Customer Reviews

A Question of Attraction: A Novel

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I was impressed with my first read by David Nicholls. Usually, I tend to stay with "chick lit" or novels with female characters because I can relate better but I am so glad that I chose to try something different.

A Question of Attraction is about the coming of age for a kid in England named Brian Jackson. He has just graduated high school and will study "Eng Lit" at University. Brian, a self proclaimed geek likes games shows (think Jeopardy) dressing in his late father's clothes, drinking and listening to Cate Bush.

Brian is smitten (think stalker) with the beautiful Alice whom he meets at school. Brian attempts to impress her with dinner, poems, dancing but something always happens to make his good intentions backfire. These make VERY GOOD laugh*out*loud moments!

I thought for sure that girls had it rough growing up, but I might actually have to think twice about that statement. My heart breaks for Brian who is trying to find out who he is. From the top of his 'oozie red boil infested face' to the bottom of his wet muddy shoes (think stalker again).

I would like to believe that Brian grows up (and out of his acne) to be a wonderful, intelligent person with a promise of a great life.

Eighteen year old Brian Jackson has high expectations for his imminent trip to University to study English lit. He hopes to expand his mind and also to have sex in a bed (instead of against a trash can, the first and last time he's had sex in the past). Initially he thinks his friend from home, drop out Spence, is way off beam when he criticizes university as a total waste of time, "Reading poetry and wanking into your sock for three years."

But pretty soon after arriving at his establishment of learning, Brian's ideals have died, he finds his lectures incomprehensible, he's frequently too hungover to focus and he's got a go-nowhere crush on a fantasy figure girl called Alice, a fledgling actress and experienced prick tease. Seems like maybe Spence knew what he was talking about, after all ...

A bittersweet coming of age novel that involves you so thoroughly, that by the end you will hate to leave Brian, his acne and his incredibly unique sense of humour.

When I first found this novel while cruising a bookstore, I nearly passed it by without taking it off the shelf. I also nearly put it back on the shelf once I had it down. Why? Well, from the cover description, Mr. Nicholls' work sounds like yet another self-indulging shuffle back in time to when the author was young. Let's face it, too many writers go back to their youth and create a pseudo-memoir of how they wish it had been. I expected that's what this was.

But guess what? I was WAY off the mark and am so glad I didn't go with my first impression. A Question of Attraction is an engrossing, funny, witty (NOT the same thing as funny) tale of Brian Jackson, a likable and problem-prone young Englishman from the year 1985. We tag along as he wades through the standard agonies of late adolescent growing pains and look on at his adjustments to an inundation of rapid changes to his life. His working-class past has not always been happy, but Brian emerges from it a relatively optimistic, if self-deprecating, figure and we quickly root for this charming underdog as he starts university with two major goals. Brian's first goal is to be a contestant on a collegiate quiz show favored by his late father; his second and more all-consuming hope, is he wants to gain the love of Alice Harbinson, a leftist, petite-bourgeoisie princess who is also a first-year student at Brian's college. Even while we want things to work out for Brian Jackson, we cringe on his behalf as he pursues the beautiful, flighty Alice, a girl surely he, like we, know is unattainable for a young man of his status (read social class) and personal aptitude.

That's the backbone of the novel's plot, but in among its 300-odd pages, we trek along on some endearing misadaventures and cheer for Brian Jackson, wince for him, and want to console him more than a few times, even as we laugh for--or is it AT--him and his sincere efforts to make it on his very uphill climb.

I highly recommend A Question of Attraction to anyone who wants to be touched by a fun, light read about beginning college life, while taking a trip back to the era of Thatcher's Britain of the mid-1980's.

Cheers!

I LOVE this book! It's incredibly witty, charming, insightful and very well written. I look forward to reading anything and everything else by David Nicholls.

I laughed out loud reading David Nicholls' novel that seemed to have so many of my own youthful thoughts and experiences in it - except funnier. If you've ever been self-conscious around a pretty girl, or been on a TV quiz show, then there's something here to remember yourself by.

I like to think that I have very high standards when it comes to books. Especially comedy. There are probably only five that have made the grade. This book had me laughing so hard that I had to put it down just to catch my breath. I have recommended it to both my fellow twenty-something female friends and my older parents. Everyone has LOVED it!

This is THE book if you want to laugh.

AQOA is a light look at a lower middle-class 18-year-old as he goes to his freshman year at university. He has experiences with which many of us can relate, and Nicholls writes confidently about the uncomfortable, quirky situations most of us encounter during that time.

Our hero, Brian Jackson, seems a little too smart for the drunk he's make out to be. That rankles just a little bit, as do graphic descriptions of acne vulgaris. Lastly, I just can't believe someone as bookwise as Brian could make so many serious social blunders, such as inappropriate joking with Alice's (his tender goddess) mother. These are small subtractions from an otherwise pleasing whole--Brian seems to gain independence, a modicum of insight into women and relationships, and a more realistic outlook on life and its opportunities during his rocky but rewarding first year away from home. This is a fast, pleasant (if sometimes grotesque) read that takes us all back to that uncomfortable transition to adulthood.

This book is an absolute hoot. We are talking belly-laughing-out-loud, wetting-your-pants hilarious.

But the book is not just funny. It is also a very sharp, very observant piece of social satire. The story is intelligent and moving, and (if you have ever had the misfortune to be a young man) SO TRUE! For once, I read a work of fiction in which the characters and dialogue actually mimic real life. It is full of those moments where you say to yourself: yes, yes, that's EXACTLY what it's like!

In amidst the side-splitting humour there are serious, thought-provoking themes which everyone can relate to: the nature of love and friendship, the pains of growing-up, and the elusive pursuit of happiness. Yet the writing is wonderfully down-to-earth and unpretentious. As long as you like a good laugh, and know what it's like to be human, then you will certainly love this hilarious book.

Yet another great British writer who writes with humor and great observation. Set in the eighties and gives a superb insight into life at University.