State Of The Union - Nick Hornby

Fiction

Rating: 8/10

Spoiler Alert! Nobody dies in this book. But if words were weapons…

The union referred to in this title is that of marriage. Holy matrimony, wedlock, nuptials, for better or worse, life sentence… to quote a few of the common phrases.

The book takes place over the course of several pub rendezvous between a couple just prior to them heading into their therapy sessions. You don’t see the therapy or much of the marriage itself for that matter, but the dialogue is sharp, nimble and terrifically witty. This book is a gem, charming in its tangents as much as its ruminations.

Fun bits to share:

· Took huge balls just to show up, basically anything I do here is an act of pure heroism. And giant balls.

· You hesitate when you’re ordering in a restaurant, not to the question of whether or not you love somebody.

· Prison sex, you know the kind you have when you get out, that’s what I’m aiming for!

Footnote: A smart story and a refreshing change of pace. I’d forgotten what a genius this writer is!