State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Parts [Penguin] (9780241987797)

Tom and Louise meet in the pub opposite their counsellors office ten minutes before their session is about to start. Their marriage is in a state of crisis because Louise has been unfaithful, after a long period in which Tom wasnt interested in having sex with her at all.

The plan in these ten minutes is to talk about the agenda for the session, , what they talked about last week, what they never talk about, and what is wrong with the couple whose counselling slot immediately precedes their own. Frequently they talk about things that are really not important to their difficulties but which animate and provoke them anyway.

In this way, we learn about the history and the future of a marriage. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship made more complicated by time, and familiarity, will recognise themselves in this brilliantly funny comedy written by one of our most beloved writers,one who captures relationships like few others.