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Summary: Read This Book
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: throughly enjoyable
Review: A QUESTION OF ATTRACTION is the story of Brian, a somewhat ungainly youth going to university in England in the bleak mid-80s. Brian hopes redefine himself at school and eagerly (in appealingly 1st person) tells us all the thing he'd like to say to people in intellectual arguments ("define your terms")The plot revolves around Brian's efforts to appear on the popular UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE quiz show and to have his beautiful teammate ALice fall in love with him. Alice, a sort of rich socialist, is somewhat idealized but still very appealing, and she leades Brian on through almost the books entire length. Meanwhile, Brian is coping with beer-making roommates, dealing with the friends and family he left behind, having no money, and his classes. This book isn't an all-out romp, it movingly gets at that time in one's life when self-consciousness is replaced by maturity. My one complaint is that the resolution to BRian's romantic problems can be seen a mile away....this is a very British novel but there's enough here to appeal to American readers as well. Highly recommended .
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Summary: The Eponymous Brian Jackson
Review: After searching the library stacks for something I could really glom onto, I stumbled on Nicholls' charming saga of nineteen-year-old Brian Jackson, whose life seems to be spinning out of control during his first year away at college. A Question of Attraction is a first-rate coming of age book for all ages. Best of all, it's laugh-out-loud funny. Kind of like a male version of Bridget Jones, with our little anti-hero sharing his inner most thoughts with us, right down to his raunchy body smells and bleeding acne eruptions. Perhaps the best thing I can say to Mr. Nicholls, by way of a compliment, is that somehow he seems to have gotten just about everything right - particular the very poignant mother and son scenes. But my best take-away from this frolicsome read, are my memories of the whacked out liberal-vegetarian-nudist nuclear family of Alice, Brian's love interest. You've got to meet this family to believe them. They're hysterical! More, more, Mr. Nicholls.
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Summary: Bitter sweet coming of age tale.
Review: David Nicholls has made me cry. And laugh. I bought this book because of a review that said Nicholls was a writer on the UK Channel 4 show, Cold Feet , which had some of the sharpest scripts on TV. Nicholls has grown, his first novel captures the period from high school to college, where teenagers find themselves in a whole new world which is both exciting and unnerving.
The story is very basic but the way he has captured the attitude to life, love, friends and family of a teenage boy is spot on. The real skill here though lies in the comedy. There are some very humorous situations that are laugh out loud funny but the book is also rich in subtle and extremely hilarious observations. This really took me back to my college days and captured the experience perfectly.
If you are looking for a book that makes you laugh and (if you are old like me) reminisce, this novel delivers the perfect combination.
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Summary: Unsentimental coming of age tale
Review: 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.
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Summary: Amusing and Entertaining...
Review: I agree that this novel is "Brilliantly Funny!" Moves along easily and is interesting and enjoyable!! A Coming of Age book!!!
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Summary: AWESOME BOOK!!
Review: I am 100% impressed by the quality of the material in this book. Basically, this is a coming-of-age story that follows Brian Jackson on his way to university. He is away from home and his childhood friends for the first time, and his life experiences are what make this book so wonderful. Through the use of humor and the right amount of emotion the author gives us a look at a year in the life of Brian and how he handles various situations. Even as a female I could identify with many of Brian's issues and found most of them laughable because they are just so human. This book reminded me a lot of Catcher in the Rye, and is definitely worthy of the comparison. The story captures you from beginning to end, and is just spot-on. I didn't realize the book and author were British, but all of the British humor and terms made it all the more fun for me to read. This is the type of book and the type of characters that will stay with you long after you finish the book. I wasn't sure how it would end, but I was so happy with the ending - I thought it was completely satisfying and the humor and compassion you feel for the character of Brian stays with you until the very last sentence. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Summary: A Question of Complexion
Review: I am amazed that nobody has got around to rating this fabulous novel before me as the only reason to put it down is either to catch one's breath from laughing out loud or like eating a particularly delectable desert, to extend one's reading pleasure. It is such an easy read but at the same time full of provocative and thoughtful dialogue and situations. The technique involved in writing a novel that continuously makes one laugh is no mean achievement and this book certainly did it for me. The characters are all too believable, people we know or have known and maybe would rather not know. The story of his introduction into university life is told in the first person by young Brian who suffers from chronic acne, drinks too much alcohol, lives off junk food and cannot but help complicating his social relations. Brian comes over so real that one feels like picking up the phone to offer him advice as one reads along. The situation pieces are also, all too probably and this includes the end where I would personally have preferred a contrived climax that left me on a high and not feeling quite so uncomfortable. It appears that this book was originally titled Starter for Ten; (This is the title of the book I purchased in the UK) this title as well as the existing one do not flatter this captivating novel in my opinion and are the only few words of text in the book that do not shine with brilliant creativity. These are my only negative criticisms of this book that was great fun to read and I now eagerly await other David Nicholls novels.
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Summary: A Modern Coming of Age Tale...
Review: I first became aware of this book from a Critics Choice review in "People" magazine. It is a modern day coming of age tale. The main characters are well drawn. The dialogue is humorous and thought provoking at the same time. I kept chuckling and turning pages.
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Summary: I'm only on page 27 and I haven't stopped laughing....
Review: 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.
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