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Ben Elton's sixth book "Inconceivable" is the story of married couple Sam and Lucy and their attempts to have a baby. This is a topic which could be fraught with danger but Elton has handled it with humour, and compassion.
The story isn't written like your normal everyday novel but as a series of journal entries from Sam and Lucy (Sam's are in normal type and Lucy's in italics). At first I must admit to finding this a little difficult to get into - I've never been a bit fan of prolonged monologuing and introspection - but once I'd gotten used to each of Sam and Lucy's "flow" I really started to enjoy this book.
I think the story being told in this fashion gave it more depth than if it was told in the traditional third person. You get to see firsthand the perspectives of the two main characters of the same events as well their individual emotional responses. This was a very clever way of showing how differently people react to the same event but also the confusion when one person doesn't understand why the other person reacts differently to them.
The passages also highlight to the reader how things can easily be misunderstood when each person doesn't (or can't) share their fears, dreams, or anxieties with other as well as the danger of not trying to see something from another person's point of view. Perhaps couples with communication issues should read this book too!
Do Sam and Lucy eventually have a baby...well, you'll have to read it to find out. Overall "Inconceivable" is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always compelling reading. It is a love story with all the heart, emotion, betrayal, and romance, but without any of the schmaltz.
The story isn't written like your normal everyday novel but as a series of journal entries from Sam and Lucy (Sam's are in normal type and Lucy's in italics). At first I must admit to finding this a little difficult to get into - I've never been a bit fan of prolonged monologuing and introspection - but once I'd gotten used to each of Sam and Lucy's "flow" I really started to enjoy this book.
I think the story being told in this fashion gave it more depth than if it was told in the traditional third person. You get to see firsthand the perspectives of the two main characters of the same events as well their individual emotional responses. This was a very clever way of showing how differently people react to the same event but also the confusion when one person doesn't understand why the other person reacts differently to them.
The passages also highlight to the reader how things can easily be misunderstood when each person doesn't (or can't) share their fears, dreams, or anxieties with other as well as the danger of not trying to see something from another person's point of view. Perhaps couples with communication issues should read this book too!
Do Sam and Lucy eventually have a baby...well, you'll have to read it to find out. Overall "Inconceivable" is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always compelling reading. It is a love story with all the heart, emotion, betrayal, and romance, but without any of the schmaltz.
