked so must have been languishing in book purgatory for over a year, given that I have always enjoyed ... ...eyes to this one.
It is well known that this book is about one of the hardest topics for any couple to come to terms with. The reasons behind infertility and the solutions to this problem. Of course it is also known that Ben Elton is writing from his own experiences as he and his wife had to get IVF treatment before they could become parents, so it seems that this book is going to be accuarate in that the emotions and experiences are his own.
The ...
scuba_angel 30.04.2007 (28.04.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Inconceivable - Ben Elton
Advantages: A fabulous read about a touchy subject Disadvantages: Could be put off if not a fan of Elton
This happens to be the first Ben Elton novel that I have read, and having never been a great fan of his comedy was not sure it would entirely be my cup of tea, but move over Earl Grey, I'm hooked!
Written in everyday language, Elton has not tried to be clever with words, nor has he tried to duplicate his somewhat course stand-up routine, which if I'm honest, is possibly what I was expecting. What he has successfully done though is written a first ... ...humour and compassion. Based loosely on his own experiences of infertility, he has reached deep down and recalled every emotion he and his wife obviously went through at the time, and the knowledge he has on the subject is easily seen. Within a few chapters the main characters become real, and it helps that they are everyday people, there is no Hollywood style gloss, but good British behaviour only a little exagerated!
Throughout the book you can ...
Lizzii 24.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Inconceivable - Ben Elton
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Advantages: Keeps you interested, a page turner, very cleverly written Disadvantages: Might not be your sort of thing...
I was up ‘til 1:30am last night, finishing off the last hundred or so pages of this book – Blast from the Past by BenElton. I have previously read some other of his novels - Stark (years ago) and more recently, Inconceivable (okay) and Dead Famous (very good). I wouldn’t say he is in my list of favourite authors, but he’s worth a read.
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Advantages: Great characters, amusing Disadvantages: not hard to put down
back ground with Chart Throb written in neon lighting and a huge microphone. If you didn't already know what the book was about it would make you pick it up at least to have a read of the blurb.
The Author
BenElton has had a vast career not only has he wrote award winning TV shows, Young Ones and Blackadder , to name a couple he is himself a hugely successful stand up comic. He has written three hit westend plays, Gasping, Silly Cow and Popcorn (based on his novel). He wrote and directed the film Maybe Baby (based on his novel Inconceivable) and written three stage musicals including We Will Rock You which he created with Queen.
By The Same Author
Novels:
Stark
Gridlock
The Other Eden
Popcorn
Blast from The Past
Inconceivable
Dead Famous
High Society
Past Mortem
The First Casualty
Blind Faith
Plays:
Gasping
Silly ...
