Where in the World Is Ben Lovatt? - A Review of Ben, in the World, by Doris Lessing
/Written by O'Brian Gunn
Cover for Ben, in the World.
Whatever happened to Frankenstein’s monster? Can we be sure that Dracula really died at the end of Stoker’s novel? What other unsolved murders can we attribute to the unapprehended Whitechapel murderer(s)? These are the questions that may linger in the mind like smoke after we read tales of the supernatural and paranormal. Readers could have done the same with Doris Lessing’s The Fifth Child, but she decided to publish a sequel, Ben, in the World, to bring the story to an unambiguous ending.
To avoid spoilers as much as possible, I won’t go into detail about how Ben Lovatt’s story ends in the previous novel. In the opening of the sequel, we find Ben trying to apply for unemployment or some type of public assistance (or the UK equivalent). Rather than the specific form, Lessing focuses on the difficulty Ben faces when it comes to the question of his age. Because of his...unusual appearance, Ben looks much older than 18. He needs his birth certificate to prove his age, but that means going back to his childhood home. Which he does, with woeful results.
From there, Lessing takes us through Ben’s life outside the Lovatt household. Unlike his parents, he struggles financially. And unlike how he did while living with David and Harriet, Ben seems to have (mostly) accepted his “monstrous” appearance and settled into who (and what) he is. The trauma of growing up thinking he is a monster - and being treated like one - has left Ben with extreme hypervigilance when he’s out in new public spaces; he immediately takes note of people eyeing him who may mean him harm. I enjoyed this little detail, as it helps humanize Ben and makes it easier for the reader to connect with him. In fact, I could relate many of Ben’s struggles.
After his first sexual experience, which gives the reader flickers into Ben’s more primal side, our main character also has his first experience of not only a person who accepts him, but physically desires him. Granted, it’s with a sex worker, but she was under no obligation to sleep with him again...and again...and again. From this point in the narrative, we follow Ben on a series of travels around the world, including France, Rio de Janeiro and the Andes. Along the way, Ben learns the burdensome and heart-wrenching lesson that man is the real beast. He’s far from the biggest/worst monster or threat in the world. While reading each of Ben’s setbacks and experienced betrayals, I couldn’t help but think of the song “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth.
There were several great moments in Ben, in the World. While this one has section breaks (unlike in The Fifth Child) there still aren’t very many. Another difference is that this novel takes us behind the curtain of other characters, giving us deeper insight into their pasts, motivations, and even how their narratives conclude. Admittedly, I did feel that this detracted from the overall strength of the book, mainly because Lessing provided unnecessary (to me) details that went on for a bit too long. Ben operates more on instinct than intellect, meaning that he doesn’t always realize just what’s going on and people’s true motivations, so I understand why Lessing would go straight to the source to uncover the truth rather than leave the reader with some of the ambiguity I mentioned earlier. I also have to remember that this book was first published in 2000, when media consumers still had slightly greater attention spans than they do now.
So, should you check out Ben, in the Real World if you enjoyed The Fifth Child? Honestly, I can’t give you a straightforward answer. If you don’t like loose narrative strings, I say go ahead and check this one out, especially because it’s only 179 pages. If you don’t mind X-Files-esque endings where cases aren’t tied up in a neat bow, I think you’ll be okay to skip this one. I hesitate to even give you my final impression of the conclusion because I feel that would spoil the experience for you. I will say that after finishing it, I’m most certainly open to reading more of Lessing’s work. And I look forward to every delightfully monstrous word.
Page length: 179 pgs
Recommend Buy New, Used, or Skip: ...All three (or, as always, check your local library)
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