The Universe Versus Alex Woods
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The Universe Versus Alex Woods
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Narrated by:
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Joe Thomas
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By:
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Gavin Extence
About this listen
A tale of an unexpected friendship, an unlikely hero, and an improbable journey, Alex's story treads the fine line between light and dark, laughter and tears. And it might just strike you as one of the funniest, most heartbreaking novels you've ever heard.
Alex Woods knows that he hasn't had the most conventional start in life. He knows that growing up with a clairvoyant single mother won't endear him to the local bullies. He also knows that even the most improbable events can happen - he's got the scars to prove it. What he doesn't know yet is that when he meets ill-tempered, reclusive widower Mr Peterson, he'll make an unlikely friend. Someone who tells him that you only get one shot at life. That you have to make the best possible choices.
So when, aged 17, Alex is stopped at Dover customs with 113 grams of 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.…
©2013 Gavin Extence (P)2013 Hodder & StoughtonListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
What listeners say about The Universe Versus Alex Woods
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G Hutchings
- 25-05-13
A really fun, quirky book!
I listened to this in the car over a period of a couple of weeks and couldn't wait
to hear the next bit every time I got in the car! It isn't the sort of book I would normally read but I really enjoyed it and it was very well read.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tricky Vicky
- 18-05-20
Loved it and him.
I love this book. Alex is such a likeable character that I fell in love with him by the end of the book and all the people that I've recommended it to have felt the same. I particularly enjoyed his summing up of his tormentor in the head master's study. A laugh out loud moment from such a serious person!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- ISW
- 05-12-13
witty and well written about a very touchy subject
What did you like most about The Universe Versus Alex Woods?
The characters are likable and you feel like you can relate to them. I grew to genuinely care about Alex and celebrate his successes.
Joe Thomas' performance is perfect for the book.
What did you like best about this story?
The book is witty and sad all at once, and deals with an extremely sensitive subject beautifully.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mrs
- 19-01-14
excellent
I was not sure about this audio book and the reviews were mixed, but i thought it was great and Joe Thomas was outstanding
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian
- 01-05-13
Improbable tale wonderfully told
This was great to listen to - the story is somewhat improbable, but with just enough credibility to draw you in - and to keep you engrossed. Joe Thomas is an excellent narrator and this work from Gavin Extence augurs well for the future.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Julie
- 02-12-13
Quirky and wonderful
What did you like most about The Universe Versus Alex Woods?
Pretty much everything. Loved the title. Loved the characters. Loved the plot. Loved the narration.
What other book might you compare The Universe Versus Alex Woods to, and why?
Anything with a quirky and smart (and/or autistic) protagonist, really.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
This book is so full of scenes I enjoyed, from beginning to end. It starts abruptly with the end, basically, with Alex being stopped in customs with 113 grams of marijuana and an urn full of ashes - and then the reader is taken back to the start (the REAL start, not the start as the police sees it, because that's not far enough). And from there on we get the wonderfully bittersweet story about Alex Woods and his unlikely friendship with old Mister Peterson. To quote myself (yep...) right after finishing it:
"Wow. I laughed. I cried. I laughed while I cried. What a quirky, beautiful, funny, heartbreaking and overall incredibly touching book."
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Most definitely.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sally Mally
- 25-04-21
Thought provoking
I was recommended this book by a friend. Absolutely brilliant build up of the characters. It's a thought provoking situation, what do you think about assisted dying, to include a person's human rights over the law. Highly recommended, perfect, humour and sadness in equal measure.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Drew
- 02-06-13
very rewarding
I heard the free first chapter, was hooked straight away and knew I wanted to get the whole book. The narrator is perfect for this story. So, if you like the sample, please go ahead and get the whole download. I loved the way that the reader is introduced to events but then is made to wait much later for the author to return to strands. It becomes serious along the way and I hadn't guessed where the story was going to go.... but don't worry, the mood remains the same.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stewart
- 03-10-14
Thoughtful relationship
Any additional comments?
Often funny and sometimes rather sad, this story is of a boy's life from 10 to 18 and in particular two events that give the author scope to explore his theme of the meaning of living.
It's a great book, and the reading is well suited. Joe Thomas gives a believable (at least to British ears!) US accent for Mr Peterson.
Perhaps the book should have been a little longer. There were some aspects of character and plot which could have had more development, but better a novel leaving the reader wishing there had been more rather than less.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Asta
- 13-04-14
Great story
This is a really good book. The friendship between Alex and Mr Peterson is a strange one, but it is a deep one and I hade difficulties stop listening. I liked the narrator very much as well. So have you bought this book do not stop listening to it, I definitely think it will grow on you and when it is over you will have a good feeling. I know I had.
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