Book Review: The Understudy by David Nicholls

Ok it's official, David Nicholls is brilliant and I will brook no contradiction. If you dare to contradict me I will have to give you a metaphorical slap. I was enjoying this book so much I missed most of last night's Shameless I was so engrossed, and what I saw of Shameless was superb. That's how good David Nicholls is.

I love the Scandinavian crime writers but, as I blogged below, I 've found Camilla Lackberg a bit of a struggle. In fact so much of a struggle that I needed a break, and have put her Ice Princess on ice. Yes, I know. Instead I turned for some light relief to David Nicholls' The Understudy. Brilliant, go out and buy it, now!

Stephen McQueen, with a P.H., is a struggling actor desperate for his big break and trying to get closer to his daughter following his divorce. He is currently playing understudy to the World's 12th Sexiest Man, actor Josh Harper.

Stuck in his tiny dressing room at the top of the West End theatre life seems tough and depressing to Stephen. Then Josh invites him to his birthday party. The party is in Josh's home, full of beautiful people, the trinkets associated with world stardom and lots of coke and other chemicals. A limpse of the world that Stephen aspires to.

But the party, and Stephen's presence there isn't quite what he expected, neither is the outcome. Stephen goes into chemical and alcohol overdrive and ends up falling in love with Norah, wife of Josh. What ensues is classic modern comedy of which David Nicholls is the true master. Virtually every page has a laugh-out-loud moment and the charcters, even the vain Josh, are warm and become aquaintances of the reader if not friends.

Superb.

Go here to read an excerpt.

Book Review: One Day by David Nicholls

David Nicholls is an extremely entertaining writer of 'modern classics', including the hit TV series Cold Feet. This book is a must if you enjoy moving tales of modern life. In some ways Nicholls is a much lighter Patrick Hamilton for the twenty-first century.

One Day is the story of Dexter and Emma in the years following their graduation celebration. What are they doing on the anniversary of their graduation in the years that follow? The book humourously, and movingly, tells the story of their lives and loves as they keep in touch, then lose touch, then get back in touch with each other.

The atmosphere shifts from the 1980s, into the 1990s and then the 2000s seamlessly and skilfully, the sign of a truly great writer. The pages will have you laughing then moved almost to tears as their lives, loves, mistakes and disasters unfold.

Dexter can be a clown, but always manages to redeem himself and maintain your sympathy. Emma is the down to earth sensible Northern woman with a strong romantic alter ego, she invariably saves Dexter over the years.

As their university friends eventually settle down to married life, Dexter's life falls apart slowly and painfully. Emma's life is more stable but she still yearns for someone else. Where will their friendship lead?

This book really is a must.