An English university with its city, its courses, its professors, its students, the clubs, nothing is forgotten! David Nicholls, whose first novel this is, describes this university life where students do more than just study. Why not?
Indeed, one could pose the question to the hero of this novel, Brian Jackson, who finds himself in an environment that is not his own, neither his roots nor his social class. He must therefore cheat, join clubs to be accepted by his peers. There are the girls, who are mainly seeking excitement and love. Then Brian has his friends, those who couldn’t go to university. In a way, he has crossed a certain social threshold and, while remaining true to his friendships, he must also fulfill his academic pursuits.
David Nicholls offers us a depiction of English universities, sometimes biting, sometimes cutting, yet always with humor. Why not? Yes, why not read this novel full of freshness and youth.
A first book and at the same time a fascinating work about this English society with such particular standards. There is psychology, sociology, and above all a lot of humanity in this novel. Brian, the hero, though initially a bit lost in this academic world, will quickly find his bearings between his old friends and two girls, including Alice. Brian has a problem, one shared by all adolescents: acne.
The author takes us into this drama familiar to all teenagers, the acne that pocks their faces.
Thierry Jan, writer
