Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About: Amazon.co.uk: Mil Millington: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

In his weekly Guardian column, Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About, Mil Millington archly chronicles the domestic dialectical antagonisms of life with his German partner, Margret. Although this novel, confusingly, shares the same title as the column and its central characters, Pel Dalton and Ursula Krötenjäger, are an Anglo-German couple not averse to disagreement, it is, without wishing to make a blindingly obvious point, a work of fiction. Millington's customarily whimsical take on contemporary gender relations is, of course, much in evidence but some of the sharper comedy here actually occurs beyond the familial settings. In certain respects the book has possibly more in common with the wry, mild-mannered satire of the Ealing films or David Nobbs' Reginald Perrin than the novels of Tony Parsons, Nick Hornby and co. (At one point Millington, though no doubt entirely unintentionally, even pilfers a classic Perrin gag.)

The book's narrator and protagonist, Pel, is a slightly hapless father of two who works in a library, or in modern parlance a "Learning Centre", at the University of North-Eastern England ("UoNe to its friends"). When his boss Terry Steven Russell ("TSR") vanishes from the University not long after babbling about extradition treaties during a game of Lazer Wars, Pel is promoted to Computer Team Administration, Software Acquisition and Training Manager (or "CTASATM" for short.) While the post pays no more money and he still has to do his old job as well, it does mean his partner Ursula, an affectionate if exacting German, can forge ahead with long-cherished plans to move house. Needless to say neither moving nor dealing with disgruntled colleagues and negotiating the university's slippery corporate structure prove easy. But as the latter finds Pel embroiled in acting as courier for the Triads, presiding over a scheme to build a new extension over a historical burial site and hiding a deadly nerve gas under its foundations, what he and his girlfriend argue about rather pales into insignificance. --Travis Elborough --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Millington takes us to the place where relationships go bad, but never forgets the humour' -- Latest Homes 20021023 'Cringingly familiar, devastatingly funny ... definitely one for fans of Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons' -- Mango Book Club website 20021001 'Highlights just how painful love can be and just how much its precious memories should be valued' -- The Week 20021207 'A brilliantly written comedy. A novel that manages to be both funny and affectionate' -- Guardian 'With his tear-inducing humour, Millington has tapped into the zeitgeist, Helen Fielding-style.' -- Vogue 20020901 'While books that claim to be 'laugh-out-loud funny' are legion, ones such as this that actually are are rarer than molars on a Rhode Island Hen ... There is little to say about coupledom that is not wittily and often movingly explored here. Sharply-written, brilliantly observed and absolutely hilarious.' -- Wendy Holden, Daily Mail 20021025 'A fantastic debut - a funny and heart-warming comedy about love, fatherhood and being in the wrong places at all the wrong times.' -- Essentials 20021101 'Mil Millington's comic timing is spot-on in this laugh-out-loud warm-hearted and engaging novel.' -- Publishing News 20021101 'The plot escalates with all the shameless hyperbole needed to fuel a really good row ... This is a very funny book.' -- Observer 20021013 'Compulsive reading ... drenched in self-deprecating humour.' -- Metro 20021007 'Insightful and wickedly funny.' -- Heat 20021001 'The funniest book I have read all year' -- Sydney Morning Herald 20030901 'Hilarious and insightful ... Realistic and acerbic, this first novel is bound to receive a lot of attention.' -- Bookseller 20020726 'A brilliant, thoroughly urbane hoot' -- The Big Issue in the North 20021005 'A sardonic, cool, fairground-ride of a book ... hugely satisfying' -- Times 20030601 'It's impossible not to laugh out loud at the Anglo-German quips and world-weary observations that tumble off the page' -- Guardian 20021109 'Mil Millington's legendary bust-ups with his long-term lover ... have now spawned a madcap novel.' -- In Style 20021109 'It's really funny' -- Daily Express 20021101 'A surprise hit ... a quirky little comedy.' -- Mirror 20020928 'Guaranteed to raise a smile' -- Irish News 20021007 'Funny ... moves at a cracking pace' -- Sunday Mirror 20021027 'A comedy of relationships in all their confusions' -- Sunday Life 20021201 'A funny and touching read' -- Hello 20030107 'I don't normally quote for fiction, but as clearly all Mil has done in the way of fiction here is change the name 'Mil' to the name 'Pel', I have no compunction whatsoever in pointing out that this is completely hilarious.' -- Jenny Colgan 20030107 'Hilarious' -- More 20030611 'A very funny look at relationships' -- Company 20030611 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Good, but ultimately unsatisfying as a novel 18 Nov 2003

By N. de Cort

Format:Paperback

Good stuff first: very funny throughout. Sharply observed and well-written on the family relationships that define us all. Some really touching passages, especially on the children. Worth reading for these reasons.

My criticisms, though, are that the plot is ultimately unsatisfying. Pel gets into trouble, but it's nothing he's done that puts him there, he's just (very) unlucky. He does little or nothing to get himself out of the problems, and nothing is resolved. It's like some sort of plot has been grafted on to make the (really funny) situations (shopping, work, parent's evening, buying a house) hang together. As a novel it doesn't work. As a series of picaresque situations, it's really very funny.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Made my girlfriend and I argue - about who got to keep it 28 Sep 2002

By A Customer

You may have read Mil Millington's column in the Weekend magazine of Saturday's Guardian, or his original list of things he and his girlfriend argue about on his website. If so, or if not, this book will make you laugh. So what if he has taken the 'write what you know' adage to its extreme? Funny is funny however you look at it - and this is very, very funny. My girlfriend brought home the book, read it first and then suggested I read it. The last book we both read was a road atlas, via torchlight, on a Pembrokeshire country lane. That we both thought Things... was a great read is testament to its characters and, best of all, the dialogue of the two leads. If you don't recognise anything of your own relationship in the superbly funny disputes, then you must be Posh or Becks. Ultimately, though, this is about two people very much in love dealing with everyday stuff. Everyday stuff that made me, and my girlfriend, laugh more than anything we've read this year. It misses out on five stars only because it couldn't help us decide who cleans the bathroom next. I definitely did it last time...

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

A book to be read alone 18 Oct 2002

By "captain_slaphead"

This is a funny book - and will annoy people. It won't annoy the reader, but you will be getting up the noses of those around you. Frankly, no-one likes to be on public transport sat next to a person who's grinning like an idiot, giggling, and has tears running down their face.

And being nudged by this person and then asked to read a bit is even worse.

Also, do not read this book in the loo either. It is still not socially acceptable to be heard laughing from inside a toilet (especially when alone).