The Universe Versus Alex Woods cover art

The Universe Versus Alex Woods

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The Universe Versus Alex Woods

By: Gavin Extence
Narrated by: Joe Thomas
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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 & Stoughton Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Feel-Good Tear-jerking Emotionally Gripping

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Critic reviews

"It's Mark Haddon meets Kurt Vonnegut" ( Observer)
"An eccentric young protagonist meets his match in a compelling comic debut" ( The Bookseller)
"One of the year's most anticipated debuts" ( Time Out)
"The debate around assisted suicide is eternally controversial but, when it comes to an argument for allowing sick people of mind the right to die, The Universe Versus Alex Woods trumps any Dignitas spokesman . . . Where this novel shines is in its characterisation: the brittle outer layers of socially awkward people are unpeeled to reveal big hearts and raw emotions. The sparring between Alex and Mr Peterson is a joy to read . . . With wit and warmth, Gavin Extence shines a light on one of the darkest, most difficult subjects of our time." ( Sunday Express)
"One of the funniest and most heartbreaking double acts in ages...an exceptionally good debut novel 5*" ( Heat)
"With wit and warmth, Gavin Extence shines a light on one of the darkest, most difficult subjects of our times." ( Sunday Express)
"Extence's sad but funny novel was the subject of fierce bidding wars between publishers last year and early reviews pit it as a certain star read of 2013." ( Stylist)
"A comic tale of friendship and the nitty gritty of life" ( Shortlist)
"Alex’s story treads the fine line between light and dark, laughter and tears" ( GQ)
"This is a story that will have you smiling through your tears, a story that touches on the most potentially devastating of human dilemmas, without an ounce of sentimentality. It is also enormously uplifting. Perfectly crafted and beautifully written... The Universe vs Alex Woods may be a debut novel but it is an outstanding novel by any standards. Unforgettable." ( Red)
"Fans of quirky tales will love this debut novel" ( Bella)
"This is an extraordinary debut novel. For me Gavin Extence has produced in his narrator and hero Alex one of the most intriguing literary young people since Mark Haddon's Christopher. He's reminiscent of a better behaved Just William as an 11 year old, combining a hyper-intelligence with naiveté that's as quirky as his upbringing" ( The Bookbag)
All stars
Most relevant  
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.

A really fun, quirky book!

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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!

Loved it and him.

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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.

witty and well written about a very touchy subject

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I was not sure about this audio book and the reviews were mixed, but i thought it was great and Joe Thomas was outstanding

excellent

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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.

Improbable tale wonderfully told

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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.

Quirky and wonderful

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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.

Thought provoking

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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.

very rewarding

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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.

Thoughtful relationship

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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.

Great story

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