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The Death of Eli Gold. David Baddiel
The new novel from David Baddiel, comedian, columnist and author of the critically-praised The Secret Purposes.In New York's Mt. Sinai hospital, the world's greatest living writer, Eli Gold, is dying. Witnessing his death are his precocious 8-year-old daughter by his present (fifth) wife, his anxiety-ridden 44-year-old son from his third marriage, and his 89-year-old first wife, watching on TV from a care home in London. And also, secretly, his fourth wife's fundamentalist Mormon brother, who has never got over his sister's death in a suicide pact with Eli, a suicide pact that Eli survived.The Death of Eli Gold is a comedy, a thriller, and a meditation on love, death, aging, sex, fame, and the idea - the dying idea - of The Great Man.
418 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
About the author
David Baddiel
87 books453 followersDavid Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter. Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. He grew up in grew up in Dollis Hill, Willesden, North London.
After studying at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, he read English at King's College, Cambridge and graduated with a double first. He began studies for a PhD in English at University College London, but did not complete it.
Baddiel became a cabaret stand-up comedian after leaving university and also wrote sketches and jokes for various radio series. His first television appearance came in a bit-part on one episode of the showbiz satire, Filthy, Rich and Catflap. In 1988, he was introduced to Rob Newman, a comic impressionist, and the two became a writing partnership. They were subsequently paired up with the partnership of Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis for a new topical comedy show for BBC Radio 1 called The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and its success led to a transfer to television, shooting Baddiel to fame.
He has written four novels: Time for Bed, Whatever Love Means, The Secret Purposes and The Death of Eli Gold.
Baddiel has two children, both born in Westminster, London, with his girlfriend, Morwenna Banks.
After studying at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, he read English at King's College, Cambridge and graduated with a double first. He began studies for a PhD in English at University College London, but did not complete it.
Baddiel became a cabaret stand-up comedian after leaving university and also wrote sketches and jokes for various radio series. His first television appearance came in a bit-part on one episode of the showbiz satire, Filthy, Rich and Catflap. In 1988, he was introduced to Rob Newman, a comic impressionist, and the two became a writing partnership. They were subsequently paired up with the partnership of Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis for a new topical comedy show for BBC Radio 1 called The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and its success led to a transfer to television, shooting Baddiel to fame.
He has written four novels: Time for Bed, Whatever Love Means, The Secret Purposes and The Death of Eli Gold.
Baddiel has two children, both born in Westminster, London, with his girlfriend, Morwenna Banks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 18, 2012
I really struggled with the first hundred pages of this book. The first problem I ran into was the intrinsic Baddielness of the book. That is to say, if you know who David Baddiel is and grew up with him you can hear his voice overwhelmingly throughout the text.
This is of course, 50% awesome if you're a Baddiel fan like me, but also 50% irritating, as you're unable to completely immerse yourself in the story without hearing his voice. Especially when I came across the word "genuine". David Baddiel often uses the sentence "I genuinely believe(d)..." quite often on the telly / radio, so when I read that word I totally grinned out loud.
The second problem was that Harvey, the main protagonist is very introspective, so he'd have thought streams that seemed to continue for twenty pages. It was no Mrs Dalloway but I did sigh as I had to read all through that.
After that first chunk and the story kicked in, I enjoyed it a lot more and stayed up late to finish it.
It's a good read. I did feel like one of the storylines was a little superfluous but I really liked Collette, the sour sweet touches and the Baddielness.
PS Actually am I writing this channelling David Baddiel? Does he say "that is to say" too? Or am I imagining that.
PPS If there's a Goodreads prize for most uses of the word Baddiel in a review, can I win it? And I made Baddielness into a adjective, just as his first comedy husband Robert Newman did in his novel to Björk.
PPPS I realise this makes me sound like a crazy Baddiel fan. I'm really not, I mean I love his stuff and will travel to West London from East to see him record Radio 4 panel pilots but I think the book's done this to me. Beware.
PPPPS Was delighted at the Maureen Lipman blink-and-you-miss-it cameo
This is of course, 50% awesome if you're a Baddiel fan like me, but also 50% irritating, as you're unable to completely immerse yourself in the story without hearing his voice. Especially when I came across the word "genuine". David Baddiel often uses the sentence "I genuinely believe(d)..." quite often on the telly / radio, so when I read that word I totally grinned out loud.
The second problem was that Harvey, the main protagonist is very introspective, so he'd have thought streams that seemed to continue for twenty pages. It was no Mrs Dalloway but I did sigh as I had to read all through that.
After that first chunk and the story kicked in, I enjoyed it a lot more and stayed up late to finish it.
It's a good read. I did feel like one of the storylines was a little superfluous but I really liked Collette, the sour sweet touches and the Baddielness.
PS Actually am I writing this channelling David Baddiel? Does he say "that is to say" too? Or am I imagining that.
PPS If there's a Goodreads prize for most uses of the word Baddiel in a review, can I win it? And I made Baddielness into a adjective, just as his first comedy husband Robert Newman did in his novel to Björk.
PPPS I realise this makes me sound like a crazy Baddiel fan. I'm really not, I mean I love his stuff and will travel to West London from East to see him record Radio 4 panel pilots but I think the book's done this to me. Beware.
PPPPS Was delighted at the Maureen Lipman blink-and-you-miss-it cameo
February 13, 2024
I'd best own up to loving David Baddiel so I was predisposed to liking this book before I started. However it wasn't at all what I was expecting.
In the book we are presented with a host of thoroughly unlikeable characters. Harvey Gold, the eldest son of Eli ("the world's greatest living writer"), has been summoned to New York to witness the imminent death of his father. Harvey is an absolute swine who spends his life appraising women for their beauty without being aware of his own failings (he has this much in common with his father).
We also have Freda, Eli's current wife; Collete the youngest child of the great author. Freda is simply a control freak whereas Collette begins the book as a spoiled brat but ends as a little girl who is very sad that her father is dying.
The other main player is the brother of another of Eli's wives who has come to New York to get revenge for his sister's suicide on "The Great Satan". He spends his time waiting to fulfil his destiny.
This is not an easy book to like. The characters in the main are all horrible. The only one who barely changes from her sweet and slightly bewildered self is Violet, Gold's first wife. However I'd say it is an accurate portrayal of how men and women view each other with the added attraction of people vying to be thought important enough to be in at the death of an important author.
David Baddiel's humour isn't much on display and I spent a fair amount of time calling Harvey all the names under the sun. However it is a good story and some characters do redeem themselves before the end.
In the book we are presented with a host of thoroughly unlikeable characters. Harvey Gold, the eldest son of Eli ("the world's greatest living writer"), has been summoned to New York to witness the imminent death of his father. Harvey is an absolute swine who spends his life appraising women for their beauty without being aware of his own failings (he has this much in common with his father).
We also have Freda, Eli's current wife; Collete the youngest child of the great author. Freda is simply a control freak whereas Collette begins the book as a spoiled brat but ends as a little girl who is very sad that her father is dying.
The other main player is the brother of another of Eli's wives who has come to New York to get revenge for his sister's suicide on "The Great Satan". He spends his time waiting to fulfil his destiny.
This is not an easy book to like. The characters in the main are all horrible. The only one who barely changes from her sweet and slightly bewildered self is Violet, Gold's first wife. However I'd say it is an accurate portrayal of how men and women view each other with the added attraction of people vying to be thought important enough to be in at the death of an important author.
David Baddiel's humour isn't much on display and I spent a fair amount of time calling Harvey all the names under the sun. However it is a good story and some characters do redeem themselves before the end.
September 4, 2016
Much of this book is engaged in the tortuous angst of Harvey, the son of the dying great writer Eli Gold. Sometimes it is funny. It is sharp and clear about how obsessed men can be with women and sex and in this case the aging of the objects of desire. It ends with some redemption for our searching middle-aged male, and some insight into the nature of "great men."
I didn't like it nearly as much as The Secret Purposes by the same author. This one has more angst and less tenderness. The craziness of some of the zany characters is a redeeming feature.
I didn't like it nearly as much as The Secret Purposes by the same author. This one has more angst and less tenderness. The craziness of some of the zany characters is a redeeming feature.
June 27, 2011
slow to start this book is a pleasant surprise, intelligent, quietly funny, a meandering tale of life, death and the inner most thoughts of a range of unique,sometimes disturbed but lovable characters.
January 5, 2014
A little bit slow at the start, but later on the story seems to kick in.
I enjoyed the way each person related to the author Eli Gold a man waiting to die.
Have to say all in all quite a good read.
I enjoyed the way each person related to the author Eli Gold a man waiting to die.
Have to say all in all quite a good read.
December 29, 2012
There are a whole load of things I could say about this book. Firstly, I could say that this is Baddiel’s attempt to ‘do a Roth’. Secondly, I could say that this is his attempt to be another Jacobson – or maybe to be a ‘southern English’ or even ‘mid-Atlantic’ version of him. Thirdly, I could just say that this is a good book and this is the version I think I’ll stick to for now.
As a lover of contemporary fiction, this book appealed to me on many levels. Baddiel has a gift for writing intelligence that shines through the page as a well as a gift for plotting and multi-level narration. The rather maudlin base-story of a world famous writer seeing out his last few days in a comatose state allows some members of his family to pay their last respects and mourn for him in advance. This theoretic meet and greet between family members does not, of course, go to plan but weaves in all the character flaws of the silent protagonist Eli Gold as the curse of celebrity, failed suicide plots, undertones of terrorism and raging personalities set against each other do not bode well for a smooth departure of and surrounding the soul.
This is a book where otherwise secondary and tertiary characters do take the limelight as Eli Gold’s life and personality are very much analysed from the silence of his final illness. His middle aged son Harvey, a very much anglicised and Anglo-centric character provides much empathy and entertainment as he comes to terms with realising the life of his father and his shortcomings, acknowledging his own weaknesses and starting to get to know members of his new family whilst remaining apart from his own immediate (debatable) stronghold.
The narration is actually intensely layered and potentially complex but Baddiel does a good job in bringing plotlines together subtly with added touches of sensitive sarcasm and sprinkles of wry humour deeply set.
I must admit that it’s a while since I have seen any Baddiel comedy on television, stage or other but this book reminded me of his intelligent approach to treatment of his material and of his ‘paper people’. I am also a lover of Roth and Jacobson and I can make several comparisons with this work towards such writers (it seemed really fitting actually that Roth played a cameo appearance within this very work) – whilst not a direct copy (this book has its own style) there is very much an element of homage here.
Great writing, plot and characters – what was not to like? A really enjoyable and commendable read of contemporary fiction - Baddiel is an exciting writer with much potential and I look forward to more from him.
As a lover of contemporary fiction, this book appealed to me on many levels. Baddiel has a gift for writing intelligence that shines through the page as a well as a gift for plotting and multi-level narration. The rather maudlin base-story of a world famous writer seeing out his last few days in a comatose state allows some members of his family to pay their last respects and mourn for him in advance. This theoretic meet and greet between family members does not, of course, go to plan but weaves in all the character flaws of the silent protagonist Eli Gold as the curse of celebrity, failed suicide plots, undertones of terrorism and raging personalities set against each other do not bode well for a smooth departure of and surrounding the soul.
This is a book where otherwise secondary and tertiary characters do take the limelight as Eli Gold’s life and personality are very much analysed from the silence of his final illness. His middle aged son Harvey, a very much anglicised and Anglo-centric character provides much empathy and entertainment as he comes to terms with realising the life of his father and his shortcomings, acknowledging his own weaknesses and starting to get to know members of his new family whilst remaining apart from his own immediate (debatable) stronghold.
The narration is actually intensely layered and potentially complex but Baddiel does a good job in bringing plotlines together subtly with added touches of sensitive sarcasm and sprinkles of wry humour deeply set.
I must admit that it’s a while since I have seen any Baddiel comedy on television, stage or other but this book reminded me of his intelligent approach to treatment of his material and of his ‘paper people’. I am also a lover of Roth and Jacobson and I can make several comparisons with this work towards such writers (it seemed really fitting actually that Roth played a cameo appearance within this very work) – whilst not a direct copy (this book has its own style) there is very much an element of homage here.
Great writing, plot and characters – what was not to like? A really enjoyable and commendable read of contemporary fiction - Baddiel is an exciting writer with much potential and I look forward to more from him.
October 10, 2011
Was it David Baddiel that had a comedy routine about the cost of car insurance when he gave his occuption as a Comedian? It was very good, with the punch line about it being more expensive as he might drive "in a funny way".
So another question is can a British Comedian write the great American Novel?
The answer is a resounding Yes. This was an excellent book that manages to provide entertainment, discuss big questions about life and be mildly amusing, in a very dark way. He does clever things, such as having the inspiration of Philip Roth handled by having him a character in the book.
Eli Gold is a great literary man. He is in NY on his death bed and his life is relived through his first wife (he had 5), his youngest daughter (8), eldest son (44) and the brother of one of his wives who died in a joint suicide pact with him.
The writing reminded me of Roth. Same sort of way of dealing with big themes through a story. There is little higher praise. But it isn't patische.
The characters are strong, with the strongest, Harvey the son, given the most airtime. As an insecure 44 year old man, son of a legend who has achieved little, he provides the humour throughout the book. I do feel that a little too much on the male psyche is revealed along the way. You could argue that this is Baddiel himself, although this is dealt with in the book when suggestions that thoughts in books are from the character, not the author. You dont have to like characters to like the book. Although we all like Harvey.
Possibly the most enjoyable book I have read this year. Ticked all my boxes about what Literature should be.
So another question is can a British Comedian write the great American Novel?
The answer is a resounding Yes. This was an excellent book that manages to provide entertainment, discuss big questions about life and be mildly amusing, in a very dark way. He does clever things, such as having the inspiration of Philip Roth handled by having him a character in the book.
Eli Gold is a great literary man. He is in NY on his death bed and his life is relived through his first wife (he had 5), his youngest daughter (8), eldest son (44) and the brother of one of his wives who died in a joint suicide pact with him.
The writing reminded me of Roth. Same sort of way of dealing with big themes through a story. There is little higher praise. But it isn't patische.
The characters are strong, with the strongest, Harvey the son, given the most airtime. As an insecure 44 year old man, son of a legend who has achieved little, he provides the humour throughout the book. I do feel that a little too much on the male psyche is revealed along the way. You could argue that this is Baddiel himself, although this is dealt with in the book when suggestions that thoughts in books are from the character, not the author. You dont have to like characters to like the book. Although we all like Harvey.
Possibly the most enjoyable book I have read this year. Ticked all my boxes about what Literature should be.
July 29, 2015
Sad, funny, beautiful.Loved it.
October 31, 2012
I started reading this book in the book shop and didn't quite take in who had written it until much later, leaving me surprised to discover that it was by David Baddiel who I only ever really knew of as half of the team who brought us Three Lions and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned. I wouldn't have expected either of them to write a book about death and life and greatness and tra la la. It so very nearly works. This is another idea of the world's greatest living writer who is dying which hasn't been done before or anything ... this has got to be the third one that I've read in the last year alone. Eli Gold is basically Philip Roth only not because Philip Roth has a walk-on cameo as Eli Gold's best friend. As someone who has never read any Philip Roth it is hard for me to put that into context. Gold has been married five times with a scattering of children, he's in his nineties, he is basically comatose.
For my full review:
http://www.girlwithherheadinabook.blo...
For my full review:
http://www.girlwithherheadinabook.blo...
January 12, 2015
I've never struggled harder reading a book. The book seemed so promising but as I started reading, I could only feel more disappointed as I went along. It started off too slowly but that was OK. The main problem was that it dragged so unnecessarily and the juice of the book only happened at the very end of the book, like almost after 300 pages in.
Yes, at the very end, it becomes very exciting but having most of the book being too boring, flatlined and sinfully repetitive, I wasn't able to bring myself to say that I enjoyed the book. There were too many times I wanted to give up because I was struggling so hard and in all honesty, this book took me 2 months to finish which is unprecedented...and nuts! Imagine the kind of frustration I was in.
Yes, at the very end, it becomes very exciting but having most of the book being too boring, flatlined and sinfully repetitive, I wasn't able to bring myself to say that I enjoyed the book. There were too many times I wanted to give up because I was struggling so hard and in all honesty, this book took me 2 months to finish which is unprecedented...and nuts! Imagine the kind of frustration I was in.
February 15, 2012
I've never read a David Baddiel novel before, but if The Death Of Eli Gold is representative, his writing is excellent but plot-wise it gets a little shaky.
There's nothing wrong with the plot here, it's just a little ... light. Sometimes it feels as if the central idea for the book isn't quite strong enough to sustain it.
That's the only flaw. The sub-plots, characters and scenes are great: interesting and engaging. And the writing is consistently excellent throughout. If only the central theme was a little more robust, it would have carried all the good things about this book a little better.
There's nothing wrong with the plot here, it's just a little ... light. Sometimes it feels as if the central idea for the book isn't quite strong enough to sustain it.
That's the only flaw. The sub-plots, characters and scenes are great: interesting and engaging. And the writing is consistently excellent throughout. If only the central theme was a little more robust, it would have carried all the good things about this book a little better.
January 3, 2015
Thank god that is over.
I hated this book with a passion. I forced myself through every word. And yet I can see that it does have some merit, thus the rating.
This is a book, primarily about men and women. Eli Gold, in the centre of it all, is nothing more than a sounding board for his son warped, somewhat selfaware sexism.
There are no female characters with any positive attributes, bar perhaps, Stella and each female is portrayed as another sterotype of the gender.
I believe the author is trying to write about sexism, while not necessarily believing in it himself but the level to which it is discussed drew away all meaning for me.
Please don't read this book.
I hated this book with a passion. I forced myself through every word. And yet I can see that it does have some merit, thus the rating.
This is a book, primarily about men and women. Eli Gold, in the centre of it all, is nothing more than a sounding board for his son warped, somewhat selfaware sexism.
There are no female characters with any positive attributes, bar perhaps, Stella and each female is portrayed as another sterotype of the gender.
I believe the author is trying to write about sexism, while not necessarily believing in it himself but the level to which it is discussed drew away all meaning for me.
Please don't read this book.
November 12, 2012
As Baddiel himself mentions in this book, it's all too easy to write about what you know, and his works are certainly creeping further and further away from the thirty-something northwest London angst of his debut. This is a tribute to both the Great American Novel and the archetypal twentieth century American polymath. Therefore, it is as rich in texture and scope as you’d expect, but sadly it just misses out on being gripping.
January 27, 2017
I was fortunate to pick this book on a whim. After reading the first couple of pages I knew I was in for a treat.
David Baddiel has opened up the internal monologue we all live with. The humour, the sincerity and the somewhat in appropriate voice that we all sometimes need to shout down, or indeed wish we'd listened to.
As much as I enjoyed all the characters, I particularly enjoyed Violets story, and how so much of her experience and memories unwound our culture of fame.
Fantastic read!
David Baddiel has opened up the internal monologue we all live with. The humour, the sincerity and the somewhat in appropriate voice that we all sometimes need to shout down, or indeed wish we'd listened to.
As much as I enjoyed all the characters, I particularly enjoyed Violets story, and how so much of her experience and memories unwound our culture of fame.
Fantastic read!
July 12, 2012
Where is the story? Nothing actually happens for the majority of the book, its just a family waiting for someone to die at a hospital. It was so hard to enjoy this book, I felt that David Baddiel only wrote some of the things because he needed to write, and not because he wanted to build up a scenario or a character. Very disappointed!
February 26, 2014
It’s taken me too long to read this book, which is better than I gave it credit for as I struggled with the first 200 pages. I was expecting a more light-hearted style of comedy I think, and my other criticism was that the story – told through 4 distinctive voices plus an occasional 5th – felt unnecessarily fragmentary. Still, worth the effort; just.
May 23, 2019
Twaddle! I gave this book 80 pages and after that I realized it was not going to get any better. Completely irrelevant page stuffing to try and meet his publisher’s number of pages. Glad the charity I bought the book from (£1) has profited because nobody else will! Used as fuel for the garden bonfire.
October 21, 2012
This book tries very hard to be worthy but weighs itself down in the process. Some of the description is leaden and not all the dialogue sounds authentic to me. The rhythm picks up towards the end but this bonus did not overcome the overall disappointment I felt.
November 12, 2012
This is a very ambitious book ......and an enjoyable read. An homage to Saul Bellow and the great American novel which mostly works .......ending a tiny bit of a disappointment but David Baddiel definitely going from strength to strength as a writer .....
May 21, 2016
Some of it was really good but the two stories being played out simultaneously detracted from each other. Like that you began to feel a fondness for the main character by the end of the book even though he had little to recommend him.
July 11, 2016
V slow start that almost defeated me but then I found it really engaging. Some characters felt over blown, others under-developed but overall compelling. Will read more Baddiel now to see how the others compare
September 22, 2011
Good page turner with satisfying conclusion. Worth a read. And
I didn't know that about depressives in concentration camps.
I didn't know that about depressives in concentration camps.
July 3, 2012
Funny and intriguing story. Just couldn't shake the throughout of David baddiel as harvey gold out of my head throughout. the problem of celebrity...
May 11, 2013
One of the worst books I have ever read.
Read
May 17, 2013could not get into it, gave up.
August 9, 2013
Bought after a review on Radio 4 and then regretted, expectations not high. Read on holiday and was surprisingly charmed by it.
October 31, 2013
I didn't get it.
September 2, 2014
4.5 stars,almost 5 star read. Entertaining, poignant and ironically funny with excellent character development.
May 31, 2018
argh. read about a quarter but really could not be bothered to carry on. dislikeable characters and I really didn't want to know if they did or didn't settle all the differences.
October 23, 2018
A great read. Interesting variety of characters. Must read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews