What you want may not what exactly you need. ( )

For most of this book I was on the verge of throwing it across the room and giving up. it is VERY uncomfortable, awkward, cringe inducing and nauseating. I managed to keep hold of the book, and finish it, probably as a result of it being incredibly well written, heartwarming story.

I'm glad I did finish it otherwise it would have got 1* through no fault of its own, just my great aversion to second hand embarrassment. ( )

I have to be honest -- I saw "Starter for 10" (twice even!) before ever reading this book, and I wouldn't find it nearly as charming if I didn't have the mental picture of James McAvoy as the main character.

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"Because he's a third year, and because he's obviously got parents with money, Patrick seems to have got his life in some kind of semiadult order: proper, noninstitutional furniture, which he probably owns, a telelvision, a video, a living room which doesn't have a bed or a gas cooker or a shower in it. In fact, he's barely a student at all; everything in its place and a place for everything, like the living quarters of a monk, or a particularly fastidious serial killer" (69).

"'I like the panda,' I say.

'Oh -- thank you!'

'Peeking over your shoulder! Or should I say Beijing over your shoulder!'

She looks at me uncomprehendingly, so by way of clarification, I say, 'Did you bring it with you from home?'

'Pardon me?'

'Did you bring it from home?'

She looks puzzled. 'You mean my halls of residence?'

I have the sensation of falling. 'No, your, you know ... your original home.'

'Oh, you mean China! Because it's a panda, right? Well, actually, I'm from Minneapolis, so no.'

'Yes, but originally you're from...?'

'Minneapolis...'

'But your parents, they're from...'

'Minneapolis...'

'But their parents are from...'

'Minneapolis...'

'Of course. Minneapolis,' and she smiles at me with perfect, sincere kindness, despite the fact that I'm clearly ignorant, racist scum" (71-72).

( )

Nicholls' creation Brian is awkward, arrogant, and still in the process of growing up. As a reader, you watch his social faux pas through your fingers. At times you simply want to give him a shake. Despite the fact that he believes he has learnt and matures by the end of the novel Nicholls does not give in and give us the Hollywood transformation. You'll still want to shakes some sense into when you hear his final words. ( )

It's the mid-80's, and Brian Jackson, a somewhat nerdy, "wanker" type is anxious to head off to university. Having lost his dad when he was on the cusp of adolescence, he hopes to do him proud by qualifying for the University Challenge TV quiz show. In the meantime, he tries to fit in at university, and when he meets the beautiful Alice, he's determined to win her over as more than just a friend.

This was kind of a sleeper hit for me. It's one of Nicholls' lesser-known novels -- his first, actually. I devoured this book on audio in just a few days' time and was laughing out loud through a large portion of it. Brian's character can be annoyingly clueless sometimes, but some of the British dialogue and humor really was laugh-out-loud funny. The reader for this audiobook, Erik Steele, did a great job. This novel is also known by its British title, Starter for Ten, and I just realized there's a movie adaptation. Guess where I'm headed next?! ( )