- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd (7 July 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140278958
- ISBN-13: 978-0140278958
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 545,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Independent on Sunday
'Devastatingly tragic, funny and utterly gripping.'
Review
'Compulsive ... a genuine page-turner, anchored in vivid characterisation but driven forward with the skill of the best thriller-writers' Arena
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What's with all the ludicrous comparisons here? Philip Roth? W. Somerset Maugham? Evelyn Waugh?! For God's sake, give me a break. On the strength of this novel, I'd say Mason's lucky to be in print at all. Wonderful premise, tremendously disappointing execution. Where's the psychological depth? Where's the characterization? Where are the motivations for what any of these characters do? "Us" takes what could have been a subtle and sophisticated exploration of the consequences of bullying and turns it into a lame plot, strung together with silly coincidences, decorated with a few references to Hobbes. The saddest part is that Mason can actually write - as his previous novel showed - not to mention the fact that buried in here are what could have been a few really great short stories: Julian's discovery of his father's affair, and his exploitation of it; the tale of the missing betting ticket; Jake's rise to fame in the art world. All wonderful little tales, all completely out of place here. "Us" smacks of three-book-deal syndrome: a writer under contract, having to get SOMETHING out. Let's hope the third one's better. Come on, Richard. We know you're better than this!
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed reading this book almost straight after reading another by Mason 'The Drowning People'. The three characters - Jake, Julian and Adrienne are caught up by one other character Maggie (Julian's sister). The plot coils around their different and often intertwining relationships with Maggie.
The book takes us from the beginning of their lives in a part called 'Me', following this it is 'Then' and finally 'Us'. 'Then' was the hardest section for me to read as each chapter is narrated from the point of view of three characters. Other ones have a chapter per character, which is much easier.
The writing is excellent, even once I know what has happened to Maggie (you know from the blurb she has died) I still felt compelled to read on and discover what would happen years later on in their lives. The ending had a sense of completion to it whereby even though you are wondering about the next few years in their lives you feel that the plot has gone full circle.
Good narrative and dialogue with believable characters. For me it was just as good as 'The Drowning People' but I do think for those that didn't enjoy the narrator of James in that, then this one could be better.
The book takes us from the beginning of their lives in a part called 'Me', following this it is 'Then' and finally 'Us'. 'Then' was the hardest section for me to read as each chapter is narrated from the point of view of three characters. Other ones have a chapter per character, which is much easier.
The writing is excellent, even once I know what has happened to Maggie (you know from the blurb she has died) I still felt compelled to read on and discover what would happen years later on in their lives. The ending had a sense of completion to it whereby even though you are wondering about the next few years in their lives you feel that the plot has gone full circle.
Good narrative and dialogue with believable characters. For me it was just as good as 'The Drowning People' but I do think for those that didn't enjoy the narrator of James in that, then this one could be better.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Us", by Richard Mason, is one of the most devastatingly beautiful books I have ever had the privilege to read. A review by the Independent stated that only two books had made the reviewer cry, Us being one of them. I confess that although I was not moved to tears, I was profoundly moved by Richard Mason's enchanting account of the seminal moments which bind a fractured trio to one another forever. "Us" is at once, funny, touching, irreverent, though provoking, and above all intensely human. It is both funny and tragic, an exploration of what it means to "play it safe", to live life fully, experiencing danger and adventure along the way. It is ultimately an account of mortality, of love and loss, of life and death. It is a stunning exploration of the human condition and a book I recommend whole-heartedly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wit and Depth
More than just the setting suggests an inheritance from Waugh in this intelligent, witty novel about a group of Oxford students who get caught in an intricate web of emotion and... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2004
The perfect holiday read for a lazy, decadent day
US is a delight to read. A fast-paced psychological thriller, it zips through witty dialogue and clever plotlines to a surprizing climax. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2004 by A. Shimotakahara
A disappointment
Like some of the other reviewers on Amazon, I thoroughly enjoyed Mason's lush and romantic first novel THE DROWNING PEOPLE; despite its faults - an anachronistic atmosphere, a... Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2004
Strongly conveyed characters in Mason's second novel
Richard Mason's characters are particularly strongly conveyed in his sophmore effort, Us. The reader has a sense and understanding of each characters struggle with redemption, as... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2004 by E.M. Church
Doesn't do justice to its scope or its author
A novel dealing with childhood bullying and its lingering, life-altering impact is probably best executed as a close study of a single character. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2004 by Steven Reynolds
A brilliant second novel
I loved Richard Mason's first book 'The Drowning People', and have been looking forward to his second for ages. It is completely different but no less brilliant. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2004 by "charlottehilton85"
Punchy, Suspenseful and Entertaining Prose
Contemporary art has had some controversial moments. Damien Hirst's Mother and Child Divided, featuring a cow and calf split in two and preserved in formaldehyde, comes to mind. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2004
Sorry, but I agree with The Guardian
For me this book didn't really work. The frenetic jumping between different times and points-of-view (often on the same page) makes for a bitty read, and stops you really buying... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2004
A new Evelyn Waugh?
This is a wonderful book, an excellent follow up to the Drowning People. One of the aspects of US I liked the best was the structure. Read more
Published on 27 July 2004 by "daisyprince_2001"
Still the best
Hello, this is Grazia from Italy... again.
I'm glad to see that my previous review is still there, because now that I've read Richard Mason's first book "Drowning Souls"... Read more
I'm glad to see that my previous review is still there, because now that I've read Richard Mason's first book "Drowning Souls"... Read more
Published on 26 July 2004 by Grazia
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