People Like Us

by Chris Binchy

So when they move to a bigger house on the outskirts of Dublin, Paul hopes that it will give his family the room they need to relieve these tensions. Cleaner air. Bigger gardens. Breathing space. But as his family start to settle in, doubts begin to grow in Paul’s mind. Who are the people they now live among? Who is Joe Mitchell and why is he so afraid? Who are the gang that hang around in the front of his house? And why has his eldest daughter grown so secretive? As Paul begins to discover the answers, he is dragged into a situation that escalates beyond his control. PEOPLE LIKE US is a story of a father’s ambitions for his family, who when confronted by real and perceived dangers, is forced to question who he can trust and who he can believe.

Paperback

First published March 4, 2005

About the author

Chris Binchy is the author of People Like Us, Open-handed, and The Very Man, which was short-listed for the Irish Novel of the Year Award. He lives in Dublin, Ireland. His aunt was author Maeve Binchy.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up because Chris Binchy was one of my daughter's favorite professors at the American College of Dublin. The genuine characters Mr. Binchy has created in People Like Us are so familiar. The characters really are people like us and our friends. The social interactions and family dynamics give one cause to examine our own family and social interactions. I very much enjoyed this read.

[Stefan Fairweather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off well, but felt rushed in the latter part. Built up some huge conflict then left it largely unresolved. In summary, the number of questions > the number of answers

[Brian Mimpress · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire book is basically an argument between a father and his seventeen year old daughter.
It’s exhausting.

[Ian Mapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another success from Binchy.

This one was not based on humour but on real life issues with no-one getting killed or any outrageous coincidences.

The story is told from three angles. Initially, it is difficult to see who is who and how they are related but this all unfolds.

We have Paul, a teacher with 4 kids who has concerns. There is a great monologie about how the decision making process works in his house, with his wife making all the decisions and him protesting just to be involved in the process. This was read out to me by Sonia and caused some mirth.

He is talked into moving out of Dublin and into the suberbs and a bigger house by his wife. He is not convinced and worries about this.

then there is a lad and his gang who hang around this estate. Some of their scrapes are descrived, although you are not sure who they are. Essentially, they are not bad kids, just bored, and once you recognise who they are, you begin to think they are on some sort of terrible collison course with Pauls family.

Finally, there is Joe. A local busybody who has had some run ins with the gang but is classed as a bit of an idiot.

So the story transpires that The lad goes out with Clare - the eldest daughter of Paul and joe shops them in by reporting on their comings and goings.

Pauls imagination gets the better of him and there is a fist fight with the youth, whos father intervenes in a calm manner saying how paul should be ashamed of himself.

Clare gets the hump and runs away to London for a night, before being coaxed home.

A warm, yet serious study on the perils of middle age and fatherhood that was an excellent read.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So if things in your life aren't exactly the way you want them, maybe buying a big new house in a suburban housing development will help. Or may be not. I'm inclined to think not, and so, apparently, is Chris Binchy.