The Universe Versus Alex Woods
by Gavin Extence
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Description
"Alex Woods was struck by a meteorite when he was ten years old, leaving scars that marked him for an extraordinary life. The son of a fortune teller, bookish, and an easy target for bullies, he hasn't had the most conventional childhood. When he meets curmudgeonly widower Mr. Peterson, he finds an unlikely friend. Someone who teaches him that that you only get one shot at life. That you have to make it count. So when, aged seventeen, Alex is stopped at Dover customs with 113 grams of show more marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the passenger seat, and an entire nation in uproar, he's fairly sure he's done the right thing ..."--From publisher description. show lessTags
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DemetriosX Very similar narrative voices. Alex understands human emotion and interaction better than Christopher and is therefore a bit more naive, but both are a kind of modern Holy Fool exploring a world that doesn't always make much sense to them.
Member Reviews
This book had me hooked from the opening pages. A seemingly wired teenager is stopped at the Dover border with a bag full of marijuana, some cash and an urn containing the remains of one Mr. Peterson. The search for the boy and Mr. Peterson has been all over the news, and for the second time in his extraordinary life, Alex Woods is surrounded by media hype.
The first time was when he was 10 years old and woke from a coma after being hit in the head by a meteorite.
Alex lives near Glastonbury with his esoteric mother and helps out in her Wiccan shop. He seems to me to be slightly autistic, although this is never referred to in the text. He is very much an outsider and lives on the peripheral of his peer group. He is bullied at school and show more his closest friends consist of scientists and doctors.
The crux of the novel is Alex’s friendship with Mr. Peterson – an unlikely relationship to say the least. After being ‘forced’ to spend time together, they quickly develop a bond and share a mutual respect. This relationship is beautifully explored and illustrates how friendship can breach any age gap.
Alex’s narration is precise and logical (as he is himself) but is an absolute joy to read. It is funny and touching in its honesty, although sometimes I had to remind myself that this was the story told by a seventeen year old, not the twelve year old he seems to be. Alex is very naïve – more so then I think a seventeen year old should be. But that’s ok. I loved him anyway.
Some people may find Alex’s preoccupation with science and astronomy a little distracting and tedious. However, I found his explanations simple and interesting (maybe I am a science geek at heart too).
The ultimate message in the book is of love and friendship, yet at the end poses an interesting moral dilemma. From the plot and the writing, I think it is safe to say on which side Extence stands, and I tend to agree with him. But what do you think?
Be prepared to fall in love with a rather strange geek! show less
The first time was when he was 10 years old and woke from a coma after being hit in the head by a meteorite.
Alex lives near Glastonbury with his esoteric mother and helps out in her Wiccan shop. He seems to me to be slightly autistic, although this is never referred to in the text. He is very much an outsider and lives on the peripheral of his peer group. He is bullied at school and show more his closest friends consist of scientists and doctors.
The crux of the novel is Alex’s friendship with Mr. Peterson – an unlikely relationship to say the least. After being ‘forced’ to spend time together, they quickly develop a bond and share a mutual respect. This relationship is beautifully explored and illustrates how friendship can breach any age gap.
Alex’s narration is precise and logical (as he is himself) but is an absolute joy to read. It is funny and touching in its honesty, although sometimes I had to remind myself that this was the story told by a seventeen year old, not the twelve year old he seems to be. Alex is very naïve – more so then I think a seventeen year old should be. But that’s ok. I loved him anyway.
Some people may find Alex’s preoccupation with science and astronomy a little distracting and tedious. However, I found his explanations simple and interesting (maybe I am a science geek at heart too).
The ultimate message in the book is of love and friendship, yet at the end poses an interesting moral dilemma. From the plot and the writing, I think it is safe to say on which side Extence stands, and I tend to agree with him. But what do you think?
Be prepared to fall in love with a rather strange geek! show less
This is a delightful book about a delightfully innocent young man. Alex is special in comparison to other young boys. He doesn't have a clue who his father is thanks to his mother's failure to get the name of her one night stand. His mom is a psychic who runs a business telling fortunes and selling new age paraphernalia. Alex is more interested in books and reading than typical boy things like sports, and he is always trying to find the "appositive" (perfect) word for a situation. Add to this the fact that at age 10 he is hit in the head in his bathroom by a meteorite (which nearly kills him and leaves him unconscious for several weeks) after which he is diagnosed with epilepsy. Although notorious after his accident, he has no real show more friends and is the target of bullies at his school who plague him with aggressive bahavior and insults. Quite by accident after being chased by these bullies, he meets an elderly man who becomes his mentor and best friend. Alex and Mr. Peterson prove to be friends for life in a most unique way that makes a fantastic and fresh story.
The character of Alex is endearing and unique. I fell utterly in love with him and his innocent trust and curiosity. He finds great pleasure in books and reading, much like me. He doesn't really get along well with other kids, but he has no problem with adults. In certain ways he reminds me of some of John Irving's boy characters like Owen Meany or Garp. Alex's character was one of my favorite things about this story.
The other things that the author does very well is give the reader a chance to see with things with a new eye by looking through the lens of Alex as the narrator. One of Alex's dreams is to become a physicist and figure out a "Theory of Everything (ToE)" that "would finally crack the problem of how the universe works." He finds someone to believe in him in Mr. Peterson, a slightly cranky Vietnam veteran who is all alone in the world. The relationship that develops between this odd couple is empowering to both of them. Without giving away the story, each is able to provide for the other what is needed to make some tough decisions. Alex in particular shows a true picture of selfless unconditional caring that is not often found in today's world. His heart is genuine in spite of the things he has been through. He is a pretty good argument for the concept of nature being more important than nurture.
The Universe Versus Alex Woods is an enjoyable and uncomplicated book to read. It is a definitely a must for fans of John Irving like myself. Although much simpler in plot than Mr. Irvings, Mr. Extence's characters are similarly quirky and unorthodox. Because both Alex and Mr. Peterson are fans of Kurt Vonnegut, readers who enjoy his work may want to check out this title as well. It is classified as a YA novel, but I think it's appeal is much broader.
I found young Alex to be a refreshing narrator. He at times seems naive, but ultimately he shows a more thoughtful view than many of the adults around him. Can you tell that I am crazy about him? show less
The character of Alex is endearing and unique. I fell utterly in love with him and his innocent trust and curiosity. He finds great pleasure in books and reading, much like me. He doesn't really get along well with other kids, but he has no problem with adults. In certain ways he reminds me of some of John Irving's boy characters like Owen Meany or Garp. Alex's character was one of my favorite things about this story.
The other things that the author does very well is give the reader a chance to see with things with a new eye by looking through the lens of Alex as the narrator. One of Alex's dreams is to become a physicist and figure out a "Theory of Everything (ToE)" that "would finally crack the problem of how the universe works." He finds someone to believe in him in Mr. Peterson, a slightly cranky Vietnam veteran who is all alone in the world. The relationship that develops between this odd couple is empowering to both of them. Without giving away the story, each is able to provide for the other what is needed to make some tough decisions. Alex in particular shows a true picture of selfless unconditional caring that is not often found in today's world. His heart is genuine in spite of the things he has been through. He is a pretty good argument for the concept of nature being more important than nurture.
The Universe Versus Alex Woods is an enjoyable and uncomplicated book to read. It is a definitely a must for fans of John Irving like myself. Although much simpler in plot than Mr. Irvings, Mr. Extence's characters are similarly quirky and unorthodox. Because both Alex and Mr. Peterson are fans of Kurt Vonnegut, readers who enjoy his work may want to check out this title as well. It is classified as a YA novel, but I think it's appeal is much broader.
I found young Alex to be a refreshing narrator. He at times seems naive, but ultimately he shows a more thoughtful view than many of the adults around him. Can you tell that I am crazy about him? show less
What a delightful, quirky, thoughtful book. It opens with the narrator being stopped at customs, in a car full of marijuana and cash, cranking up classical music as loudly as it will go and catching the strange aroma of flowers as he finds himself unable to obey the police instructions to get out of the car. We find out that he is having an epileptic seizure, that he is 17 years old, and known throughout the UK for his history with a meteorite. And now infamous for this escapade about which I will remain silent. Sadly, this book does not seem to be available in the US, nor Gavin Extence's second novel, with his third about to emerge this summer. I hope that a Stateside publisher will come to its senses soon and start offering his show more novels, which will appeal to both YA and adult. Great humor, salted with pathos and a painfully clear renditions of adolescence. show less
In case you didn’t know, in secondary school—especially in the early years of secondary school—diversity is not celebrated. In secondary school, being different is the worst crime you can commit. Actually, in secondary school, being different is pretty much the only crime you can commit.
At one point or another, most teenagers believe the universe is pitted against them. For Alex Woods, that seems to be the case—literally—as a chunk of meteorite crash-lands through the roof of his home and knocks him unconscious. Alex survives, but not without side-effects. In the aftermath, Alex gains the attention of media and develops an onset of epileptic seizures, but it is not just Alex’s fame, medical history, or the scar on his head show more that marks him an outcast. Wildly curious and interested in science coupled with social awkwardness makes him a target for school bullies. It is these bullies, however, who chase Alex right into Mr. Peterson’s yard. What starts as a rocky, uncertain relationship between the thirteen year old and Vietnam war veteran steadily turns into a life-altering friendship.
Now, at age seventeen, Alex once again finds himself at the center of media hype, but for different reasons entirely. His actions have set the country in uproar, and upon stopping at customs, he is found with 113 grams of marijuana and a full urn of ashes. Told from the viewpoint of the naïve yet exceptionally perceptive and smart Alex, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is a clever coming-of-age story. It’s a novel that comes full-circle, beginning and returning to the specific event which opens the story. Similar to that of a memoir, the pages in between reveal Alex’s reflections—from the moment the universe collides into Alex’s life to his friendship with Mr. Peterson and beyond.
Alex presents an endearing naïvety by nature, yet this is one quality he continually grows from. An insightful and observant individual, Alex does not lack keen awareness, and when that clarity is ever clouded, he fights to understand. He is more than smart, looking at the world through an innocent’s eyes—a common feature among coming-of-age stories. Alex is intelligent, evolving in character, odd in terms of typical teenagers, and quite the saint. Above all of Alex’s qualities, however charming, it is his belief in doing “the right thing” that wins me over. No matter what consequences may result, fear does not seem to phase Alex. Instead, he readily accepts what he believes he must do and any punishment that comes with it. In this respect, he displays valor—a characteristic that not only earns my respect, but makes him a valuable person to know.
“Still, not all scars are bad, Alex. Some are worth hanging on to, if you know what I mean.”
I believe that Alex is the heart of this novel, as the story rests and depends on his musings. It’s centered on the events in his life during a certain span of years, or rather: The Universe Versus Alex Woods is Alex’s story thus far, and in part of this story lives Mr. Peterson. The friendship that grows between the two characters becomes a turning point, as both Alex and Mr. Peterson affect one another through irreversible change—and for the better. Some of the book’s most gripping scenes prosper from this unexpected but somehow ordinary relationship, and much of the growth this book experiences stems from these parts. It’s a poignant aspect: one teenage outcast and one reclusive war veteran who find each other, connecting through their obstacles, Kurt Vonnegut’s writing, and perhaps through loneliness.
In the long history of human affairs, common sense doesn’t have the greatest track record.
The story Gavin Extence has written is a blast of fresh air: compelling, profound for its thoughtfulness, and touching with a sweet twinge of humor. I find that the charm and uniqueness Gavin has instilled into his novel is difficult for me to communicate. It’s simple: I fear that I will ruin the plot for anyone who has yet to read this story. I fear that by saying more, I will remove the story’s capability to affect prospective readers. I can only encourage others to pick this book up and discover Alex's story for themselves.
At a surface glance, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is the coming-of-age tale about a peculiar boy growing up under even more peculiar circumstances. This story, however, runs deeper than that. It’s thought-provoking literature that displays the small wonders in this vast, complex universe. At the same time, it handles expansive issues centering on life, death, personal right and responsibility. What I appreciate about Gavin’s way of dealing with these facets to the story is this: they are what they are—nothing more and nothing less. Gavin’s aim is not to persuade the reader of anything, but to let the story unfold and allow the reader to get lost its wonder. For a debut, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is immensely likable and it's one that I won't soon forget, and I suspect that its appeal will withstand decades to come.
The longest-lived of these particles could exist for only a few hundred-millionths of a second before decaying; the shortest-lived were so unstable that their existences couldn’t even be ‘observed’ in a conventional sense. They popped into being and were gone in the same tiny fraction of an instant, so quickly that no instrument had yet been invented that was sensitive enough to register their presence, which could only be inferred post mortem. But the more I thought about this, and the more I thought about how old the universe was, and how old it would become before it suffered its final heat death—when all the stars had gone out and the black holes had evaporated and all the nucleons decayed, and nothing could exist but the elementary particles, drifting through the infinite darkness of space—the more I thought about these things, the more I realized that all matter was akin to those exotic particles. The size and scale of the universe made everything else unimaginably small and fleeting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group/Redhook for providing a free copy of The Universe Versus Alex Woods in exchange for my honest review. This review and more can be found at midnight coffee monster. show less
I don’t even remember how I came to read Gavin Extence's debut novel "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" in the first place but while having forgotten over lots of books since, “Alex” has stayed with me because this is more than a coming-of-age story.
The main character, Alex Woods, was struck by a meteorite as a young boy and left with a permanent scar on his head. From this moment on, Alex's life takes an unexpected turn as he becomes an outcast in his small town and develops an interest in science and philosophy. His journey is heartwarming and inspiring, as he navigates the challenges of growing up and finding his place in the world.
The characters are all incredibly well-developed, and their struggles and triumphs feel real and show more relatable. I found myself rooting for Alex and his unlikely friendship with Mr. Peterson, an elderly man with a passion for Kurt Vonnegut and a terminal illness. Their bond is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and their conversations about life, death, and the universe are both thought-provoking and poignant. The unlikely friendship between those two was brilliantly portrayed: The elderly Peterson, smoking weed against his chronic pain, who only hesitatingly and grudgingly opens up to Alex to, eventually, putting the ultimate trust in him.
Alex himself is growing and rising to the task that Peterson puts him to - it’s a very remarkable literary journey.
Another thing that sets this book apart is its exploration of important themes such as friendship, love, death, and the meaning of life. The author tackles these weighty topics with sensitivity and grace, never resorting to clichés or easy answers.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" a lot. It is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Gavin Extence has created a truly memorable character in Alex Woods.
I was about to declare Extence a one-hit-wonder because his second novel, published in 2015, was by far less of a success (I haven’t read it either). When I now looked into it, though, Extence has since published two further novels that I had never heard about and which seem to languish in obscurity (around 1000 and 300 ratings respectively on GR right now) so if you feel inclined to give the author of the unforgettable "Alex Woods" another spin, here’s your chance!
Five stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
The main character, Alex Woods, was struck by a meteorite as a young boy and left with a permanent scar on his head. From this moment on, Alex's life takes an unexpected turn as he becomes an outcast in his small town and develops an interest in science and philosophy. His journey is heartwarming and inspiring, as he navigates the challenges of growing up and finding his place in the world.
The characters are all incredibly well-developed, and their struggles and triumphs feel real and show more relatable. I found myself rooting for Alex and his unlikely friendship with Mr. Peterson, an elderly man with a passion for Kurt Vonnegut and a terminal illness. Their bond is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and their conversations about life, death, and the universe are both thought-provoking and poignant. The unlikely friendship between those two was brilliantly portrayed: The elderly Peterson, smoking weed against his chronic pain, who only hesitatingly and grudgingly opens up to Alex to, eventually, putting the ultimate trust in him.
Alex himself is growing and rising to the task that Peterson puts him to - it’s a very remarkable literary journey.
Another thing that sets this book apart is its exploration of important themes such as friendship, love, death, and the meaning of life. The author tackles these weighty topics with sensitivity and grace, never resorting to clichés or easy answers.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" a lot. It is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Gavin Extence has created a truly memorable character in Alex Woods.
I was about to declare Extence a one-hit-wonder because his second novel, published in 2015, was by far less of a success (I haven’t read it either). When I now looked into it, though, Extence has since published two further novels that I had never heard about and which seem to languish in obscurity (around 1000 and 300 ratings respectively on GR right now) so if you feel inclined to give the author of the unforgettable "Alex Woods" another spin, here’s your chance!
Five stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
Plus half a star. Enjoyed it a lot. Lot's of good science, plot kept up the interest despite starting with the ending, nice characters to spend time with and a gentle pace. A good outing for humanism.
This book was not what I thought it was going to be. It was better. It really touches on a subject that I've not seen in other books I've read. It's obvious what side the author is on, because of the actions and philosophies of the main characters. Although the protagonist does briefly ponder the topic, his decision is pretty quick and this story is fairly one-sided on the topic.
I really did enjoy the book and though it perhaps tends toward the YA genre, I think it would be interesting reading for all age levels. (Although as I was reading it, I didn't think that most of the "little old ladies" who come to my library would like it.)
Below is a SPOILER of sorts, so if you don't want to know what the main subject turns out to be, stop show more here.
I'm typing this just to space out the word SPOILER and the sentence below with the actual spoiler. Really, stop if you don't want to know.
The idea of assisted suicide and end of life rights is not one I've heard too much about in the US since Kevorkian controversies abounded a decade or more ago. I don't know that I necessarily agree with all that happened here and the situation is set up to be less sticky than most people's lives really are (e.g., Mr. Peterson has no living relatives to deal with, neither character is conventionally religious, etc.), which makes it a bit more cut and dried as far as their decision. However, Extence builds the characters in a way that their decision is very logical FOR THEM within this story. That makes a good book - it wouldn't make sense for characters just to do what the author wants them to do with no reasoning - but here we see Alex's philosophy of life and how it came to be (partly through the Vonnegut book club and Mr. Peterson's influence) and how he came to the decision. It fits. Extence was true to his characters.
And so, I found this a well written and enjoyable book, even though I do not share all the same philosophies. show less
I really did enjoy the book and though it perhaps tends toward the YA genre, I think it would be interesting reading for all age levels. (Although as I was reading it, I didn't think that most of the "little old ladies" who come to my library would like it.)
Below is a SPOILER of sorts, so if you don't want to know what the main subject turns out to be, stop show more here.
I'm typing this just to space out the word SPOILER and the sentence below with the actual spoiler. Really, stop if you don't want to know.
The idea of assisted suicide and end of life rights is not one I've heard too much about in the US since Kevorkian controversies abounded a decade or more ago. I don't know that I necessarily agree with all that happened here and the situation is set up to be less sticky than most people's lives really are (e.g., Mr. Peterson has no living relatives to deal with, neither character is conventionally religious, etc.), which makes it a bit more cut and dried as far as their decision. However, Extence builds the characters in a way that their decision is very logical FOR THEM within this story. That makes a good book - it wouldn't make sense for characters just to do what the author wants them to do with no reasoning - but here we see Alex's philosophy of life and how it came to be (partly through the Vonnegut book club and Mr. Peterson's influence) and how he came to the decision. It fits. Extence was true to his characters.
And so, I found this a well written and enjoyable book, even though I do not share all the same philosophies. show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Lo strano mondo di Alex Woods
- Original title
- The Universe Versus Alex Woods
- Original publication date
- 2013-06-25
- Dedication
- For Alix, without whom this book would not exist.
- First words
- They finally stopped me at Dover as I was trying to get back into the country.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I felt very happy.
- Blurbers
- Fforde, Jasper
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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