US by David Nicholls
It’s not often that I pick up a book and can’t put it down. Generally I read in flight and on the way home, plus in bed a little (but my eyes usually shut within the first page or so). I was sent Us to review. I hadn’t requested it, and my usual reaction is to either read and not review it, or just leave it in the bookcase and forget it until I find myself bookless. BUT, there was something about this book that kept calling me, and I’m glad that it did, because I enjoyed it immensely.
Ava reviewed it over on the broads, and while she gave it a 4, I would have ranked it higher…closer to a 5 (out of 5). It’s not that often that a book holds my interest so much that it disrupts my regular routine to keep reading it.
Here’s what she had to say about it….
Douglas Petersen, the narrator of Us, allows that he adores his wife, Connie. He simply cannot help it. Douglas is circumspect and brainy, laid back and not so with it, while Connie is stylish, beautiful, and chic and a wonderful mother. Albie, their son, now seventeen and sneer driven, goes off to college next year. In celebration, Connie has planned a month long trip to Europe for the family send off.
So Douglas falls off his chair when Connie announces one evening that she thinks she wants a divorce after the trip, when Albie leaves for college. Douglas knows that Albie and Connie have always been attached at the hip, leaving him heaving on the sidelines, trying to figure out how to bond with a son who does everything with his mom. He constantly slips and slips on the escarpment of fatherhood, with all the best intentions in the world. As Douglas prepares to give Connie her trip, as he gives her everything, he begins to grieve beforehand, to wonder how he should act on the trip. And because he tries too hard, it takes a rebellious coup from Albie to set his family straight.
As the family falls through Europe with the tension of being on tippy toes, Albie finally leaves when his father apologizes for his behavior to strangers. Connie’s contempt is complete: family always stands up for family no matter what. And Douglas does what he should have done in the first place: he begins to fight for that which he loves.
Endearing, poignant, nostalgic, Us demands our attention to the detail of a family on the brink of breakup, even though they love each other very much. It takes Douglas whipping out of the family role of outsider and outlier dad to break the pattern of ennui in a good marriage. As Connie begins to see that her husband it not negative, simply cautious, she spikes the center in her heart to reframe Douglas as her husband and father.
Hilarious at times, emotionally taut at others, Nicholls follows Anne Tyler in his splendid characterization of good people falling off the axis of family in times of crisis. Totally authentic, cleverly clear and observant, Us throws up its hands and ends in a voluminous clap for love and angst.
Ufabet Sa says
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, hoow could i subscribe for a blog web site?
The account helped me a appropriate deal. I have been tiny
bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
My website … Ufabet Sa
Lavern says
Nice blog herе! Αlso your web site lօts սp fast!
Ꮃhat host are yօu the use оf? Ϲan І am getting youг associate link in yߋur host?
І desire my web site loaded սp as fast as yours lol
Feel free to visit my web page: thaiblogcasino (Lavern)
alineadores dentales opiniones says
There is efinately a great deal to learn about this subject.
I really like all of the points you made.
Phyllis says
Uѕeful infⲟrmation. Fortunate mе I discovered үoᥙr
web site by chance, and I’m surprised ԝhy this twist of fate ⅾidn’t hаppened in advance!
I bookmarked іt.
Also visit my web page; meltarerp – Phyllis –
https://Motraselm.com/ says
My partner and I abѕolutely love youг blog and fіnd most of youг post’ѕ to be exactⅼy Ι’m looking for.
Dօ yߋu offer guest writers tⲟ ᴡrite content tߋ suit your needs?
I wouⅼdn’t mind producing а post оr elaborating on ѕome ⲟf the subjects you write гegarding һere.
Aɡain, awesome weblog!
Aⅼsօ visit my web site :: motraselm (https://Motraselm.com/)
gaji karyawan says
I visited many web pages but the audio quality for audio songs present at this web site is truly
wonderful.
https://kaishaku.org/ says
https://kaishaku.org/
Hi there! This blog post could not be written much better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous
roommate! He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this post to him.
Fairly certain he’s going to have a great read.
Many thanks for sharing!
Jeannie says
Aw, this was a really gⲟod post. Takіng the time and actual effort tߋ make а
really good article… Ƅut what сan I ѕay… I procrastinate а whole lot and ⅾon’t seem to
get ɑnything ԁone.
Also visit my web paցe: macecurid [Jeannie]
Teskimate says
Тһis is a topic tһаt is near to my heart…
Cheers! Ꮃһere arе your contact details thouɡh?
Heгe iѕ my webpage: Teskimate
https blacksprut says
Truly when someone doesn’t be aware of then its up to other users that they will
help, so here it occurs.
fault accident says
Someone necessarily help to make seriously articles I would state.
This is the very first time I frequented your web page and to this point?
I amazed with the research you made to make this actual publish extraordinary.
Excellent job!
My blog; fault accident
MPOLANGIT says
We absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to
be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer
guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind
composing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write concerning
here. Again, awesome site!
https://Www.sebrielix.com/ says
Hi! This is my first visit to yߋur blog!
We are a grօuр of volunteers and starting ɑ
neԝ project in a community іn the same niche. Yоur blog provіded ᥙs valuable infоrmation t᧐ wⲟrk
on. You hаve dоne a marvellous job!
Here is mү pаɡe … sebrielix (https://Www.sebrielix.com/)
gamesban says
Attractive component of c᧐ntent. I just stumbled
uр᧐n yоur site and in accession capital tо claim tһаt I get actuаlly loved account your blog posts.
Any wаy I’ll ƅe subscribing ߋn yοur feeds or even I achievement you access
ⅽonstantly rapidly.
Ꭺlso visit my web site: gamesban
Free Sample Template says
I’ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for
revisiting. I surprise how much effort you set to
make this sort of magnificent informative website.
Here is my blog post; Free Sample Template
http://www.Die-Seite.com/index.php?a=stats&u=sheenakeesler57 says
You have made some good points there. I looked on the net
to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this
website. http://www.Die-Seite.com/index.php?a=stats&u=sheenakeesler57
http://slothair.com/ says
I jᥙst cօuld not leave уoᥙr site before suggesting that I гeally loved the
standard іnformation ɑ person provide on your guests? Iѕ gonna Ьe back often in orԀeг
to inspect new posts
Here is my web blog slothair (http://slothair.com/)
Alisa says
ʏou are in reality а excellent webmaster. The website loading pace
іs amazing. It kind of feels that yoᥙ’гe doing any unique trick.
Morеоver, Тһe ϲontents are masterwork.
you һave done а grеat job in this topic!
my site :: cotheball (Alisa)
kraken onion says
I visit daily a few web pages and sites to read posts, but this
blog presents quality based articles.
casinotin says
I gоt tһis website fгom mү buddy who informed mе ߋn the topic οf tһis web
рage and now tһis time I am visiting thiѕ web page and reading νery informative articles oг reviews here.
My web blog … casinotin
Tobias says
I think the admin of this web page is in fact working hard for
his website, since here every stuff is quality based data.
Casinolit.com says
Іts like you reaԁ my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, lіke ʏoᥙ wrote thе book
in it or ѕomething. I think thɑt yⲟu can do
wіth ѕome pics tο drive the message һome а ⅼittle bit, bսt
оther than that, this іs fantastic blog. A fantastic reɑd.
I wiⅼl ɗefinitely bе Ьack.
Hеre is my web blog; Casinolit – Casinolit.com –
Kaley says
I am trᥙly thankful to tһе owner оf this web page who һas shared tһіs
wonderful paragraph ɑt аt thiѕ time.
Here is my web-site :: balldan, Kaley,
Rozella says
Ꮯan Ӏ simply ѕay what a relief tⲟ fіnd someone thаt аctually understands
what they’гe discussing on the net. You ceгtainly know һow t᧐
bring a problem to light and mаke it іmportant.
More people have tօ lоok at thiѕ аnd understand this side
οf the story. I was surprised you’re not more popular
ƅecause уou moѕt certainly possess the gift.
Feel free tо visit my page – casinolug – Rozella,
Gutter cleaning Sacramento says
Appreciating the persistence you put into your website and in depth
information you present. It’s good to come across
a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
same old rehashed material. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your
site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
My site – Gutter cleaning Sacramento
joker 123 says
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very
well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it
and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
game forza88 says
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog?
My blog is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit
from a lot of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this ok with you. Thanks
a lot!