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Original poster

What do people think of Ben Elton as an author?

31 replies

AWholeLottaNosy · 03/01/2015 21:41

I've just read his latest, 'Time and Time Again' and though it was excellent. I've actually read a lot of his books and have enjoyed them all. He always seems to have his finger on the pulse of the 'Zeitgeist', with topics such as. IVF, traffic, reality TV, the internet etc and often encapsulates things I've thought but articulates them very well. Ok he's no Dostoyevsky but I do think he's very underrated as a modern author.

Ok, that's my say, wondered what other people thought of his work...

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badRoly · 03/01/2015 21:44

Dh is a huge fan of Ben Elton from way back when he did his stand up, so we've had most of his books. I also very much enjoy his writing - he is very observant and like you say, seems to know what the current 'hot' topic is.

TipsyMcStaggers · 03/01/2015 21:48

I read one ages ago, I think it was called Inconceivable. I really, really enjoyed it.

Blanketontheground · 03/01/2015 21:50

I hated him early 30s. Love him now I'm the big 40.

acsec · 03/01/2015 21:52

I've only read Chart Throb and hated it! However, he is a very nice man and let me go in front of him at the bar at the Burlesque!

esiotrot2015 · 03/01/2015 21:52

I like him Grin
Inconceivable got made into a movie with Jodie Richardson I think

Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 03/01/2015 21:52

Oh that's good! Really enjoyed his last one, about time travel! Don't usually enjoy books about that, but it was so intriguing, basically, if you could go back in time and change one thing in history, what would that be? Of course, the consequences are never what you would expect.. A real page turner and would make a great film!

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ZombieApocalypse · 03/01/2015 21:53

Hmm. I have read a couple of his books, but the latter ones were a bit too tub-thumping for my liking.

Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 03/01/2015 21:54

He's definitely someone on my fantasy dinner party list, I think he'd be so interesting to spend an evening with.

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mrscumberbatch · 03/01/2015 21:55

Some of them are ridiculous but te one about the government mandated face books was hilarious and very astute.

I am reminded of it often on social media and on here!

feelingunsupported · 03/01/2015 21:57

I love him. The one about murders where someone gets hit on the head with phone books was fantastic!

MuttonCadet · 03/01/2015 21:59

I love his writing, but hated his stand up.

herethereandeverywhere · 03/01/2015 22:05

I find him very readable but I'm always left with the feeling that I could have written it myself, though Nick Hornby does that to me too [so perhaps it's just me!]

I loved his stand up more - that and Spitting Image shaped my formative years of political thinking!

Slothlorian · 03/01/2015 22:07

Really funny and clever

AlmaMartyr · 03/01/2015 22:09

I like him. The one about XFactor type shows was very funny and I suspect all too real.

Chewbecca · 03/01/2015 22:12

Love his books, have read them all (I think), except this newest one.

I prefer him being witty, when makes me snort on the train, and 'current' to his more serious books (the WW1 one).

Chewbecca · 03/01/2015 22:13

Have you read 'The second coming' by John Niven? Reminds me of BE in some ways.

SmatteringOfPatois · 03/01/2015 22:15

Read Two Brothers, the man has talent

CocktailQueen · 03/01/2015 22:20

I like him too! Loved gridlock, inconceivable and the one about reality tv shows, with the mingers, blingers and clingers... V close to the bone!

Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 03/01/2015 22:28

I have to admit I did love him in his shiny suit, 'Thatch' days, so was surprised that he turned out to be such a good and considered author, I don't hear Ben Elton's 'voice' when I read his novels as he was such a motor mouth in his youth.

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KillmeNow · 03/01/2015 22:33

I wasnt too fussed about his earlier books but once he started the popular culture themes I changed my mind. I loved Chart throb, Past mortem and Dead famous and whatever the name of the social media one was. I havent read the War based books yet though I have them on my ereader to get round to one day.

This new one looks to be an amalgam of themes so it has piqued my interest and Ive already down loaded it ready for when Ive finished my current book.

CoffeeBucks · 03/01/2015 22:37

I have read quite a few of his books, & I do like them, my favourites are the very strong satire/pastiche ones (Chart Throb & Dead Famous.) also liked Past Mortem.

However I dislike his writing style sometimes. Difficult to describe exactly what I don't like but some of his turns of phrase irritate me. He also recycles descriptions quite frequently, I have noticed the same phrases in multiple novels.

I also really dislike the way he writes accents phonetically.

museumum · 03/01/2015 22:40

I liked the big brother one. Like you say - very "zeitgeist". So much so though that tou probably couldn't read the big brother one now as it would be like a pastiche of a pastiche.

thingamajig · 03/01/2015 22:42

I enjoy him, but also think his plots/topics are better than his prose.

ItsAllKickingOffPru · 03/01/2015 22:53

He's a good sketch writer but it never translates well into a novel.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 03/01/2015 22:55

Stark was quite good as I recall, in places: found the rest appalling. Inconceivable was dross, particularly as it was full of references to how very well the male writer had captured the female voice. As written by the male writer!