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Description

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. Are you up to the challenge of the funniest novel in years?

Reviews

'Starter for Ten is the debut of the year; a recommendation repeated by all who come in contact with it ... Trust us, you'll love it' -- Arena 20030801 'Moving, wickedly observed, warm, uplifting and above all blindingly funny, Starter for Ten hits the spot time after time. Read this book' -- Jack 20030801 'A toe-curlingly embarrassing and cleverly observed comedy ... it'll have you wincing and laughing simultaneously. Fabulous' -- Company 20030901 'A bittersweet coming-of-age tale ... Brian conjure[s] up strong echoes of one of that era's literary heroes, Adrian Mole ... A fine, funny book' -- Heat 20030906 'Spry, affecting debut ... If it's possible to wince with your whole body, that broadly equates to my experience of reading it' -- Time Out 20030901 'A funny, touching novel reminiscent of the classic film Gregory's Girl with an authentic 1980s backdrop' -- Sunday Mirror 20030907 'Nicholls' portrayal of student affectations is accurate and funny ... clever and well-written' -- Independent 20030905 'Hilarious ... you won't be able to put it down' -- OK 20030913 'Painfully funny' -- Elle 20030901 'Warm and funny ... Hilarious' -- Daily Mirror 20030901 'Hugely (and deservedly) hyped ... Achingly funny' -- She 20030901 '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' 20030901 'For conjuring up all those cringeworthy moments of youth, this read is unrivalled' -- Glamour 20031001 'Relentlessly delightful' -- Mil Millington 20030901 'Absolutely fabulous ... brilliantly funny' -- Jenny Colgan, author of Amanda's Wedding 20030901 'Wonderfully written ... This is a lovely look back at a time when you were young enough to think that anything could happen' -- The Word 20031001 '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 20031001 'I absolutely loved Starter for Ten' -- Emily Barr, author of Backpack 20031001