One of Ben Elton's best - very funny but poignant and touching as well. Never realised what some women have to go through to conceive.

What can I say? Usually I love a good Elton book but this is either a total flop or (and more likely) it's just not for me.
The plot isn't necessarily a bad one, perhaps a bit mundane. I think the issue here is that I can't relate to this on any level, due in its entirety to my own life experience. As far as characterisation goes it's a bit 50/50.
I like Sam, I like Sam alot. He's exhausted, a bit clueless and endearing throughout. If Sam was a real man, I feel as though we'd be mates.
But then Lucy! What was Ben doing writing Lucy? If she's based on a real person, I'm sorry he had to meet her. She's not really got any other character points other than the fact that she wants a baby. In the beginning I had nothing but sympathy for her, by half way it all starts to wear a bit thin. Reading Lucy's sections I began to feel almost like a long serving friend who's been hearing this for months, but it still trying to force themselves to care. I'm sorry Lucy, it's very hard to care. I think that's my main issue with the book, I just didn't get invested into the book. There was never an evening when I desperately wanted to find out what happens next because (SPOILER ALERT) it'll just be another 100 or so pages of nobody having a baby in all likelihood.
In short, not my thing but it might be yours. There's nothing really wrong with it, just nothing all that right either.

Tuli nyt tämäkin lukaistua, vaikka yllätyksellisyys puuttuikin, kiitos kirjasta tehdyn elokuvan jonka olen nähnyt monta kertaa. Pieniä erilaisuuksia oli kyllä bongaavinani loppupuolella.

I really enjoyed this book. Elton has a talent for clever formatting the prose into a wonderful plot which I'm sure a lot of readers will be able to relate to at some point on the spectrum.

Ben Elton is a very funny writer but this isn't his greatest book. I have read funnier;!at the same time, his satire is second to none. He is a far better writer than a comedian and that's saying something.

A really good read. I'm going to work my way through Ben Elton's backlist as the topics he writes about and the way he portrays them really works for me.

Five stars.

Well balanced between humour and pathos as a late 20th century London couple face up to their problems in getting pregnant.

It's hard for me to review this book as I read it so long ago. Not only is my memory a little hazy, my tastes have changed since then.
That said, I have very fond memories of this book. I've always found Ben Elton to be hilarious, both as a stand up comedian and as a writer and this book was full of many laugh out loud moments. But it was also very deep and dealt with serious subjects.

Lucy and Sam trying to get pregnant. I could relate to this (so I thought) thats why I picked the book. I never thought that such a sensitive issue could be tackled in a non-conventional way; hilarious BUT also heartbreaking at some point. I could relate to Lucy's frustration and desperation to get pregnant so I asked my husband to read it and let me know if Sam is a realistic character. My husband finished the book in 2 nights (hahah) and bounced back to me with loads of question relating to Lucy! Two thumbs up for Ben Elton.

While there were moments when the narrative dragged a bit for me, and I had a hard time liking Lucy (I am a girl and even I found her annoyingly dramatic and self-absorbed at times (yes, I know she was supposed to be), overall I really liked the story. And, even in his worst moments, Sam was fantastically funny and real.

I found the story humorous and sad all at the same time. I even think there is a line toward the end that notes how funny and sad the whole trying to and being unsuccessful at having a baby can be. But, really, that is life. Even in the saddest moments there are those nuggets of humor that we, as humans, need in order to get through those trying times.

This was my first Ben Elton and will definitely not be my last.

I read this as a teen (I'm not sure exactly how old, though I know I reread the book several times) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's rare for a book about romance, pregnancy and married life to hold my interest, even rarer for it to make me laugh out loud. I probably wouldn't pick it out now as an adult, but it's definitely a fun read and I remember it fondly. Elton at his comedic best.

Enjoyable book, good if you need something easy but slightly different to keep you entertained.