Customer Reviews

The Understudy: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a fan of British humor and enjoy comic romances, so I had high hopes for this book. It comes up a little bit -- but a decisive bit -- short.

The book has a promising start, our hero, Stephen McQueen (with a ph), is a struggling actor whose specialty is playing dead bodies in television police dramas. That sounds like a funny starting point, right? Well, that's the high point. His subsequent struggles, both romantic and professional, are more pathetic than funny, and more boring than either. One after another the book sets up (admittedly with considerable skill) potentially funny or redeeming scenes--the party thrown by the star he is understudying, visits with his ex-wife, the star's wife, his daughter, his agent, acting jobs as a Squirrel, and so forth. Each time, the set up is unavailing--the humor is just short of funny and the positive change or transformative event in the hero's life so necessary to such a story falls just short of happening. The book and its ultimately unappealing hero just keep plodding along. Ultimately I felt like Charlie Brown, with the author playing Lucy--holding out the football of the conventions of a comic romance, then pulling them away at the last second. Spare yourself.

It's too bad that Mr. Nicholls is virtually unknown on this side of the Atlantic. His first novel, "A Question of Attraction," ("Starter for Ten" in Europe) is arguably the funniest novel I've ever read. This second effort reveals that he has not broken his funny bone. "The Understudy" is the story of Stephen McQueen (don't mistake him for THE Steve McQueen), a hapless underemployed actor who dreams of his "big break" while playing second fiddle to one of England's up-and-coming stage actors. His side job as Sammy the Squirrel in children's films is hilarious, as is his bumbling attempt to maintain a presence in the life of his young daughter. Not quite the guffaws of his first novel, but certainly some robust giggles here. Bring on his next work!!

One should always have a book by David Nicholls handy as the perfect escapism into some poor soul's worst social orientated faux pas nightmares all come true. If nothing else it gives one a sense of perspective regarding one's own personal hang-ups. Well this novel is a highly enjoyable read and the writing is in David Nicholls usual scintillating style with lots of laughs along the way. It also kept me up all night as it presents so many dilemmas for the protagonist that I couldn't put the book down until I got to the end to find out how and if he survives them all.

A drawback to this novel to my mind is that the misery is laid on so thick and fast for Stephen the protagonist that one craves a little light relief for him and for ourselves too who are caught up in his problems. Also, on one hand Stephen arouses sympathy but on the other his stupidity is exasperatingly annoying; and then his positive traits of character seem out of kilter with his irrationality which is confusing. However, this fault might lay with this particular reader. But the end ... Well Mr. Nicholls, you write so well that I will read anything you get into print again in the future because your writing is so very attractive, enjoyable and colorful - but that end. No, it didn't do it, for me at least. There was no hope - not even a teeny-weenie little bit of salvation. One knows that things are going to continue as before for Stephen with a ph and the reader so desperately wants an unrealistic final. You could have given us a little bit of hope in the way of some unadulterated schmaltz. But again this is personal and you still deserve 5 stars and more for a wonderful read and for making me care. Thanks!

This is not great literature, but it is an enjoyable read with a very likable main character. It is a bit of a romantic drama/comedy taking place in London that could easily be a plot for a movie. A nice way to spend a few hours.

Poor Stephen McQueen - he is a 30something man with dreams of becoming the next .. Steve McQueen! Although he shares his name with a famous movie star, Stephen has little else in common with the Hollywood elite. For starters, he lives in London, and is merely the understudy to the insanely popular Josh Harper. Josh epitomizes everything Stephen wants to be - he's famous, extremely good-looking, sought-after by women, directors, and fans, and is married to a beautiful woman named Nora. Stephen is, basically, an unlucky fellow; nothing seems to go his way, and he is still waiting for his 'big break' after many years of trying. He's an adequate father to his only daughter Sophie, a friend to his ex-wife Alison, and a better than average friend to Josh Harper, a man who treats him like gum beneath a shoe. There isn't a lot of dramatic tension in the novel - it is more of a character study and a glimpse into Stephen's life. David Nicholls captures the essence of a man who is a good person but just down on his luck and needing a break. Stephen is a character that you love to read about and that you want the best for. There is a lot of humor/wit in this book and I was laughing aloud many times throughout the novel. A Question of Attraction was one of the best books I have ever read, and The Understudy ranks right up there with it. Both books have a solid cast of characters that are `normal' and easy to identify with. There is a Josh Harper in all of our lives, and seeing Stephen try to triumph over one made for a very funny and engaging read.

Loved it! I laughed so hard and so often while reading this book that I thought my internal organs might suffer permanent damage. I had to put the book down to recover.

In this book the author, to my mind, reaches levels comparable to the great writers of English humor, like Nick Hornby, P.G Wodehouse.

In some ways this book is purer than "one day" -- it is really just humor, comedy of manners, with some romance thrown in on the side.

With his second novel, David Nicholls attempted to tell a story about an understudy to a superstar in a theater production in London. With his two other books under my belt (Starter for 10 or A Question of Attraction in the US, his first novel, and One Day, his third novel), I found The Understudy a bit underwhelming in comparison. Make no mistake, it is still a good read, but some of characters in this novel are just not believable. A divorced actor making a deal with the superstar to cover his indiscretions and then falling in love with his wife are just too abstract to be reliable.

Overall though i think the novel is still very entertaining but if you have to choose to read one of Nicholl's three novels, skip this one and go for One Day instead.

I thorougly enjoyed this book. I thought it was funny and well written and I've alwayas loved books about actors. The author did a fine job with it and made me laugh at time. I recommend this one, along with Sugarbabe: The Controversial Real Story of a Woman in Search of a Sugar Daddy.

Voice performer Tristan Layton brings verve, vivacity, sly asides, and great humor to his splendid reading of this romantic comedy. His reading adds even more sparkle to a zesty, laugh provoking narrative.

What's not to like about our hero Stephen C. McQueen? First off, he's not really a hero as to date he's an unsuccessful actor, a divorced man, estranged from his daughter, and has a tendency to despondency. He needs all the sympathy we can give him. So, we start out rooting for the underdog.

As if life weren't bleak enough for McQueen he's now the understudy for Josh Harper who has everything and is everything McQueen hopes to be. Harper is adored by legions of women as the Twelfth Sexiest Man in the World, he's starring in a London production of a play about Lord Byron. And, to pour a bucket of salt on already open wounds he's a terrific actor who enjoys robust good health. McQueen is convinced he'll never have an opportunity to stand in for Harper.

Work isn't all that's on McQueen's mind after he sees Harper's beautiful wife, Nora. What's a guy to do? You'll be surprised when you listen to this uproarious tale of life on and off the boards.

- Gail Cooke