Us
by Nicholls, David
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On Oct 1, 2014, CloggieDownunder said
Us is the fourth novel by British author, screenwriter, and actor, David Nicholls. With his seventeen-year-old son, Albie soon to head off to college to study photography, Douglas Petersen is looking forward to growing old with his beloved, beautiful and artistic wife of some twenty years, Connie. Unfortunately, Connie has other plans, intending to “rediscover herself” without Douglas, something that hits him hard (“It was like trying to go about my business with an axe embedded in my skull”). But before that happens, they have a final summer holiday to share: their Grand Tour of Europe, which will take in as much art and culture as they can cram into a month, a holiday meticulously planned by Douglas, a biochemist whose appreciation of art has been taught to him by Connie. Douglas is hoping this wonderful vacation can repair his relationship with his son, remind Connie of all that was so great about their marriage and thus change her mind about leaving him. The narrative alternates between the vacation and the memories of life from when Douglas first met and fell in love with Connie. Love, before Connie (b.c.), had been “a condition whose symptoms were insomnia, dizziness and confusion followed by depression and a broken heart”. After Connie (a.c.), life was altogether better: “I was familiar with the notion of alternative realities, but was not used to occupying the one I liked best.” As the holiday progresses (not quite according to plan), he reviews in his mind past incidents of family life, and in retrospect, develops an uncomfortable insight into his words and deeds, an insight that was, unfortunately, lacking at the time. He begins to realise that his “huge amount of care, an ocean of it” was perceived by others as narrow-mindedness, conservatism or caution; he begins to understand Connie’s accusation that “you can really suck the joy out of pretty much anything these days, can’t you?” This novel is populated by characters that will feel familiar: most of us know a Douglas, well-meaning but almost completely incapable of spontaneity; Connie, beautiful, enigmatic and charming; Albie, filled with teenaged scorn for adult conservatism; the Petersen parents, repressed and disapproving (“Alcohol loosened inhibitions, and inhibitions were worn tight here”); Kat, rebellious and determined to shock. The plot is original and certainly takes a few unanticipated turns, a bit like the Petersen’s vacation: buskers, angry bikers, Carabinieri, an Amsterdam prostitute, undersized Speedos, a night in a jail cell and jellyfish were not expected to feature. Nicholls gives the reader words of wisdom that elicit nodding agreement, lines that will cause smiles, groans and, in fact lots of laugh-out-loud moments, but he also causes the eyes to well up on several occasions. Nicholls treats the reader to some marvellous turns of phrase: “I had sweated feverishly in the night, the bedding now damp enough to propagate cress” and “together we had the grace of a three-legged dog, hobbling from place to place” are just two examples. Another brilliant Nicholls offering! With thanks to TheReadingRoom and Hachette for my copy to read and review
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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- As New
- Jacket Condition
- As New
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- First Edition
- Published
- 2014
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- ISBN
- 9780062365583
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Grottoes, Virginia, USA
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U.S.A.: Harper, 2014. First Edition/First Printing. Very Fine condition. Brodart protected, ships in a box.. First Edition. Hardcover. As New/As New. Item Price
$45.00
Us
by Nicholls, David
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- Used - Good
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- First U.S. Edition
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- 2014
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- Hardcover
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Cadillac, Michigan, USA
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Harper, 2014. First U.S. Edition . Hardcover. Good/Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Usual ex-library markings. Dj had been in an attached wrap, wrap was removed but the backing & adhesive remains on inside covers. Library labels have been partially removed from back panel of dj leaving a lightly sticky residue. Dj has very light edgewear.… Read more about this item Item Price
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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- 2014
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN
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New York: HarperCollins, 2014. Hardcover. pp. 396. 8vo. Near fine in near fine dust jacket. Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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- 2014-10-28
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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- 2014
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kansas city, Missouri, USA
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LONDON: Hodder & Stoughton, 2014. Book. Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First UK edition/First Printing. Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Harper. Used - Good. Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
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Us
by David Nicholls
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- 2014
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Birmingham, West Midlands, GBR
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Book: in Very Good+ Condition; light bumping/rubbing to head, tail and corners; top, rear corner has a small nick; where the rubbing has occurred, some loss off colour to the boards.NON DJ (as issued).A very nice, tight, clean and square copy - Longlisted for the 2014 Booker Prize.
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Us
by David Nicholls
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- 2015
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Traralgon, Victoria, AUS
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Hodder and Stoughton, UK, 2015. Reprint. Medium Trade Paperback. Near Fine. Medium Trade Paperback. 395 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Hodder and Stoughton, UK, 2015. Reprint. *** CONDITION: This book is in near fine condition. More specifically: Covers have no creasing. Edges of covers have superficial wear. Spine is uncreased. . Pages are clean and unmarked… Read more about this item Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by David Nicholls
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- November 2014
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Spring, Texas, USA
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Harper, November 2014. Hardcover . Good/Good. no. A good reading copy. Can show some wear, creases, or few if any markings consistent with a normal used book. Item Price
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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Hodder & Stoughton. Hardcover. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are… Read more about this item Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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- 2014-10-28
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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- 2014
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King River, Western Australia, AUS
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Hodder & Stoughton, London, 2014. First Edition. Softcover. Very Good Condition. Third impression of the First Edition. Size: Octavo 8vo (standard book size). 396 pages. Text body is clean, and free from previous owner annotation, underlining and highlighting. Binding is tight, covers and spine fully intact. No foxing in this copy. All edges clean, neat… Read more about this item Item Price
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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- 2015
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Waterloo,, Ontario, CAN
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London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. Soft cover. NF. Light shelfwear.. 7x5x1. Novel by the author of One Day. Item Price
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Us
by Nicholls, David
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London, Greater London, GBR
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Hodder & Stoughton, 09/30/2014. Hardcover. Used; Good. **WE SHIP WITHIN 24 HRS FROM LONDON, UK, 98% OF OUR ORDERS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books. Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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Harper. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Dust Jacket Included. 0062365584 First edition, First printing. Not price clipped. NOT REMAINDER marked. Dust jacket in protective cover. Shipped in a box. Number line starting with a (1). Fine/Fine
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Us
by David Nicholls
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- 2001
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Hodder Paperbacks, 2001. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by Nicholls, David
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- Used - Good
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- 2015-06-30
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- 9780062365590
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Alplaus, New York, USA
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Harper Paperbacks, 2015-06-30. Paperback. Good. Back cover with crease, else unmarked with modest wear. Item Price
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Us: A Novel
by David Nicholls
- Condition
- Used - Collectible Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First American
- Published
- October 2014
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780062365583
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Steubenville, Ohio, USA
- Item Price
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$8.77
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Harper, October 2014. First American. Hardcover. Collectible Very Good/Very Good. 1st U. S. Edition with full numberline - No marks noted in text. Deckled edges. Dust jacket is in very good condition with mild signs of wear. Binding is tight and square. Gently read. Family-owned bookshop in Steubenville, Ohio: BookMarx Bookstore. Books shipped within 24 hours. … Read more about this item Item Price
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Us
by David Nicholls
- Condition
- Used - Good Condition
- Published
- 2015
- Binding
- Softcover
- ISBN
- 9780340897010
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- 1
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Bowral, New South Wales, AUS
- Item Price
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$6.54
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Hodder, Australia, 2015. Softcover. Good Condition. Douglas Petersen understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home. He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together. So when Connie announces that she will be leaving, too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime:… Read more about this item Item Price
$6.54