This Age We're Living In

by David Wilson

Only two big facts are known for certain: you are on a large spinning rock hurtling through space at about 67,000 miles an hour, and one day your body is going to die. Will a new pair of shoes really help?  —Worth’s 12th Law of Shopping

 George Worth is a grumpy lifestyle columnist who works in a woman’s world. He hates fashion, mobile phones, computers, and Young People. At night he goes home to a borrowed Labrador and feelings of guilt about his dead wife. Justin Smith is a Young Person. A bright newcomer, he’s always on his cell to his girlfriend, surfing the internet, and keeping abreast of the latest trends. Then comes the day when Justin’s girlfriend throws him out and he finds himself having to share an apartment with George. As the women around them watch and wonder both men start to work out what really matters among the obsessions and distractions of modern life.

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

David Wilson is a journalist for the Daily Mail and The Times.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this one a while ago, decided to listen as part of a TBR clearing project. Had my doubts going in, at first it seemed okay. However, by the end I just wanted it over. It's basically chick-lit, written by a man with a male protagonist. Others may see it as a charming story of a widower "finding" himself, which seems the idea. Best parts were his cynical columns, which I found spot on!

If you're reading this, and haven't read the book yet, there's an angle that I feel is not accurately presented - specifically, the role of the younger guy, Justin, in the story. I inferred that they would be living together throughout the story growing in a sort of parallel lives. Justin only stays with George during a relatively brief period early on; he's present on occasion afterwards, but his main function is to serve as a catalyst for George to face what a rut he's been in.

[Jane Routley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful chic-lit starring a middle aged man. A lovely read. With a nice Labrador too.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has all of the ingredients of an American feel-good film – a main character, George, who has suffered a tragic event; his struggle out of grief induced depression; a cast of loving supportive friends; even the obligatory life affirming maternity ward scene at the end. All good stuff – but a little trying at times. Depressed George is incredibly irritating – pompous, opinionated and a know all – I couldn’t wait for him to get over it and move on, but maybe that was the point. Happy George is rather more bearable but he still goes on a bit. A few laughs – I did love George’s observations on women and shoes – of course women have shoes they can’t walk in. An ok quick read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think i'm a (younger) female version of the main character George! I too don't understand the fascination other women have with shoes and if you can't walk in the bloody things, whats the point of them? Yes, i'm a Grumpy Old Woman and proud of it!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, engaging and gently funny novel - very honest, moving and touchingly intimate without plunging into sentimentality. If you enjoy wry British humor and books in which much of the plot development is internal, you will appreciate the pace of this one. It's a blokey sort of book, but certainly universal enough for women to enjoy (a bit of a cross between Adrian Mole and Nick Hornby). I picked it up because it received praise from Mavis Cheek, one of my favorite writers, and in fact Wilson's George Worth is in many ways the male counterpart to Cheek's single, middle-aged, slightly disillusioned, London-dwelling women. Like Cheek, he also has the gift of bringing to life with great economy characters who remind you of real people you know living in a world that is all too familiar.

[Margherita Dolcevita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mi aspettavo una cosa totalmente diversa e infatti ne sono rimasta delusa. L'umorismo è quello tipico inglese (che a me non fa impazzire) e si parla troppo di moda, di stile, di lifestyle. Oltre a questo c'è francamente poco altro.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit too long and rather sad. An interesting take on marriage, widower hood, and grief.