Ben Elton's Identity Crisis

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

Has anyone else read this? Am reading it now - a satirical reflection on today's society with a particular focus on gender identity and social media.

I've just got to the bit where Mumsnet gets name-checked: after a trans woman is murdered, there's a thread on MN asking why this murder gets more attention than the murders of "ordinary women" and then an online campaign forces MN moderators to ban the phrase "ordinary women" as hate-speak.

I did pause to reflect on this passage, where the protagonist is thinking about the character who is very clearly based on Germaine Greer:

"Even five years earlier no one would have imagined that a whole generation of women with vaginas would unite in defence of women with penises to take down a woman with a vagina who had previously been a feminist icon."

I've finished it.

I'm seeing him live in the autumn and will report back!
His "got to get a double seat" sketch was a favourite of mine back in the day.

I’ve just finished the book. Thought it was a very easy read and more of a comment on modern society with some on the nose descriptions and a story that has real possibility of being true.

In the last few chapters I enjoyed Matlock refusing to describe a victim as their chosen identity and as how he viewed them - he told others they could use whichever name they wished. I think that’s probably his stance and a fair one in my opinion.

There was a lot of MN style feminism in there, also particularly enjoyed Malika’s monologue on why men buying women underwear is a bit cringe!

Overall a good holiday read and possible view into the future with an eye on how we’ll get there down the rabbit hole!

I thought this was very good - the stand out moment was probably when Matlock and his stepdaughter were watching a video of a feminist standing up to men wanting to use a women’s pond in the 80’s. Stepdaughters reaction was that feminist was awesome.

Fast forward 30 years, and same feminist is challenging a trans woman at the same pond, reaction was ‘terf bitch’.

Summed it up for me, I think Ben Elton presented the many issues well.

He doesn’t seek to take sides, but I definitely felt he was highlighting the obvious hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance on the TRA side.

According to Amazon the paperback is due out August 9th.

Will be snapping this up.

I'd have been very surprised if he wasn't gender critical. Only people who believe in fairies could swallow that codswallop, and he has a functioning brain.

Off to see if it's available on kindle.

I've finished listening to it on audible. It's properly gripping. He's a great writer

and YY to the person up thread who says he definitely reads Mumsnet

interesting section about the 'highgate' women's pond. juxstaposing the 80's hooray henries who sought to destroy it with poor, tearful, vulnerable Sammy. I think he did get that no matter how nice Sammy was, they were still male, so the net result of the incursion was still the same. That could be my confirmation bias though because I luffs him a bit

It was a really interesting comment on the brexit referendum. is all this gender identity clash being brewed up by the russian government?

They definitely do forment unrest online. do they come here and do it?

I think it underlined for me that I need to be very careful and clear about understanding why I hold certain beliefs, and strenuously avoid throwing out death threats (100% success rate on that so far - go me!)

Finally got my hands on the paperback and enjoying this already.

'He (Matlock) read the Guardian. He knew that language and attitudes were changing.'

I served him in a pub in the 90's. He was so polite and genuine.

I'm reading it now. It really is very good.

On the strength of the thread I wasted an Audible point on this. It might tick all the right topical ideoligical boxes, but I really hate the way he writes. Totally unengaging and dull. Like he's got all these ideas sparking away in his head and just brings them down, with only the slightest of frameworks to carry a story.

I absolutely loved it. I found it incredibly insightful and hilarious in parts.

Mumsnet name check was cool. The wrong side of history stuff.

Identity politics is absolutely shit and I think this nails it.

I'm buying everyone it for Christmas.

Just came on to say I saw Ben Elton on his tour this week and he was bloody brilliant! He's so good on identity politics and such a feminist supporter. I love him. He had me genuinely laughing out loud and sobbing at times too, especially when he talked about his dad who had Alzheimer's in his latter years. I so wish they'd filmed it like with Ricky Gervais so we could all watch it. If you liked him in the 80s, I promise you, he hasn't lost it!

gone you can exchange any book on audible. Just swap it.

I think Ben Elton is one of the few genuine male feminists allies. I've always thought so.

I went to see his show last week too. It was excellent.

Not very much on the trans issue but he touched on it briefly.

Thanks for the show feedback. I'm seeing him in a couple of weeks, so it's good to know that he's still got it.

It's a fabulous book. Page after page of sending up wokeness and the perniciousness of social media.

It's a foretelling of where the madness could end.

It's on Audible you if you prefer to listen to books! I listened to it on a sunbed

I'm seeing him in December - so looking forward to it!

and yes, identity crisis was a thoroughly enjoyable book. i particularly liked that a woman who had behaved 'badly' was able to get away with it - quite unusual in the world of novels.

55Destinysdaughter
Same. Hes brilliant. Even better than in 80s. Def gc!

Saw Ben last night. A fair bit on self ID.

Ben got across some of the absurdities of identity and the woke. There was also a great part on menstruation.

His observation about what's happened to Germaine Greer was conveyed perfectly. I was nodding furiously.

And this was all in a theate that's so proud of its gender neutral loos. It does have ladies' toilets, where I came out to a load of photos promoting men dressed in womanface.

gender neutal is the theatre's script btw, they are mixed sex.

Neutral even.

I have always found Ben Elton a bit hit and. miss but this definitely is a hit - his best novel.

I think he has used plenty of his own experience, he was the darling of the PC crowd in the 80s then became a pariah to the same people. He can see how fickle and.fashion conscious politics can be.

Ooh Ive ordered this now.

Swapping on audible? What put me off is its just 1 a month - can you have limitless as long as you give up the one you're lustening to then? That isnt clear. J dont reread/listen so happy to borrow!