What you want may not what exactly you need. ( )

En 1985, Brian Jackson, un joven de dieciocho años, se despide de su madre y sus amigos del instituto para empezar sus estudios en la Universidad de Bristol de literatura inglesa, su gran pasión. A los pocos días de comenzar las clases, cuando lee un anuncio en el que se buscan estudiantes con gran cultura general para participar en un conocido concurso de televisión, No hay más preguntas, no duda en apuntarse, convencido de su sabiduría.
Es entonces cuando la bella Alice Hatbonson, una joven aspirante a actriz, se interpone en su camino. Brian se enamora a primera vista y su fuerte deseo de seducirla entra en colisión con sus ansias de ganar el concurso... A medida que se acerca el gran día, más se convence de que solo su victoria puede hacer que consiga a su chica.

For most of this book I was on the verge of throwing it across the room and giving up. it is VERY uncomfortable, awkward, cringe inducing and nauseating. I managed to keep hold of the book, and finish it, probably as a result of it being incredibly well written, heartwarming story.

I'm glad I did finish it otherwise it would have got 1* through no fault of its own, just my great aversion to second hand embarrassment. ( )

I have to be honest -- I saw "Starter for 10" (twice even!) before ever reading this book, and I wouldn't find it nearly as charming if I didn't have the mental picture of James McAvoy as the main character.

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"Because he's a third year, and because he's obviously got parents with money, Patrick seems to have got his life in some kind of semiadult order: proper, noninstitutional furniture, which he probably owns, a telelvision, a video, a living room which doesn't have a bed or a gas cooker or a shower in it. In fact, he's barely a student at all; everything in its place and a place for everything, like the living quarters of a monk, or a particularly fastidious serial killer" (69).

"'I like the panda,' I say.

'Oh -- thank you!'

'Peeking over your shoulder! Or should I say Beijing over your shoulder!'

She looks at me uncomprehendingly, so by way of clarification, I say, 'Did you bring it with you from home?'

'Pardon me?'

'Did you bring it from home?'

She looks puzzled. 'You mean my halls of residence?'

I have the sensation of falling. 'No, your, you know ... your original home.'

'Oh, you mean China! Because it's a panda, right? Well, actually, I'm from Minneapolis, so no.'

'Yes, but originally you're from...?'

'Minneapolis...'

'But your parents, they're from...'

'Minneapolis...'

'But their parents are from...'

'Minneapolis...'

'Of course. Minneapolis,' and she smiles at me with perfect, sincere kindness, despite the fact that I'm clearly ignorant, racist scum" (71-72).

( )

Brian Jackson gaat naar de universiteit en ontmoet daar de beeldschone Alice op wie hij hopeloos verliefd wordt, maar Brian is ook vreselijk onhandig en naïef. Om die onhandigheid te verbergen probeert hij grappig te zijn, maar dat werkt vaak niet zo goed. Brian heeft ook een droom: mee doen aan het tv-programma University Challenge. Dat zorgt ook voor de nodige komische situaties. Grappig, met humor geschreven. Reread, ( )