Seven Types Of Ambiguity (English Edition) is a captivating novel written by Elliot Perlman and published by Faber and Faber. Set in an age of obsessive materialism, this book explores the theme of obsessive love through a complex and intriguing narrative.
The story revolves around an out-of-work schoolteacher who, after years of unrequited love, decides to take matters into his own hands. He kidnaps the young son of his beloved, setting off a series of unforeseen events.
With the title borrowed from William Empson’s classic of literary criticism, Perlman sets high expectations for himself. However, he more than justifies his theft with a relentless and driven storyline. The novel is told from seven different perspectives, providing a multi-dimensional view of the effects of the abduction of six-year-old Sam Geraghty by Simon Heywood, Anna’s ex-boyfriend.
Simon, a charismatic and unemployed individual, remains obsessed with Anna even after nine years since their breakup. This obsession troubles his current lover, Angelique, a prostitute who is also involved with Anna’s stockbroker husband, Joe. Simon’s fate rests on whether Anna will support his claim that he had permission to pick up Sam when Angelique turns him into the police.
Most of the perspectives in the novel are linked to Simon’s therapist, Alex Klima, who writes to Anna and counsels Simon, Angelique, and Joe’s co-worker, Dennis. Joe’s voice, one of the most successful in the book, portrays a man constantly on the edge of panic. Dennis, on the other hand, offers a bitter counterbalance to Klima’s seemingly all-knowing psychological insights.
Perlman, a lawyer by profession, ambitiously aims for a literary legal novel, reminiscent of the works of Grisham and Franzen. While the ambition is admirable, the execution is somewhat uneven. Simon’s obsessions, self-righteousness, and psychological manipulation may unintentionally give him a certain creepiness. Although the novel is rich and substantial, it may leave some readers wanting a more conclusive ending.
In Seven Types Of Ambiguity (English Edition), Elliot Perlman skillfully weaves together a complex and engrossing narrative that delves into the depths of love, obsession, and the consequences of our actions. With its multi-perspective approach, the book offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of human relationships and the ambiguities that lie within them.
