Starter For Ten
- Introduction
- Book Excerpt
- Reviews
It's 1985 and Brian Jackson has arrived at university with a burning ambition - to make it onto TV's foremost general knowledge quiz. But no sooner has he embarked on 'The Challenge' than he finds himself falling hopelessly in love with his teammate, the beautiful and charismatic would-be actress, Alice Harbinson. When Alice fails to fall for his slightly over-eager charms, Brian comes up with a foolproof plan to capture her heart once and for all. He's going to win the game, at any cost, because - after all - everyone knows that what a woman really wants from a man is a comprehensive grasp of general knowledge . . . STARTER FOR TEN is a comedy about love, class, growing-up and the all-important difference between knowledge and wisdom.
Jenny Eclair, Richard & Judy's Book Club, 11th Feb 2004
'A classic...I sniggered, snorted and hooted.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Paul Morley, Richard & Judy's Book Club, 11th Feb 2004
'Exquisite.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Jenny Colgan, author of Amanda's Wedding
'Absolutely fabulous ... brilliantly funny'
Review
'Brilliant... we would recommend it to anyone' (Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan 20030901)
'Trust us, you'll love it' (Arena 20030901)
'Moving, wickedly observed, warm, uplifting and above all blindingly funny... Read this book' (Jack 20030901)
'Toe-curlingly embarrassing and cleverly observed... it'll have you wincing and laughing simultaneously. Fabulous' (Company 20031001)
'A bittersweet coming-of-age tale ... A fine, funny book' (Heat 20030901)
'Nicholls' portrayal of student affectations is accurate and funny ... clever and well-written' (Independent 20030901)
'Spry, affecting debut ... If it's possible to wince with your whole body, that broadly equates to my experience of reading it' (Time Out 20031001)
'A funny, touching novel reminiscent of the classic film Gregory's Girl with an authentic 1980s backdrop' (Sunday Mirror 20031001)
'Hilarious ... you won't be able to put it down' (OK 20031001)
'Painfully funny' (Elle 20050401)
'Warm and funny ... Hilarious' (Daily Mirror 20050401)
'Hugely (and deservedly) hyped ... Achingly funny' (She 20050401)
'I laughed out loud, I cringed in recognition, and more than once I paused in admiration at an observation so wry, so on the money, I wondered why it had never occurred to me before. There have been many pretenders to the throne of Hornby; David Nicholls is his legitimate heir' (Mike Bullen, creator of 'Cold Feet' 20050401)
'For conjuring up all those cringeworthy moments of youth, this read is unrivalled' (Glamour 20050408)
'Relentlessly delightful' (Mil Millington )
'Absolutely fabulous ... brilliantly funny' (Jenny Colgan, author of Amanda's Wedding )
'Wonderfully written ... This is a lovely look back at a time when you were young enough to think that anything could happen' (The Word )
'What a delight... David Nicholls is enormously talented, he has an exquisite eye for details, humour and the ridiculous and he deserves every ounce of the huge success he will undoubtedly have with this pleasure of a book' (Anna Maxted, author of Getting Over It )
'I absolutely loved Starter for Ten' (Emily Barr, author of Backpack )
'I adored "The Understudy". It's a fantastic comedy ... delightfully written and makes you realise that even though some people are always cast as second best, that doesn't mean they're never winners.' (New Woman )
'A comic genius' (Maria Beaumont on David Nicholls )
'I laughed a lot' (Jeremy Paxman on STARTER FOR TEN )
'Moving, wickedly observed, warm, uplifting and above all blindingly funny, Starter for Ten hits the spot time after time. Read this book' (Jack on STARTER FOR TEN )
'A zippy comedy with laugh-out-loud lines, grounded on a solid plot and first-rate dialogue...irresistible' (Daily Mail )
RICHARD MADELEY & JUDY FINNIGAN (Channel 4)
'Brilliant...we would recommend it to anyone'
Jack magazine
'Moving, wickedly observed, warm, uplifting and above all blindingly funny...read this book'
Emily Barr, author of Backpack
'I absolutely loved Starter for Ten'
Elle
'Painfully funny'
OK
'Hilarious ... you won't be able to put it down'
Mil Millington
'Relentlessly delightful'
Glamour
'For conjuring up all those cringeworthy moments of youth, this read is unrivalled'
Sunday Mirror
'A funny, touching novel reminiscent of the classic film Gregory's Girl with an authentic 1980s backdrop'
