Gavin extence lives in sheffield with his wife and children. The universe versus alex woods ebook written by gavin extence. Alex s eyes allowed me to write about lifes big questions with a freshness and lightness that would have been otherwise difficult to achieve introduction to the universe versus alex woods by gavin extence dear reader, hello, and welcome to the universe versus alex woods. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. May 07, 20 book club questions for the universe versus alex woods by gavin extence may 7, 20 books books contemporary fiction fiction gavin extence a tale of an unexpected friendship, an unlikely hero and an improbable journey. By angela haffenden on august 18, 2017 books we love. A tale of an unlikely friendship and an improbable journey, the universe versus alex woods tread the fine line between light and dark, laughter and tears. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens list. A rare meteorite struck alex woods when he was ten years old, leaving scars and marking him for an extraordinary future. The universe versus alex woods new york journal of books.
Gavin extence a tale of an unexpected friendship, an unlikely hero and an improbable journey. Gavin extence on characters in the universe versus alex woods. The universe versus alex woods extence, gavin isbn. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence abebooks.
Gavin extence author of the universe versus alex woods. Much of the wit of the universe versus alex woods derives from our protagonists deadpan narrative voice. We publish a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through. Mar 07, 2015 the universe versus alex woods gavin extence from one really brilliant book, right into another. Jun 25, 20 the universe versus alex woods will put you through the wringer. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Goodreads members who liked the universe versus alex. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Appalled to think that his handshake might have been.
What alex s personality was like before the meteor hit we dont know. Seventeenyearold alex woods was a household name even before authorities discovered 1g of marijuana and the ashes of an old man in the car he drove across the english border. The universe versus alex woods summary guide book club. Introduction to the universe versus alex woods by gavin. The universe versus alex woods kindle edition by extence, gavin. Gavin extence alex woods was struck by a meteorite when he was ten years old, leaving scars that marked him for an extraordinary life. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens list the universe versus alex woods is done in a dark, offbeat style that brings to mind the characters hero. Extence won the waterstones 11 literary prize for his first book the universe versus alex woods 20. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence reading. What are some books similar to the catcher in the rye by j. The son of a fortune teller, bookish, and an easy target for bullies, alex hasnt had the easiest childhood. The universe versus alex woods tread the fine line between light and.
Suppose all the men on earth thought like american college boys. Like rc pallacios brilliant book, wonder, you get to see the worstand ultimatelythe best in everyday. Find books like the universe versus alex woods from the worlds largest community of readers. This book has a particularly good opening chapter, as seventeenyearold alex woods drives off a car ferry into dover and is taken into police custody. A rare meteorite struck alex woods when he was 10 years old, leaving scars and marking him for an extraordinary future. Alex woods takes a sharp turn into the unknown when alex meets grumpy, reclusive widower mr peterson. Books by gavin extence authors like gavin extence what. The universe versus alex woods quotes by gavin extence.
What other book might you compare the universe versus alex woods to and why. May 09, 20 the universe versus alex woods owes a huge debt to nick hornbys about a boy. The universe versus alex woods contains language that will offend some readers. Jan 14, 2014 introducing a bright young voice destined to charm the world, the universe versus alex woods is a celebration of curious incidents, astronomy and astrology, the works of kurt vonnegut and the unexpected connections that form our world. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence books. Both logical and naive, alex is inadvertently funny and, like the narrator of mark haddons a curious incident of a dog in the nighttime, needs to explain everything in great detail. When i first started thinking about the story that would become my. The universe versus alex woods will put you through the wringer. They make me laugh and cry and find meaning in life. The universe versus alex woods book calgary public.
Because this project is categorized as in development, the data is only. This is a christmas movie based on a book of the same title by. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the universe versus alex woods. Much of versus alex woods reads like a term paper entitled the person i admire most, writer kurt vonnegut. Which is to say the quality of style matches the quality of content. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence books on. Gavin extence, the universe versus alex woods the protagonist of the novel, alex woods, was hit on the head by a meteor aged ten, and miraculously survived.
This novel might just strike you as one of the funniest, most heartbreaking novels youve ever read. An interview with alex award winning author gavin extence. The son of a fortune teller, bookish, and an easy target for bullies, he. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The universe versus alex woods by extence, gavin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The universe versus alex woods is the everyday tale of a teenage science nerd hit by a. The universe versus alex woods kindle edition by gavin extence. So when, at age 17, alex is stopped at customs with 1 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the front seat. As with mark haddons book, extence depicts an unusual teenage protagonist, the titular alex. The universe versus alex woods starts off seeming like its gonna be a quirky sort of book. The universe versus alex woods is the story of how misfit alex comes to befriend an elderly american curmudgeon, learns to cultivate marijuana and develops a deep appreciation for the work of kurt vonnegut.
Five years later, when he decides the time has come to take the ironnickel. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the universe versus alex woods. If you had to relive your life exactly as it was same successes and failures, same happiness, same miseries, same mixture of comedy and tragedy would you want to. The author, 30, whose novel the universe versus alex woods, is making. All right, the book is also a great commercial for kurt vonneguts books. I wrote it for adults, says gavin, but i like books to be accessible. When i read these books, i no longer felt like i was confined to a very tiny world. Gavin extence on characters in the universe versus alex. Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their twitter handles. This is the story of alex woods born to a clairvoyant mother and a phantom father, victim of an improbable childhood. I picked up this book as a blind date with a book, its covered in.
Dec 05, 2012 a tale of an unlikely friendship and an improbable journey, the universe versus alex woods tread the fine line between light and dark, laughter and tears. Book club questions for the universe versus alex woods by. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence, paperback. The universe versus alex woods the sussex newspaper. The universe versus alex woods is done in a dark, offbeat style that brings to mind the characters hero, the literary giant kurt vonnegut new york post the universe versus alex woods will put you through the wringer. We even have an older teenage girl character who is feisty, argumentative but ultimately lovable.
The universe versus alex woods, book by gavin extence. Website for the universe versus alex woods view the website share. Jan 14, 2014 the universe versus alex woods will put you through the wringer. The universe versus alex woods may be a debut novel but it is an outstanding novel by any standards. I cant seem to be a pessimist long enough to overlook the possibility of things being overwhelmingly good. Its a wonderful comingofage story, delivered in an offhand casual style that belies the deeply moral concerns of the author. Books similar to the universe versus alex woods goodreads. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence waterstones. 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. The universe versus alex woods kindle edition by gavin. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence goodreads. The universe versus alex woods paperback third place books. Like when i read these books, i no longer felt like i was confined to a very tiny world. Listen to universe versus alex woods by gavin extence at.
You know, book recommendation are not always easy, because i can recommend so many good books, but mostly look for something exactly like. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens. With one exception, alex himself refrains from swearing, but others around him indulge in using expletives. Along with the list cited above, i might compare it to catcher in the rye for the fact that is about a teen, but should be read by ya and adult readers alike. Unfortunately, i dont read a whole lot of ya books but i can suggest a few.
Jun 25, 20 introducing a bright young voice destined to charm the world, the universe versus alex woods is a celebration of curious incidents, astronomy and astrology, the works of kurt vonnegut and the unexpected connections that form our world. Sep 10, 2015 the universe versus alex woods by gavin extence in epub, fb3, txt download ebook. Then these weird and wonderful love stories might just come true and the world might be well lost for love. What alexs personality was like before the meteor hit we dont know. And, despite having a pretty good idea of what is going to happen, its hard not to be deeply affected by gavin extences warm, witty story of an. The book was described by emma john in the guardian as being the everyday tale of a teenage science nerd hit by a meteorite who strikes up a friendship with a potsmoking vietnam veteran. Introducing a bright young voice destined to charm the world, the universe versus alex woods is a celebration of curious incidents, astronomy and astrology, the works of kurt vonnegut and the unexpected connections that form our world. There are many novels out there for ya readers that can be classified as comingofage books, much like catcher in the rye. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens list the universe versus alex woods is done in a dark, offbeat style that brings to mind the characters hero, the literary giant kurt vonnegut. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens list the universe versus alex woods is done in a dark, offbeat style that brings to mind the characters hero, the literary giant kurt vonnegut new york post. An already engaging story really takes off and will hold you tight to the last page. Ellie mccrae anyone despite being highly derivative the universe versus alex woods is, in some respects, a wellwritten coming of age story.
Gavin extence, quote from the universe versus alex woods when i read these books, i no longer felt like i was confined to a very tiny world. Gothgirl ellie, for example, employs fk almost every time she speaks, as do the bullies who torment alex at the start of the book. He has a phd in film studies, is married, has a daughter and is also a keen chess player. The universe versus alex woods by gavin extence from amazons fiction books store. I decided long ago i wouldnt like vonneguts books but now i want to read some. If you had to relive your life exactly as it was same successes and failures, same happiness, same mise. Npr books included on their 5 great summer reads for teens list the universe versus alex woods is done in a dark, offbeat style that brings to mind the characters hero, the literary giant kurt vonnegutnew york post. Gavin extence quotes author of the universe versus alex. Peterson, he finds an unlikely friend, who teaches him that you only get one shot at life and you need to make it count. Unfortunately for everyone who picked it up on the basis of that, its not really the kind of book it.
A rare meteorite struck alex woods when he was ten years old, leaving scars and marking him for an. Alex woods as brief, but alexs teenage voice is so brilliantly honest and effortless that this long comingofage tale feels strangely nimble. Simon rich was a new author to me and thank goodness hes written lots more as hes seriously addictive. The universe versus alex woods free pdf, epub, fb3, txt.