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Meltdown
For amiable City trader Jimmy Corby money was the new Rock n' Roll. His whole life was a party, adrenalin charged and cocaine fuelled. If he hadn't met Monica he would probably have ended up either dead or in rehab.
But Jimmy was as lucky in love as he was at betting on dodgy derivatives, so instead of burning out, his star just burned brighter than ever. Rich, pampered and successful, Jimmy, Monica and their friends lived the dream, bringing up their children with an army of domestic helps.
But then it all came crashing down. And when the global financial crisis hit, Jimmy discovers that anyone can handle success. It's how you handle failure that really matters.
But Jimmy was as lucky in love as he was at betting on dodgy derivatives, so instead of burning out, his star just burned brighter than ever. Rich, pampered and successful, Jimmy, Monica and their friends lived the dream, bringing up their children with an army of domestic helps.
But then it all came crashing down. And when the global financial crisis hit, Jimmy discovers that anyone can handle success. It's how you handle failure that really matters.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
156 people are currently reading
1559 people want to read
About the author
Ben Elton
60 books1,489 followersBen Elton was born on 3 May 1959, in Catford, South London. The youngest of four, he went to Godalming Grammar School, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play at 15. He wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead did A-Level Theatre Studies and studied drama at Manchester University in 1977.
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memorable and incisive comedy of the past twenty years. His groundbreaking work as a TV stand-up comedian set the (high) standard of what was to follow. He has received accolades for his hit TV sitcoms, The Young Ones, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line.
More recently he has had successes with three hit West End musicals, including the global phenomenon We Will Rock You. He has written three plays for the London stage, including the multi-award-winning Popcorn. Ben's international bestselling novels include Stark, Inconceivable, Dead Famous and High Society. He won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for the novel Popcorn.
Elton lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Sophie and three children.
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memorable and incisive comedy of the past twenty years. His groundbreaking work as a TV stand-up comedian set the (high) standard of what was to follow. He has received accolades for his hit TV sitcoms, The Young Ones, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line.
More recently he has had successes with three hit West End musicals, including the global phenomenon We Will Rock You. He has written three plays for the London stage, including the multi-award-winning Popcorn. Ben's international bestselling novels include Stark, Inconceivable, Dead Famous and High Society. He won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for the novel Popcorn.
Elton lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Sophie and three children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
Want to read
December 26, 2021Is it bad that I want to read this book only to find the
"NO" Jimmy protested
quote that Louis from One Direction says? :D
"NO" Jimmy protested
quote that Louis from One Direction says? :D
December 19, 2023
The 'Raddishers', five close (and unpleasant) friends and their partners swear to lifelong friendship at their graduation drink; twenty years later their lives are changed forever because of the World Financial Crisis and what they'd done over those two decades. This is the story of their rise and fall told as overlaying arcs. Ultimately this is an Elton rant, but my oh my does he create some very entertaining prototypes, I mean characters! This book's targets are the 90s, the 00s, New Labour, regulation, de-regulation, London lifestyles, cash for honours, Notting Hill nannies, private and state schooling, views on immigration, middle class causes, and... family. All very UK/London centric, I should add.
This was a surprisingly compulsive tale of the fall from grace of a significant number of people from that generation and how they reacted in light of it all. I think what is evident, but not really touched on in this book, is that even if your entire world is collapsing around White Privilege gives you such a smoother ride - I recall back to when I was made redundant and how much I struggled and how I was treated by creditors, potential employers etc. All in all this is one of my favourite Ben Elton books, I really enjoyed it, I would have given it more, but no matter how great the story is, it is still essentially one long Ben Elton rant, I think his books would work even better if I wasn't reminded of his personal stand-up rant-comedy career every three to four pages, so it's no longer the character speaking, it's Elton. It makes me sound negative - but I really liked this book a lot, and just wanted to say why it didn't get Five Stars. 8 out of 12 Four Star yo!
2011 and 2019 read
This was a surprisingly compulsive tale of the fall from grace of a significant number of people from that generation and how they reacted in light of it all. I think what is evident, but not really touched on in this book, is that even if your entire world is collapsing around White Privilege gives you such a smoother ride - I recall back to when I was made redundant and how much I struggled and how I was treated by creditors, potential employers etc. All in all this is one of my favourite Ben Elton books, I really enjoyed it, I would have given it more, but no matter how great the story is, it is still essentially one long Ben Elton rant, I think his books would work even better if I wasn't reminded of his personal stand-up rant-comedy career every three to four pages, so it's no longer the character speaking, it's Elton. It makes me sound negative - but I really liked this book a lot, and just wanted to say why it didn't get Five Stars. 8 out of 12 Four Star yo!
2011 and 2019 read
April 24, 2018
im so embarrassed to say that i only picked this up because of the one direction reference, but ben elton actually surprised me. i was a fan of his writing and style and will definitely be looking into more books of his.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
Read
April 2, 2020"NO! Jimmy protested"
September 14, 2022
I haven't read many Ben Elton books but I should change that because the ones i have read I've really enjoyed.
Totally worth its 5 stars.
Totally worth its 5 stars.
May 26, 2020
My librarian named Louis Tomlinson recommended this book. ‘No!’ Jimmy protested is mine and Louis favorite quote from the book. I also recommended this book to Louis band mates (you wouldn’t know them they’re not that popular) and they said they loved it too. Overall best book ever!
Read
July 20, 2020NO Jimmy protested
April 28, 2019
"NO!" Jimmy protested.
September 7, 2013
It is a good book! I only came here after watching the 1D video diaries to look for NO JIMMY PROTESTED! But it was good
-random 12 year old
-random 12 year old
April 14, 2021
NO ! Jimmy protested
directioners know..
directioners know..
February 15, 2010
I've got something of a mixed relationship with Ben Elton's books. Some of them I've absolutely loved - right back to 'Stark', the first book of his I ever read and a brilliantly biting comedy. 'Dead Famous' is one of the finest examples of crime fiction I've ever read, as well as being a wonderful commentary on pop culture. Some of his books, though, I've found a little pedestrian - sort of by-the-numbers kind of writing. Nothing intrinsically bad about them, but nothing too brilliant, either.
And I have to say that, for me at least, Meltdown started out in this latter category; as a fairly standard, amusing but not utterly gripping comic novel about the global financial crisis. (He and his publishers must have worked like demons to get this written and out on the market so quickly, which might just be some of the problem here.
The enjoyable thing, though, was that despite a somewhat unpromising start, the second half of this novel really hit its stride and pulled me happily in. I think this was largely because the first half of the book concerned itself very much with somewhat over-drawn and unsubtle commentary on the modern banking and trading industry. The ideology was driving the narrative, and not the characters. In the second half, though, once it got past this and became instead a novel about redemption, that was when it got me and kept me, right to the end.
Meltdown isn't Elton's finest work. But it's not his worst effort, either, and definitely worth a look.
And I have to say that, for me at least, Meltdown started out in this latter category; as a fairly standard, amusing but not utterly gripping comic novel about the global financial crisis. (He and his publishers must have worked like demons to get this written and out on the market so quickly, which might just be some of the problem here.
The enjoyable thing, though, was that despite a somewhat unpromising start, the second half of this novel really hit its stride and pulled me happily in. I think this was largely because the first half of the book concerned itself very much with somewhat over-drawn and unsubtle commentary on the modern banking and trading industry. The ideology was driving the narrative, and not the characters. In the second half, though, once it got past this and became instead a novel about redemption, that was when it got me and kept me, right to the end.
Meltdown isn't Elton's finest work. But it's not his worst effort, either, and definitely worth a look.
July 2, 2018
I read this book just to read "No Jimmy Protested!" and guess what? I found it!
Want to read
November 19, 2012"no" jimmy protested i.love this book!!!
Want to read
May 19, 2012I want to read this because I saw Louis Tomlinson reading it....
Want to read
December 25, 2012Adding it just because of this ...
I'm sure it's a lovely book though.
I'm sure it's a lovely book though.
July 25, 2011
I have noticed people are being quite hard on Ben Elton lately - not sure why? I have loved every single one of his books, they are all different, all interesting, mostly dealing with significant social issues and Meltdown is no exception. I thought it was a great book - it made me think whilst entertaining me immensely at the same time. Ben Elton creates very real characters, people you know, people you can relate to (well usually - This Other Eden, Popcorn and Stark aside). Plus he writes in a very easy, accessible way - I wouldn't call it light reading, but it is pleasantly easy reading. Meltdown is a good poke at greed - and an apt poke I think. A few people I have called this 'preachy' - well Ben Elton is a bit preachy, he always has been, even in his stand-up. He is a man who feels very strongly about the way we live our lives and most of the time I agree with him! Anyway - I thoroughly enjoyed this and look very much forward to his next book as usual.
July 2, 2016
"no", jimmy protested
December 25, 2021
No! Jimmy protested :)
March 13, 2011
Possibly the worst book I have read in the past few years. Not only is the story direly predictable, but the characters are one dimensional idiots.
Had Ben Elton decided to take the credit crunch setting as a basis on which to build amusing yet fascinating characters, then the uninventive copying of real life events would have been understandable. However, the characters were not only unlikeable fools throughout (even the characters we were clearly meant to be rooting for were downright facetious), but all of the moral guidelines the book tried to push were forgotten in the end. I don't know if Elton simply lost his inspiration, but ending the book with a conclusion only one step away from "and it was all a dream" doesn't go down well.
An irritating disappointment from beginning to end.
Had Ben Elton decided to take the credit crunch setting as a basis on which to build amusing yet fascinating characters, then the uninventive copying of real life events would have been understandable. However, the characters were not only unlikeable fools throughout (even the characters we were clearly meant to be rooting for were downright facetious), but all of the moral guidelines the book tried to push were forgotten in the end. I don't know if Elton simply lost his inspiration, but ending the book with a conclusion only one step away from "and it was all a dream" doesn't go down well.
An irritating disappointment from beginning to end.
Want to read
June 3, 2015"No!' Jimmy protested."
August 28, 2019
Can't understand why so many negative reviews on this book. Sure, it's not exactly heavyweight material, but I doubt it set out to be so. Funny at times with moments of insight, I can't ask for more in what I expected to be an easy read. Mostly, I like to read about situations where people fall on hard times and see how they handle it, even if it's purely fictional like in this case. Whether fictional or predictable, it is at least still one person's (the author's) perspective.
November 28, 2010
A thorough meh.
April 10, 2013
OK, so I’ve now read four books about the Global Financial Crisis. That has to be some sort of record. I’m not even the (direct) owner of any shares but I do know how greedy cowboys manipulated the sub-prime mortgage market in the States with a direct impact on my own little bit of superannuation here in Australia. Two of the books have been non-fiction – the fabulous Mr Michael Lewis with his penetrating analysis of gambling and excess in The Big Short and Boomerang, and John Lancaster’s novel Capital. Ben Elton likes a topic. And this is a goodie – the excesses of the 90s , a main character whose biggest challenge has been how to ensure the structure of his Georgian house can hold a hot tub on the fourth floor and the construction of a three car garage underneath. The novel revolves around a small band of friends who prosper as Britain embraces New Labor. The advent of the GFC has a significant impact on the relationships and lifestyles of this group. Changing London is also a focus for this novel; like Martin Amis, it’s hard to imagine Elton writing about another locale.
Jenny Colgan, writing in The Guardian, said of this novel: “Topical fiction is incredibly difficult to do. Although lead times aren't what they were, newspapers and magazines traditionally cover the now, with the job of books being to clarify what on earth happened after the dust had settled. With notable exceptions such as Bonfire of the Vanities and Neuromancer – both books which ended up shaping the eras they represented – most successful "contemporary" books arrive several years after the events they depict. What a Carve Up!, Jonathan Coe's brilliant satire on Thatcher's 80s, was released in 1994; Phillip Hensher's A Northern Clemency, which recreated the taste of the 70s, was a Booker shortlist choice in 2008; and David Nicholls's fantastic Labour boom-years comedy One Day only came out this summer. (guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/07/melt....)
This is not Bonfire of the Vanities. The characters are put into directions and scenarios that feel somewhat forced. There is no plausible character development of any of the female characters and some basic plot solutions (if you need money, rent out some of the many rooms/floors/ car parking in your house) are not explored. But it is entertaining and rockets along as a story. As Colgan says: “Any other novelist who stopped the narrative every two chapters to hold an inane discussion on whether to send your child to a public school or to digress on overpriced crisps would be unbearable. But because it's Elton you somehow don't mind; he's got to get in his little bit of politics, and the funny lines make it enjoyable, even as the characters themselves steadfastly refuse to be anything other than mouthpieces.”
Elton must have had fun writing it; so much of the plot required no imagination at all. An entire riff about politicians rorting their entitlements comes straight from the 2009 political scandal that engulfed Britain (for example, real-life Conservative MP Douglas Hogg submitted a claim of roughly $3,000 for the clearing of a moat surrounding his country estate. He also put in $22,000 for a full-time housekeeper (and the car she drove); work done on his stables and even the tuning of his piano.)
In an interview about the novel, Elton said that he was motivated to write the novel as a result of the “changing face of morality over the last fifteen years”. He spoke of the increasing climate of de-regulation; e.g. banking de-regulation, self-regulation of the media, people are given latitude to police their own actions. It hasn’t worked; we see a pervasive climate of venality and self-centredness. The novel is something of a morality tale – those who are forced to live a simpler (read less moneyed) life are happier in the end. It has something in common with The Slap – which is an angrier book about entitlement and social mobility. Like The Slap, it’s a zeitgeist novel, Elton’s stock in trade.
Jenny Colgan, writing in The Guardian, said of this novel: “Topical fiction is incredibly difficult to do. Although lead times aren't what they were, newspapers and magazines traditionally cover the now, with the job of books being to clarify what on earth happened after the dust had settled. With notable exceptions such as Bonfire of the Vanities and Neuromancer – both books which ended up shaping the eras they represented – most successful "contemporary" books arrive several years after the events they depict. What a Carve Up!, Jonathan Coe's brilliant satire on Thatcher's 80s, was released in 1994; Phillip Hensher's A Northern Clemency, which recreated the taste of the 70s, was a Booker shortlist choice in 2008; and David Nicholls's fantastic Labour boom-years comedy One Day only came out this summer. (guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/07/melt....)
This is not Bonfire of the Vanities. The characters are put into directions and scenarios that feel somewhat forced. There is no plausible character development of any of the female characters and some basic plot solutions (if you need money, rent out some of the many rooms/floors/ car parking in your house) are not explored. But it is entertaining and rockets along as a story. As Colgan says: “Any other novelist who stopped the narrative every two chapters to hold an inane discussion on whether to send your child to a public school or to digress on overpriced crisps would be unbearable. But because it's Elton you somehow don't mind; he's got to get in his little bit of politics, and the funny lines make it enjoyable, even as the characters themselves steadfastly refuse to be anything other than mouthpieces.”
Elton must have had fun writing it; so much of the plot required no imagination at all. An entire riff about politicians rorting their entitlements comes straight from the 2009 political scandal that engulfed Britain (for example, real-life Conservative MP Douglas Hogg submitted a claim of roughly $3,000 for the clearing of a moat surrounding his country estate. He also put in $22,000 for a full-time housekeeper (and the car she drove); work done on his stables and even the tuning of his piano.)
In an interview about the novel, Elton said that he was motivated to write the novel as a result of the “changing face of morality over the last fifteen years”. He spoke of the increasing climate of de-regulation; e.g. banking de-regulation, self-regulation of the media, people are given latitude to police their own actions. It hasn’t worked; we see a pervasive climate of venality and self-centredness. The novel is something of a morality tale – those who are forced to live a simpler (read less moneyed) life are happier in the end. It has something in common with The Slap – which is an angrier book about entitlement and social mobility. Like The Slap, it’s a zeitgeist novel, Elton’s stock in trade.
June 30, 2011
Meltdown is another highly topical commentary from Ben Elton on modern society with the focus this time on the effects of the global financial crisis on the UK, encompassing individual and institutional greed that had become so passé up to the inevitable downturn. The world of finance had long since forgotten its own health warning of what goes up must come down and was instead able to breed a world of individual greed that saw no contentment in just making a million; it was how you used that million to make multi-millions that marked your place in the world. The central character Jimmy Corby is an Investment Banker who epitomised this greed as he hedged the value of his own home against buying more property to cash-in. The story here is told through Jimmy's situation and how it touches the lives of his old group of friends from university (`The Radishes') - here we have the most arrogant banker ever (Rupert) who runs one of Britain's top banks and payrolls all his honours through the government. The government is represented by Henry, a talented up-and-coming MP who truly hates Rupert but also ends up getting caught as the expenses scandal breaks. Robbo is married to a successful entrepreneur (Lizzie) and appears to have a laidback attitude about life as long as he can get a good pint of real ale, but even he was looking to cash in. Sanity in a mad world is mainly provided by Jimmy's wife Monica and his dad, Derek. Monica is an old hippy at heart and brings Jimmy back to reality during the bad times and is the rock that sees him through - Jimmy becomes quite likeable by the end and you realise the Monica is really the book's hero(ine). Derek represents the values of old fashioned banking and could have been smug in the extreme, but he is not and this again reinforces the message about how crazy this modern greed really was.
Meltdown is written almost like a play or one of those popular ITV drama serials like `Cold Feet' that covers the lives if several couples. There is a good use of contrast through flashback in showing the good and bad times. I also love some of the sub plot rants, like the old maths versus new maths as Jimmy moves his son from a private to a state school. It did take me a few chapters to get into the flow of the book but once I did it hit the mark.
Meltdown is written almost like a play or one of those popular ITV drama serials like `Cold Feet' that covers the lives if several couples. There is a good use of contrast through flashback in showing the good and bad times. I also love some of the sub plot rants, like the old maths versus new maths as Jimmy moves his son from a private to a state school. It did take me a few chapters to get into the flow of the book but once I did it hit the mark.
July 26, 2010
Elton's novels are addictive reads, made of plain, easy-going, forward-moving prose. They're frequently funny, hard to put down and unerringly topical. Meltdown focuses on the credit crunch and its fallout. We follow the fortunes (literally) of a group of friends, from their bonding at university, through their glittering careers, and on into the crash landings they face when the bottom falls out of the British economy.
Our main protagonist is Jimmy, a hapless city trader who gets rich during the boom years almost in spite of himself, and who must then try to provide for his family when his investments fall apart. We also meet: Henry, a rising star in New Labour; Rupert, a ruthless banker; David, a cutting-edge architect; Lizzie, designer of middle-class fripperies; and Robbo, the bumbling but lovable heart of the group.
As usual, Ben Elton gets into every corner of his material, giving space to arguments on all sides, before - naturally - coming out against greed and for personal responsibility. He is nonetheless generous towards his characters - arguably a little too much so: most of his new-moneyed heroes lose everything, drawing our sympathies, whereas in reality there must have been plenty of rich folks whom the recession left only slightly less rich. Still, the book clearly articulates the disparities between the fantasy world of the absurdly well-off and the grinding domestic realities that most people face.
There's a slightly irrelevant crime-scene diversion towards the end, and I repeatedly wondered why Jimmy didn't sublet to ease his burdens; but these minor mechanics aside, Elton doesn't put a foot wrong in documenting the culture and disasters of high finance in recent years, and doing so in a disarmingly entertaining way.
Our main protagonist is Jimmy, a hapless city trader who gets rich during the boom years almost in spite of himself, and who must then try to provide for his family when his investments fall apart. We also meet: Henry, a rising star in New Labour; Rupert, a ruthless banker; David, a cutting-edge architect; Lizzie, designer of middle-class fripperies; and Robbo, the bumbling but lovable heart of the group.
As usual, Ben Elton gets into every corner of his material, giving space to arguments on all sides, before - naturally - coming out against greed and for personal responsibility. He is nonetheless generous towards his characters - arguably a little too much so: most of his new-moneyed heroes lose everything, drawing our sympathies, whereas in reality there must have been plenty of rich folks whom the recession left only slightly less rich. Still, the book clearly articulates the disparities between the fantasy world of the absurdly well-off and the grinding domestic realities that most people face.
There's a slightly irrelevant crime-scene diversion towards the end, and I repeatedly wondered why Jimmy didn't sublet to ease his burdens; but these minor mechanics aside, Elton doesn't put a foot wrong in documenting the culture and disasters of high finance in recent years, and doing so in a disarmingly entertaining way.
February 13, 2025
well I very much enjoyed experiencing these peoples lives get ruined. As always, I love what mr Elton has to say and this time he said millionaires shouldn’t exist and ceos are narcissists.
January 31, 2010
Let’s start by establishing parameters. A very wise satirist once said these words: “Are you going put all the politics in, Ben? Are you gonna stick all that principle, all those concerns, are you going to shove all of that into the act?” “Well I’m not gonna bother, the politicians don’t anymore why should I? It’s all style and no content these days, isn’t it?” Well, this book is all style and full of content; that I can promise you.
The King of Satire is back and this time his target is the global financial crisis. “Meltdown” is Ben Elton’s latest book and as he excels best, it is topical fiction to the max. The global financial crisis has touched us all in some way, some people affected more than others, and because of this everyone who reads this book will be able to relate. At the same time Mr Elton’s signature “knob gags” are thrown in. Now, don’t get too worried, by that term I mean his satirical humour and the token one-liners that Ben is famous for. One gem I loved was Jimmy on recycling:
“I hate recycling…it’s a week long reminder of how much we drink.”
The humour is littered throughout the novel but it is rightly placed, expanded on and does make those lips curl up at the sides. For a very serious issue Ben has managed to write a novel that gives a message, messages in fact, to its readers as well as providing comedic entertainment along the way.
The two Ts are prominent – trials and tribulations. We see the roller coaster journey of implications the global financial crisis (GC) has on partners, business, mates, families and self-conscience. The Radish Club (all will be revealed) has a one-way gold pass on this roller coaster we know as life; there are highs, there are lows but nobody could guess how the GC would rock their ride. Could the lows be predicted? Could the characters have avoided their plight down the highest slope of the roller coaster ending in the popcorn stand having to pay the pimply teenager whose mother still ironed his underpants? Could they have avoided the ticket? Do lovely, lovely things mean nix in the end? Has everything gotten too big?
Too big? The banks certainly don’t think so. The futures market doesn’t think so. The players don’t think so. Meltdown. Some people play with the hand they’re dealt – others bet too much. Meltdown. The words from someone who has seen the changes before, “Never use your house as collateral, son, it’s risking the seed corn,” go in one ear and out the other. Meltdown. Do yourself a favour and read this book, who knows, it may stop Meltdown banging at your door – at the very least you’ll get a right old laugh out of it.
Avoid the piss puddles, pay the ferryman and buy this book!
The King of Satire is back and this time his target is the global financial crisis. “Meltdown” is Ben Elton’s latest book and as he excels best, it is topical fiction to the max. The global financial crisis has touched us all in some way, some people affected more than others, and because of this everyone who reads this book will be able to relate. At the same time Mr Elton’s signature “knob gags” are thrown in. Now, don’t get too worried, by that term I mean his satirical humour and the token one-liners that Ben is famous for. One gem I loved was Jimmy on recycling:
“I hate recycling…it’s a week long reminder of how much we drink.”
The humour is littered throughout the novel but it is rightly placed, expanded on and does make those lips curl up at the sides. For a very serious issue Ben has managed to write a novel that gives a message, messages in fact, to its readers as well as providing comedic entertainment along the way.
The two Ts are prominent – trials and tribulations. We see the roller coaster journey of implications the global financial crisis (GC) has on partners, business, mates, families and self-conscience. The Radish Club (all will be revealed) has a one-way gold pass on this roller coaster we know as life; there are highs, there are lows but nobody could guess how the GC would rock their ride. Could the lows be predicted? Could the characters have avoided their plight down the highest slope of the roller coaster ending in the popcorn stand having to pay the pimply teenager whose mother still ironed his underpants? Could they have avoided the ticket? Do lovely, lovely things mean nix in the end? Has everything gotten too big?
Too big? The banks certainly don’t think so. The futures market doesn’t think so. The players don’t think so. Meltdown. Some people play with the hand they’re dealt – others bet too much. Meltdown. The words from someone who has seen the changes before, “Never use your house as collateral, son, it’s risking the seed corn,” go in one ear and out the other. Meltdown. Do yourself a favour and read this book, who knows, it may stop Meltdown banging at your door – at the very least you’ll get a right old laugh out of it.
Avoid the piss puddles, pay the ferryman and buy this book!
April 24, 2013
Money, snobbery, insider trading and corrupt/vain politicians, and all deftly explored through the relationships of ten friends aka The Radish Club.
Any good?
Well, for my money, not the best of Ben Elton (read High Society or Blind Faith first), but a humorous enough tale which explores the City of London's financial "meltdown", and in an engaging way (if you're not au fait with what's been going on with it all, this is certainly a great and fun read to shed some light).
My major criticism of Meltdown is I less than warmed to the characters, and although Elton acknowledges (in small part) their flaws, I just didn't care or ultimately want them to win through. Certainly, the arguments concerning political theory range from insightful and acute to plain ill-thought out and you are screaming for a character to really counterpoint the boorish Tory, Rupert. Unfortunately, for me, this never happened and I found the ending felt somewhat rushed with Elton descending into exposition a little too readily (something I've noticed in a few of his other works - Stark for one).
Any good?
Well, for my money, not the best of Ben Elton (read High Society or Blind Faith first), but a humorous enough tale which explores the City of London's financial "meltdown", and in an engaging way (if you're not au fait with what's been going on with it all, this is certainly a great and fun read to shed some light).
My major criticism of Meltdown is I less than warmed to the characters, and although Elton acknowledges (in small part) their flaws, I just didn't care or ultimately want them to win through. Certainly, the arguments concerning political theory range from insightful and acute to plain ill-thought out and you are screaming for a character to really counterpoint the boorish Tory, Rupert. Unfortunately, for me, this never happened and I found the ending felt somewhat rushed with Elton descending into exposition a little too readily (something I've noticed in a few of his other works - Stark for one).
February 17, 2011
When you learn to cook a new dish you will usually follow the receipe very closly. The more confident one gets the more one will begin to expiriment with the ingredients, add a bit more of this, cutting out that and substituting one ingredient for another. However, after a while what you end up with is far from the original receipe.
That's what this book was like to me.
I've read a few books by Ben Elton and this one, although it seems to follow the receipe, misses the mark. There seems to be too much effort applied to make it fit a certain style and ultimately fails. The timing is all out and after a while you don't know if you are in the present of the past. The ending is too smug and at the same time lacking any real depth.
That's what this book was like to me.
I've read a few books by Ben Elton and this one, although it seems to follow the receipe, misses the mark. There seems to be too much effort applied to make it fit a certain style and ultimately fails. The timing is all out and after a while you don't know if you are in the present of the past. The ending is too smug and at the same time lacking any real depth.
January 21, 2015
London 2008. Around that time I found, in Selfridges, a hair clasp I liked. It was made entirely of plastic, no embellishes, not even a fake jewel on it. It cost £84. I had to wonder what kind of person would buy that - and what about the really fancy jobs!
Meltdown is all about those people. It is marvellously entertaining, following the lives of a group of friends who shared a house while at university. Bankers, architects, entrepreneurs, New Labour politicians countered by an immigrant nanny, house squatters and an alcoholic tramp.
A galloping great good read that leaves you feeling... Mmmmm
Meltdown is all about those people. It is marvellously entertaining, following the lives of a group of friends who shared a house while at university. Bankers, architects, entrepreneurs, New Labour politicians countered by an immigrant nanny, house squatters and an alcoholic tramp.
A galloping great good read that leaves you feeling... Mmmmm
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