Cheap A Question of Attraction : A Novel (Book) (DAVID NICHOLLS) Price

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Customer Reviews of A Question of Attraction : A Novel

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A Question of Attraction is a rare thing: a novel that entertains intelligently and humorously. As the novel begins, Brian Jackson, the eighteen year old narrator of this charming novel is about to set off for university in England during the mid-1980s, leaving his widowed mother, friends and working class background. Brian yearns to have knowledge, to learn, to have witty conversation, to meet that certain special gorgeous supremely intelligent someone. He gets to college and spends a bit more time than he would like recovering from hangovers and pining away after Alice, the perhaps unattainable girl of his dreams. He finally gets to fulfill a life-long dream: he will represent his university on University Challenge, a quiz type game show. This novel is funny, witty, heartwarming and endearing (but not sappy, not by a longshot). It's great fun to read. David Nichols is sort of like a British Tom Perrotta--he makes writing a funny and thoughtful novel look effortless. Enjoy.

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A Question of Complexion
I am amazed that nobody has got around to rating this fabulous novel before me as the only reason to put it down is either to catch one's breath from laughing out loud or like eating a particularly delectable desert, to extend one's reading pleasure. It is such an easy read but at the same time full of provocative and thoughtful dialogue and situations. The technique involved in writing a novel that continuously makes one laugh is no mean achievement and this book certainly did it for me. The characters are all too believable, people we know or have known and maybe would rather not know. The story of his introduction into university life is told in the first person by young Brian who suffers from chronic acne, drinks too much alcohol, lives off junk food and cannot but help complicating his social relations. Brian comes over so real that one feels like picking up the phone to offer him advice as one reads along. The situation pieces are also, all too probably and this includes the end where I would personally have preferred a contrived climax that left me on a high and not feeling quite so uncomfortable. It appears that this book was originally titled Starter for Ten; (This is the title of the book I purchased in the UK) this title as well as the existing one do not flatter this captivating novel in my opinion and are the only few words of text in the book that do not shine with brilliant creativity. These are my only negative criticisms of this book that was great fun to read and I now eagerly await other David Nicholls novels.

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throughly enjoyable
A QUESTION OF ATTRACTION is the story of Brian, a somewhat ungainly youth going to university in England in the bleak mid-80s. Brian hopes redefine himself at school and eagerly (in appealingly 1st person) tells us all the thing he'd like to say to people in intellectual arguments ("define your terms")

The plot revolves around Brian's efforts to appear on the popular UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE quiz show and to have his beautiful teammate ALice fall in love with him. Alice, a sort of rich socialist, is somewhat idealized but still very appealing, and she leades Brian on through almost the books entire length. Meanwhile, Brian is coping with beer-making roommates, dealing with the friends and family he left behind, having no money, and his classes.

This book isn't an all-out romp, it movingly gets at that time in one's life when self-consciousness is replaced by maturity. My one complaint is that the resolution to BRian's romantic problems can be seen a mile away....this is a very British novel but there's enough here to appeal to American readers as well. Highly recommended .