a good read

the young working class boy at university - a middle class girl, a classic scenario but well done and the way that the story hinges around University Challenge made it page turning and amusing.

Well read - it pushed all my empathy to the boy, even feeling his embarrassment in some of his more ridiculous predicaments

6 people found this helpful

How did the Glaswegian accent get through??

Not a bad narration. But the Glaswegian accent is a real shocker. Really ought be rerecorded. My Scottish husband ran out of the room screaming with his fingers in his ears

4 people found this helpful

Hard to read when you're constantly cringing

What disappointed you about Starter for Ten?

I expected the main character to evolve and demonstrate some redeeming qualities but he seemed to get more and more stupid and shallow as the book went on. There was just one gag running through the entire book - what is this idiot going to screw up next? I hung on in there, as I'd found One Day to be such a good read, but every time he, and the book, seemed about to turn a corner, he blew it again.
I found it unconvincing that the femme fatale character would at any point return his affections.
Maybe men can relate to this catalogue of woes better than me.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have taken a look at what other characters were experiencing rather than the one claustrophobic perspective.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narrator fitted the main character, but the relentless "cheeky chappie" style, no matter what pain he was going through, started to irritate me.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was interesting to relive a pre-digital world, with some good descriptive passages.

4 people found this helpful

One Day, this is not, but a great read and fun

I loved One Day and so came to this with very high expectations. Yes I was a little disappointed but actually after I got over that it was a good fun story. Loved the underlying theme that holds the story together, the games show.

Story line is obvious and linear but actually all the better for that.

A pleasure to listen to and you do grow close to the small pool of key characters.

3 people found this helpful

Confident and assured

A very assured piece of writing. Enjoyable and good to listen to. More uplifting than some of the other titles by DN. I'll look out for more.

2 people found this helpful

Never gets going

I didn't like the story of this audiobook. It just doesn't get very meaty and to be honest I struggled to care about the main character.
The narration was very good although he needs to work on his female voices.

1 person found this helpful

Coming Of Age

Nice and interesting coming of age story. You will find the giddy infatuation, sweet but also stupid innocence and bright-eyed joy. From the beginning I waited for Brian to struggle, that may seem almost intolerable at times, but young and naive people will get trough it.

I loved to hear all about the trouble of Brian Jackson, because of an outstanding narrator performance.

It was OK

I have had this listen in my library over a year, I had started it and gave up after an hour or so. having previously listened to One Day, Us & Sweet Sorrow, gave it another go. If this had been the first one I listened to I would not have bothered with the others. It wasn't particularly bad or good, it was just ok

Great fun

Nicholls creates credible characters with whom we can empathize, having made many of their mistakes ourselves. You can see the problems coming and cringe and snigger when they come. Great narration.

ok story a bit slow

was ok and an easy listen
bit slow in places. characters relatable but can be a bit annoying