The Universe versus Alex Woods

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What to expect

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 seventeen, 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 . . .

(P)2013 Hodder & Stoughton

Critics Review

'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 voice of this novel is true and clear and brings to life the human condition with insight, tenderness and humour. Which is to say the quality of style matches the quality of content. The Universe versus Alex Woods may be a debut novel but it is an outstanding novel by any standards. Unforgettable.'
Red
'It's Mark Haddon meets Kurt Vonnegut'
Observer
'An eccentric young protagonist meets his match in a compelling comic debut'
The Bookseller
'When the material darkens towards the end, Extence skilfully manages to keep the narrative engaging and surprising. Mr Peterson, in particular, is a welcome antidote to those endless depictions of wise old men who know everything, being a spiky, contradictory figure raging against the dying of the light with impressive and stirring verve. After it finds its voice, this is a hugely enjoyable and even wise book, with plenty to say about life and death, and Vonnegut fans, in particular, will absolutely love it'.
The Observer
'You'll laugh and cry'
Heat
'Sensitive, intelligent and articulate'
Joe Thomas, from The Inbetweeners
'Extence masters the difficult combination of comedy and tragedy and his lovingly drawn central characters provoke deep-thought. Like his mother's colleague, emo-esque Ellie, readers will become increasingly fond of Alex, the naïve - yet insightful - narrator. Here's hoping Extence plans a sequel'
We Love This Book
'This funny, touching first novel... Extence unfolds his offbeat tale with skill but his real triumph lies in providing such a memorable voice'
Sunday Times
'Extence's plotting is astute, and he handles the theme of euthanasia with an affecting delicacy'
Financial Times
'One of the year's most anticipated debuts'
Time Out
'Fans of quirky tales will love this debut novel'
Bella
'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
This is a genuinely hilarious read, but also a deeply moving story about childhood, neurology and mortality.
Daily Telegraph

User Reviews

Book 3.0
Narration 5.0
3.0
5.0
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. It was a bit preachy in places which was off-putting and it wasn't the most interesting of stories either but I'm glad I've read it. It'll make a nice TV series. Joe Thomas read this brilliantly, I tried to read the book but couldn't get into it, Joe's accents and narration brought the book to life and made it far more interesting. I'm giving it three stars because while it's never going to be my favourite book, it was sweet in some places.
Reading Wren 26/06/2022

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