Lanchester's New Novel Delivers Sharp Satire on Generational Divides
John Lanchester, acclaimed for works like Capital and The Wall, returns with his sixth novel, Look What You Made Me Do, published by Faber. This black comedy shifts from his previous political themes to a more personal exploration of infidelity, revenge, and the bitter tensions between baby boomers and millennials in contemporary Britain.
A Tale of Two Generations Colliding
The story centres on Kate and Jack, a married couple of thirty years residing in a smug, professional enclave of north London. Their relationship is built on a private language of nicknames and in-jokes, often laced with unkindness. Meanwhile, Phoebe Mull, a millennial writer, creates the hit TV show Cheating, which portrays intergenerational adultery with amoral flair.
Kate's world unravels when she realises the intimate details in Phoebe's series mirror her own life with startling accuracy. This discovery sets the stage for a narrative that Lanchester bills as a darkly comedic examination of generational inequity.
Boomers vs Millennials: A Familiar Battle
Lanchester revisits themes from his earlier work, particularly the conflict between boomers who have accrued wealth and millennials grappling with the aftermath. In Capital, this played out through London's property bubble; here, it manifests in personal relationships and cultural clashes.
Kate embodies the unlikeable boomer archetype—dismissive of female solidarity, childless, and jobless, with her life revolving around her husband Jack, who is portrayed as a boorish mansplainer. Phoebe, though more entertaining with her withering wit, is equally self-absorbed and heartless, blurring moral lines between the generations.
Satirical Strengths and Narrative Weaknesses
Lanchester's satire shines in set pieces that skewer the chattering classes, from the ubiquity of Ottolenghi cuisine to the faux-rural luxury of Soho Farmhouse. Writing in the first-person voices of Kate and Phoebe adds depth, though some may find it uneasy that a male boomer author narrates female perspectives on marital submission.
However, the plot struggles with implausibility and predictability, relying heavily on coincidences that strain credibility. While revenge drives the story—summed up by a character's line, "Anger is more fun than grief. And revenge is better still"—it fails to feel earned or satisfying, leaving the novel feeling fragmented despite its sharp observations.
Critical Reception and Themes
Early reviews highlight the novel's pleasures in its social commentary but note its narrative shortcomings. Lanchester's focus on whether boomers or millennials are more "oblivious and spoilt" provides fun yet lacks the cohesive state-of-the-nation impact of his prior works. The book raises questions about generational blame without offering clear resolutions, mirroring real-world tensions.
Ultimately, Look What You Made Me Do offers a witty, if flawed, take on modern relationships and intergenerational strife, cementing Lanchester's reputation for incisive satire while falling short of a fully satisfying whole.
