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andrew_j_r's review against another edition
This book is bloody excellent, and is almost certainly closer to the mark than the producers of certain reality TV shows would ever care to admit...
simonrtaylor's review against another edition
4.0
Ben Elton’s Chart Throb is the successor to X Factor and the novel follows the lives of the judges and contestants in what can be generally described as a satire of the format.
The judges are pertinently Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne and Louis Walsh-esque, right down to the Beryl’s The Osbornes style show. The characters in the book actually refer to Cowell and Osborne (and their superiority to them) and to X Factor, which Chart Throb has replaced.
It’s fair to say Chart Throb, as a novel, is not generous to the reality TV scene. It presents Calvin ‘Simon Cowell’ Simms as an uncaring puppet master and the show is shamelessly manipulative. Is this reality? I would like to give X Factor more credit than Elton does, but there are also clearly elements of truth.
The main characters are all likeable in their own bizarre way, lampooned to breaking point but entertaining for the reader. The contestants, too, have distinct personalities and back stories. One of the most prominent and interesting storylines is Calvin’s attempts to have Prince Charles win the competition which begins as a thoroughly bizarre twist but, with enough suspended belief, becomes all part of the fun.
The concluding twist is completely unexpected and very well-played. Elton delivers a thoroughly shocking final act that ties up the remaining loose ends and delivers the book’s message.
The drawback for me is how dark and graphic the novel becomes in parts. The high jinks and nonsense are juxtaposed with a bulimic character who almost kills herself, for example, and crude, explicit sexual details. The unpredictable tone makes it hard to swallow.
Overall, Elton has devised a clever story and writes it very well, creating colourful, hilarious characters that doesn’t quite get three yeses from the panel, but manages to get two and through to the next round.
The judges are pertinently Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne and Louis Walsh-esque, right down to the Beryl’s The Osbornes style show. The characters in the book actually refer to Cowell and Osborne (and their superiority to them) and to X Factor, which Chart Throb has replaced.
It’s fair to say Chart Throb, as a novel, is not generous to the reality TV scene. It presents Calvin ‘Simon Cowell’ Simms as an uncaring puppet master and the show is shamelessly manipulative. Is this reality? I would like to give X Factor more credit than Elton does, but there are also clearly elements of truth.
The main characters are all likeable in their own bizarre way, lampooned to breaking point but entertaining for the reader. The contestants, too, have distinct personalities and back stories. One of the most prominent and interesting storylines is Calvin’s attempts to have Prince Charles win the competition which begins as a thoroughly bizarre twist but, with enough suspended belief, becomes all part of the fun.
The concluding twist is completely unexpected and very well-played. Elton delivers a thoroughly shocking final act that ties up the remaining loose ends and delivers the book’s message.
The drawback for me is how dark and graphic the novel becomes in parts. The high jinks and nonsense are juxtaposed with a bulimic character who almost kills herself, for example, and crude, explicit sexual details. The unpredictable tone makes it hard to swallow.
Overall, Elton has devised a clever story and writes it very well, creating colourful, hilarious characters that doesn’t quite get three yeses from the panel, but manages to get two and through to the next round.
dbexx's review against another edition
3.0
Bedtime reading. Possibly intended to be thought provoking, mostly comes across as vitriolic and critical of popular culture.
Easy to read.
Easy to read.
coops456's review against another edition
3.0
As an X Factor viewer, this frequently made me chuckle, and also start to think about what goes into the making of such programmes. I can't decide if the ending was lazy and trite or a clever pastiche of the endless follow-up programmes that tidy all the loose ends away... You decide!
its_tara's review against another edition
3.0
This book was pretty good - the satyrical comedy amused me, and at the time I bought and read this it was very topical.
beccaalvey's review against another edition
4.0
Chart throb is basically describing xfactor in a hilarious way. The truth is none of us do the math when watching reality TV and we just accept everything that's put infront of us. When in reality everything is staged and we have no say in anything and we let ourselves get manipulated because at the end of the day its entertainment we love.
I did enjoy this book.
I did enjoy this book.
thebluehour's review against another edition
2.0
While the book hasn't aged terrifically, it cleverly articulated the nuance of so many reality talent shows. The Prince was a stupid addition and not even remotely believable. Any other "dignified" person could have filled this character role.
I was giving this a very solid 3... maaaaaybe stretched to a 4 if I was feeling generous, until the last ten pages. They undid all the cleverness of the first 300+ pages and reduced it to some ridiculous deus ex machina wrap-up. Now it's 2 stars, and that's only because I'm feeling generous.
I was giving this a very solid 3... maaaaaybe stretched to a 4 if I was feeling generous, until the last ten pages. They undid all the cleverness of the first 300+ pages and reduced it to some ridiculous deus ex machina wrap-up. Now it's 2 stars, and that's only because I'm feeling generous.