Us by David Nicholls will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 6 October. The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
Us
Us tells the story of Douglas Petersen, whose marriage of twenty-one years to Connie is almost over. When Autumn comes around, their son Albie will leave for university. Connie has decided to leave soon after.
But there’s still the summer holidays to get through – a Grand Tour of Europe’s major cities by train – and over the course of the journey, Douglas devises a plan to win back the love of his wife and repair his troubled relationship with his son. Forced to understand why his marriage is in tatters, he looks back to the beginning of their relationship and learns once again whom he fell in love with.
Selection panel review
Our selection panel thought this was a great read. This is what they had to say:
“This is a very good book – nicely written and believable in terms of its plot, characterisation and dialogue, and easy to read. David Nicholls has a particular quality of making sense of one’s inchoate thoughts – whilst reading, there were many occasions when I felt an affinity with the protagonist, that sense of ‘I know exactly what you’re talking about’. In terms of both humour and pathos it is sincerely and thoughtfully written.”
“The description of all family members is so true to life, and the actions of the narrator father make you wince with their accuracy, and inevitability. A great novel by a thoroughly enjoyable and celebrated novelist.”
“It’s a lovely book about husband/wife relationships and how growing old doesn’t mean giving up hope; whether it be improving your relationship with your kids, travelling more, experiencing new things, or sadly, in this case, reviewing your life-long marriage.”
About the author
David Nicholls is a talented and popular screenwriter and author. He most recently wrote a highly acclaimed original drama for BBC1 called The 7:39 and the forthcoming feature-film adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd. He has also adapted both his first novel Starter for Ten and One Day for film.
His debut novel Starter For Ten became one of the big hits of the year, selling over 300,000 copies and being chosen for the first Richard & Judy Bookclub. His second novel The Understudy, which was published in 2005, drew on the years he spent acting. David left Bristol University wanting to be an actor, but after several years of playing walk-on roles he decided it was perhaps time to try something else.
David’s third novel, One Day, was published in June 2009, and it was an international publishing phenomenon. It sold 5 million copies around the word, published in over forty languages and spent years on bestseller lists worldwide. David adapted the book for screen and the film was released in 2011 starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
David’s eagerly awaited fourth novel, Us, was inspired by him publicising One Day throughout Europe; visiting all the extraordinary places he would have loved to have seen as a back-packing teenager but never got the chance.
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 6 October to hear a live interview with David Nicholls talking about his book.
Have you read Us? You can share your thoughts on Twitter, or by posting a comment in the space below.
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