"Living With It" is Lizzie Enfield's
third novel and for me it represents a significant change in her writing style.
Her previous two novels could be seen as clever re-workings of the themes of
Brief Encounter; intelligent romances with an edgy uncertainty about the potential
of infidelity. This novel has a much darker tone and, to my mind, far greater
depth and emotional resonance.
Essentially it is a novel about the choices we
make in life, both for ourselves and for our families, and the unforeseen consequences
that can result from those decisions. Ben and Maggie are devastated to discover
that their baby daughter, Iris, has become profoundly deaf after being exposed
to the measles virus. Their friends Isobel and Eric feel guilty that the virus
was passed on by their daughter Gabriella, particularly as Isobel had refused
the MMR vaccination for her children. Ben blames Isobel for his daughter’s
deafness. The situation is complicated by the fact that Isobel is the woman
that Ben fell in love with at University, who eventually married his best friend,
Eric. The central question is whether Ben’s decision to sue Isobel and Eric for
damages is motivated by a sense of justice for his daughter or a sense of revenge
for past emotional betrayals.
Enfield previously used first person narration
sporadically within "Uncoupled" for the character of Anne-Marie,
although I personally felt that these sections were the least engaging of that
particular book. Here she has embraced first-person narration fully and
completely by telling the story through alternate first person voices, those of
Isobel and Ben, her main protagonists. It's a device that gives the novel a
sense of immediacy and enables her to present alternate views of the same
situation to great effect. The novel has an intense focus which makes it a
disconcertingly uncomfortable read at times. There were moments when I felt
like a voyeur observing a series of fractious arguments between strangers.
Enfield’s real skill lies in the voices that she creates for Isobel and
Ben. Her ability to write from a male perspective and her innate understanding
of the male psyche give the novel a raw edge, and also provides much of the
gentle humour, alongside her observations of Isobel’s children. I feel certain
that Lizzie’s own children probably provided much of the source material.
As a reader I did initially question whether Lizzie had made a mistake in
writing a novel where the central characters are all so flawed and unlikeable.
Isobel’s husband Eric is so unsupportive and downright unpleasant that I began
to question why he and Isobel were still together. However as I worked through
the book I began to realise that the balanced approach to Isobel and Ben means
that the reader is not encouraged to “side” with either one of them. Each of
them has made mistakes, and each has to learn to live with them.
I found this to be a compelling, thought-provoking and ultimately
satisfying novel that bravely tackles some complex and emotive issues. I would
recommend it without hesitation.
