Ivy & Abe by Elizabeth Enfield
This review was done as a collaborative effort by Robyn Calvert (otherwise known as “mom”) and me, Lauren Crow. A big thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for giving me an ARC of this book.
RC: According to the blurb on the back of this book, Ivy and Abe were inseparable as children until an accident tore them apart.
The book takes an unusual stance in that is explores many different possible relational scenarios for Ivy & Abe, positing that they had met in different times and stages of their lives viz “Seventy years … Two people”. In essence, the book explores the dynamics of partnership relationships through iterations of Ivy and Abe’s relationship.
I found it somewhat depressing that the various scenarios were skewered towards not being together on an ongoing basis but, having said that, the different circumstances of each story did portray the reality of life. For example, when you meet a widow or widower there is always the complication of his or her children. It definitely veers away from the stereotyped and unlikely image of a knight on a white horse dashing to save a maiden in distress, lifting her up onto his steed and disappearing into a gorgeous sunset to live happily ever after.
As a baby boomer, I found I could relate to the different eras portrayed in the book, but I am not sure that Gen Y or younger readers would be able to connect with the nuances of Ivy and Abe’s various relationship situations.
The one thing the book does really well is raise the existential question around what a soulmate is and whether that predestines people to be together, or merely share time together. That is left for the reader to ponder upon.
My overall rating is a 3.5.
LC: I loved the first iteration of Ivy and Abe’s relationship but, unfortunately, it was all downhill from there for me. As the author started with one of the best (and happiest) scenarios, each progressive story just didn’t live up to the first for me. I also found the way that the book was written – each chapter a different possibility, including extra-marital affairs, death, not even really knowing one another – was a little lacking. For me, it was a case of the same characters being overused in too many short stories. I personally would’ve preferred one long story.
As mom says above, as a younger reader (although admittedly not that young), I definitely couldn’t relate to a large part of what Ivy & Abe went through in the various stories. I think this book is written for older people (who have grown children of their own).
My overall rating is a 3.
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