[XSZ]≡ PDF Us David Nicholls 9780340896990 Books

Us David Nicholls 9780340896990 Books

Download As PDF : Us David Nicholls 9780340896990 Books

Us David Nicholls 9780340896990 Books

I'm not good at watching people in discomfort on the screen and I don't like anxiety in any way. This book has a little of that but not enough to put me off. For me this was one of those books where I found myself connecting and investing very deeply with some of the characters and spending a lot of energy (in a good way) on rooting for them ....

I also don't like books that are predictable and this is not at all which got bonus points in my eyes.

This book is about relationships, stretching ourselves, reaching way out of comfort zones and the complications of living life without challenging it.


Tags : Us [David Nicholls] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. 1st UK ed. No dust jacket as issued. Signed on the title page by the author. Long listed for the 2014 Man Booker prize.,David Nicholls,Us,Hodder & Stoughton,034089699X

Us David Nicholls 9780340896990 Books Reviews

I really enjoyed this book in the beginning and the end. One evening Douglas’s wife of several decades informs him that she thinks she doesn’t want to be married to him anymore. That she feels the marriage has “run its course”. He is devastated and spends the entire book trying to change her mind during a trip to Europe with their college age son Abie. The writing was good and at several points reminded me of Jonathan Tropper (who is one of my favorite authors). But there are far too many long winded descriptions of European art and sites and this certainly slowed the narrative. I’m sure there are those more sophisticated who enjoyed all of these digressions but for me I found myself skipping over those pages in order to get back to the plot. But overall this is a good "middle-brow" book.
Interesting story of the break up a family. The three main characters in this book were all so different that it was hard to relate to any of them, yet the storyline kept me going. David Nicholls did some interesting things throughout the novel including the pages where the author tried to look at the problems through several different points of view. Loved that they happened to travel through some of my favorite places in Europe, so I could do some reminiscing of my own travels at the same time.
A feel-good book. Looked forward to each opportunity to read it, knowing I would thoroughly enjoy the experience. So often books on family relationships focus on the dreary aspects of family bickering, looming divorce possibilities, coming-of age-angst. This novel features all those characteristics, but with a quirky, upbeat, witty emphasis. The writing style is clear, concise, and amusing.

Douglas and Connie, the man and wife, seem "real" - and a Grand Tour of Europe in an attempt to salvage the marriage and bond with Albie, the 17-YO offspring, doesn't stretch the bounds of credibility. Several scenarios seem unlikely, but, hey, this is a work of fiction and the author can do with the characters as he likes (or possibly the characters can lead the author around by the nose?).

Albie is presented as the typical (stereotypical?) teenager. There are good reasons why he has a strained relationship with his dad, but I wish that Nicholls could have given a bit more attention to Albie's personality, thoughts, and goals (if any).

I highly recommend any book written by David Nicholls, and put this one at the top of the list. "Us" won't give you profound insights into the meaning of life, but it will raise your spirits and help you realize that family relationships can be dysfunctional and still produce some tender moments. (4-1/2 stars).
It was suggested, by a friend's sister that I read this book. She had also recommended "The Rosie Project". As I loved that book and had several LOL moments when reading it, I thought I would take her recommendation and read "Us".
uuuummm............when I read the last word, I just felt frustrated, annoyed. Perhaps that is a good thing?? ..at least it left me with some sort of feeling, not necessarily a good one. The book has three main characters - him, her and their son. The story goes back and forth between present and past. There are good parts, situations sorted and results arrived at. But I just wanted to grab the author and shake him! He comes across as a mixture of Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean and Felix, from Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple". So draw your own conclusions!
The writing in this book is really wonderful, and on that basis alone, I recommend it. However, be prepared, for there are time it is really hard to keep reading. It is basically about the unraveling of a marriage, from the point of view of the husband, who just doesn't really understand why things are falling apart, and doesn't understand why he has a terrible relationship with his teenage son. Very subtly he will describe the interactions that he, on the one hand, knows are problematic, but on the other hand cannot see how he could act any differently. The book makes no excuses -- it reveals. Which is why it is a good book. I think it would be a good book club book, where one can discuss with others the dynamics of this family and their pain. I'm glad I read it (I actually listened to it -- it was a very good narration). I think.
Found this book on kindle books by chance when ran out of books on holidays. Thought it would be nice light reading. Instead I found a heartwarming story about real family life - with engaging characters that you love and hate at the same time (real family life!).
I laughed and cried my way through it and being a wife and mother put myself in their situations. It was very well written and hard to put down (finished it at 2am on a school night).
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone. Would be really good for a book club too as lots to discuss.
Great quotes at the start of chapters too - I especially liked the one on future parenthood.
Read it and you will not regret it - and may even read it again.
I'm not good at watching people in discomfort on the screen and I don't like anxiety in any way. This book has a little of that but not enough to put me off. For me this was one of those books where I found myself connecting and investing very deeply with some of the characters and spending a lot of energy (in a good way) on rooting for them ....

I also don't like books that are predictable and this is not at all which got bonus points in my eyes.

This book is about relationships, stretching ourselves, reaching way out of comfort zones and the complications of living life without challenging it.