US
Douglas Petersen may be mild mannered, but
behind his reserve lies a sense of humor that,
against all odds, seduces beautiful Connie into
a second date . . . and eventually into marriage.
Now, almost three decades after their relationship
first blossomed in London, they live more or
less happily in the suburbs with their moody
seventeen-year-old son, Albie.
Then Connie tells Douglas that she thinks she wants a divorce.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Hoping to encourage her son’s artistic
interests,
Douglas Petersen may be mild mannered, but
behind his reserve lies a sense of humor that,
against all odds, seduces beautiful Connie into
a second date . . . and eventually into marriage.
Now, almost three decades after their relationship
first blossomed in London, they live more or
less happily in the suburbs with their moody
seventeen-year-old son, Albie.
Then Connie tells Douglas that she thinks she wants a divorce.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Hoping to encourage her son’s artistic
interests, Connie has planned a monthlong tour of European capitals,
a chance to experience the world’s greatest works of art as a family, and
she can’t bring herself to cancel. Douglas is privately convinced that this
landmark trip will rekindle the romance in the marriage, and may even
help him to bond with Albie.
From the streets of Amsterdam to the famed museums of Paris, from
the cafés of Venice to the beaches of Barcelona, Douglas’s odyssey brings
Europe to vivid life just as he experiences a powerful awakening of his own.
Will this summer be his last as a husband, or the moment when he turns
his marriage, and maybe even his whole life, around?
- Harper Paperbacks
- Paperback
- June 2015
- 416 Pages
- 9780062365590
Buy the Book
$15.99
About David Nicholls
David Nicholls’s most recent novel, the New York
Times bestseller One Day, has sold more than two million copies and has
been translated into thirty-seven languages; the film adaptation starred Jim
Sturgess and Anne Hathaway. Nicholls’s previous novels include Starter for
Ten and The Understudy. He trained as an actor before making the switch
to writing and has twice been nominated for BAFTA awards.
Praise
“I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what
happens after the Happy Ever After.”—Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before
You and One Plus One
“A great novel…Nicholls is a master of nuanced relationships.”—Entertainment Weekly
Discussion Questions
Describe Douglas, Connie and Albie and their family
dynamic. What draws Douglas and Connie together? What
drives them apart? How has their marriage evolved over the
years and how does it affect their family life and their son?
This novel is about marriage—not just a boy-meets-girl
romance. What does the author tell us about the Happily Ever After
part? How does “real life” compare with our romanticized notions?
Do spouses have a responsibility to keep the spark alive after the
honeymoon stage?
How important is it for a person to stay true to their individuality?
How do we reconcile individuality within relationships and families?
Travel is a major component of this novel. How does being physically
away from home affect the characters? What opportunities does
traveling offer them? What emotional challenges does it raise?
How does Douglas cope when his “Grand Tour” plans aren’t working
out? How does he adjust over the course of his journey?
The parent-child relationship can be as frustrating as it is rewarding.
What are the particular sources of turmoil in the relationship between
Douglas and Albie? What helps them resolve their differences?
How does an instant-gratification culture affect our ability to work
through tough times? Do people give up on relationships too easily?
What about Douglas and Connie? What about Albie?
The meaning of love can change over the course of a relationship.
Describe Douglas’ love for Connie and Albie. Compare and contrast
the novel’s beginning to its end. How have the characters changed?
Stayed the same? What have they learned?
Each section begins with a quote. What do the quotes add to each
section? What do they add to the story as a whole? Which quote struck
you the most? Why?
Between the “Grand Tour,” Connie’s painting and Albie’s photography,
art is at the very center of Us. How does art affect the characters? How
does art affect our lives?
The novel is called Us. Is there really an “Us” in the story? If yes, who?
If no, what inspired the title?