This is one of those books I mainly judged by its cover and just knew I would like it – and I wasn’t disappointed!
Alex Woods is an outsider – a quirky and unpopular boy growing up with a clairvoyant single mother. Then something random and improbable happens to him to mark him out as even more strange. It’s fair to say that life isn’t easy for Alex Woods.
But then he meets Mr Peterson, a grumpy old man. Mr Peterson becomes the friend he never had and together they take a very difficult decision – a decision the world doesn’t agree with. A decision that leads Alex to be stopped at customs with 113 grams of marijuana in the glove compartment and an urn of ashes on the passenger seat.
The book is written in Alex’s voice and it really works. You feel you get to know and understand this unusual boy and the difficulties he faces. Alex’s voice reminds me of Christopher’s in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – another book I love.
The Universe Versus Alex Woods is an entertaining and thought-provoking novel. It’s not too long or challenging and is definitely worth a read.
November 1, 2013
I loved this book! Read it for a book group, and it was great to have a ‘readable’ book after some heavy going ones!
November 1, 2013
Sounds like a really interesting read! 🙂
November 1, 2013
Thanks, ladies! It really is well worth a read, Tas! I really enjoyed it.
Would make a good book group book, Christine. And it even has a book group in it! Weird…
November 1, 2013
Another fabulous recommendation – will add it to my reading list. Thanks x