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stephaniegustafson's review
5.0
This book is a maddening but addictive read. Somehow, in its absurdity, Nicholls manages to stay close to reality, if that's possible. It digs deep into human nature and the inevitability of human error (even when we think we're acting with the best intentions) - and how it a all affects the course of a life. This is cliche, but I laughed, I cried... I feel like I am walking away from this story more aware of who I want to be when I grow up.
jitskevddoes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kate_albers's review
4.0
This book was good, although I did not love it as much as I loved "One Day." It's a story of a marriage and a family, told from the father's perspective in flashbacks and during the family's last vacation to Europe. It's funny and it has heart. You could see where some of it was going, but there were also surprises along the way. It's worth reading, especially if you are a David Nicholls fan.
kats05's review
4.0
3.5 stars but rounding up because it's so bloomin' "readable", ha!
Just as mainstream/commercial and chick-litty as ONE DAY (watch out for the movie adaptation of US in 2016, I suspect Nicholls is writing the screenplay whilst he's on his book tour right now) and just as engaging and heart-warming.
Nicholls addresses the questions that occupy everyone's minds.... Why do we fall in love? How can we make relationships work and last? When has a marriage run its course? How do we best communicate with our children?
There are many situations, within the Petersen family dynamics as well as some of their encounters with other people on the European grand tour, that are comical and had me chuckling or groaning with discomfort. I certainly hope that my sons won't turn into teenage grumpsters of Albie Petersen's ilk. In fact, all the characters in "Us" are quite clichéed and two-dimensional which may be testimony to Nicholls' propensity to write for the screen (even whilst writing a book). Douglas Petersen, our narrator and jilted husband, is a scientist, and therefore virtually all his human interactions are driven by a rational analysis with a cut and dried delivery. His wife, Connie, is an artist and behaves the way you would expect a bohemian "free spirit" to behave; an all arty-farty dippy fun mum who most likely breastfed her son until he entered reception class. What she actually thinks we don't know as the entire novel is written from Douglas' perspective. Even the Australian (actually Kiwi) nightmare, Kat, they meet on their travels reads like an extra from "Home and Away". That impression may have been exacerbated by the audio book narrator, Justin Salinger, who reads Kat's voice with exactly the right twangy, annoying accent that she'd have. Unfortunately, that is the only accent Salinger can do convincingly; anyone Douglas meets on his trip around Europe has the same antipodean lilt, whether it's a Danish tourist or a Dutch hooker, all of them come with an Aussie or a flat South African twang. Incidentally, his voice is also a bit too young for a 52 year old narrator - why not have Nicholls himself read the book then, he sounds almost the same?!
It's no exaggeration to say that there were many eyebrows raised in surprise at seeing David Nicholls' name on the Man Booker longlist. A Man Booker nomination led me to expect something different, more complex, certainly more literary from him, but "Us" is exactly what you'd expect from David Nicholls: a well written, fairly predictable story with likeable characters everyone can relate to, or at least recognise. Fast food but with organic ingredients.... I certainly liked it.
Just as mainstream/commercial and chick-litty as ONE DAY (watch out for the movie adaptation of US in 2016, I suspect Nicholls is writing the screenplay whilst he's on his book tour right now) and just as engaging and heart-warming.
Nicholls addresses the questions that occupy everyone's minds.... Why do we fall in love? How can we make relationships work and last? When has a marriage run its course? How do we best communicate with our children?
There are many situations, within the Petersen family dynamics as well as some of their encounters with other people on the European grand tour, that are comical and had me chuckling or groaning with discomfort. I certainly hope that my sons won't turn into teenage grumpsters of Albie Petersen's ilk. In fact, all the characters in "Us" are quite clichéed and two-dimensional which may be testimony to Nicholls' propensity to write for the screen (even whilst writing a book). Douglas Petersen, our narrator and jilted husband, is a scientist, and therefore virtually all his human interactions are driven by a rational analysis with a cut and dried delivery. His wife, Connie, is an artist and behaves the way you would expect a bohemian "free spirit" to behave; an all arty-farty dippy fun mum who most likely breastfed her son until he entered reception class. What she actually thinks we don't know as the entire novel is written from Douglas' perspective. Even the Australian (actually Kiwi) nightmare, Kat, they meet on their travels reads like an extra from "Home and Away". That impression may have been exacerbated by the audio book narrator, Justin Salinger, who reads Kat's voice with exactly the right twangy, annoying accent that she'd have. Unfortunately, that is the only accent Salinger can do convincingly; anyone Douglas meets on his trip around Europe has the same antipodean lilt, whether it's a Danish tourist or a Dutch hooker, all of them come with an Aussie or a flat South African twang. Incidentally, his voice is also a bit too young for a 52 year old narrator - why not have Nicholls himself read the book then, he sounds almost the same?!
It's no exaggeration to say that there were many eyebrows raised in surprise at seeing David Nicholls' name on the Man Booker longlist. A Man Booker nomination led me to expect something different, more complex, certainly more literary from him, but "Us" is exactly what you'd expect from David Nicholls: a well written, fairly predictable story with likeable characters everyone can relate to, or at least recognise. Fast food but with organic ingredients.... I certainly liked it.
maria_rb's review
4.0
Engaging and interesting, the trajectory of a marriage between opposites is clearly delineated in this novel. Given my own penchant for order and boundaries, I empathized with the narrator, whereas I could see other readers empathizing with his wife and son, free-spirited souls who want the main character to relax and be more flexible without realizing that the only reason they have the freedom to be so lax is because the main character supports them through his very controlled and rigid job (no doubt maintained because of his personality).
The novel has some funny parts, some emotional parts, some romantic parts, and lots of frustrating, awkward parts for the main character, who, in tracking his son’s coming-of-age experience, has his own coming-of-age experience.
The novel has some funny parts, some emotional parts, some romantic parts, and lots of frustrating, awkward parts for the main character, who, in tracking his son’s coming-of-age experience, has his own coming-of-age experience.
teagan821's review against another edition
4.0
Not the same cover, but oh well. I adore David Nicholls for "One Day," especially for his ability to paint a completely realistic but still satisfying relationship story. The book did make me sad, and I didn't love it as much as One Day, but he still delivers, and he's still a master. Really hated the last sentence. But not in the "he wrote it badly" kind of way. More like in the "I really wished that hadn't happened," kind of way.