Alex Woods has lost nearly a month of his life, his memories have disappeared with no sign of their return. The reason? A freak accident where a meteorite shot from the sky, through the roof of Alex's home and struck him in the head, knocking him into a coma. This is the catalyst for massive changes in Alex's life. He takes time out of school to help him deal with frequent epileptic fits of varying degrees of severity and discovers he has a thirst for knowledge beyond that of any normal child. The plot thickens when he returns to school and has to learn the tyrannical rules of the playground and sadly he becomes the target of a trio of bullies. As a result of a stressful escape from his tormentors Alex meets Mr Peterson, an elderly widower, and then the story really gets going. These two form an unlikely and important friendship that takes the both of them on a journey about the importance of freedom of choice and the strength of human spirit.
Gavin Extence opens this gem of a novel with a scene from the narrative's finale in order to introduce us to the varied and charming protagonist that is Alex Woods, who also serves as the first person narrator. This opening is what got me hooked, you desperately want to discover why Alex is wanted by the police and why he has his best friend's ashes on the seat next to him when he is stopped at the Dover border on the way back into the U.K. It also creates intrigue through the little snippets of information that Extence plops into the narration that he doesn't explain until later in the novel. He uses this clever little trick throughout because you have no doubt all will become clear, as it ultimately does. I honestly thought that a retrospective narrative would irritate me, but it works incredibly well in the telling of this story.
Alex is an astonishing character and you would have to have a heart made of stone if you don't end up caring for him and wanting the best for him, he becomes more and more real as the novel progresses. Alex provokes a deep sense of empathy and I appreciated his simple honesty, this is a protagonist that is not afraid to ask questions even if the answers are hard to understand. His friendship with Mr. Peterson enriches the story and his dedication to his old friend's wishes encourages us to question our own thoughts on how far we would go for our loved ones.
From Alex to Mr. Peterson, a stark contrast of characterisation. Peterson is a stubborn but kind and worldly wise man from Texas who writes letters to try and encourage the righting of some of the wrongs in the world, and he is a man with strong beliefs. Extence handles Peterson very well, as it is this character that introduces the most moving theme of the novel and arguably the most important situation for Alex to overcome.
It is hard to discuss the taboo theme of euthanasia in any capacity, but I can say with confidence, that Extence handles this subject with the utmost respect and in admirably good taste. This is a subject that comes up time and time again for debate in contemporary media and Extence actually uses the media towards the end of the novel to express the more negative views on the procedure. It is worth noting that although euthanasia is the matter at hand, it is made very clear that it is more about a person's freedom to choose and I was so pleased to find that the writing wasn't too bogged down by this moving and thought provoking subject.
What I did love was the description of playground politics, and it's exceptional accuracy. I was teleported back in time to my own school days, when it was all about what designer sports wear you owned and how kids were ostracised depending on their interests or the way you carried your backpack. Alex is made a victim of this fickle exclusion and he actually seems to become a stronger person for it. There is a scene in which he is called to the head teacher's office along with one of his tormentors after a very public incident on the school bus. The dialogue and narrative that ensues is outstanding and I laughed out loud when Alex finally said exactly what he was thinking. This scene in particular is a ripe example of Extence's skill in creating a high level of tension and offering perfectly timed comic relief. This is by far my favourite chapter in the book and it's an important turning point for Alex's personal development.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut, the story is sound, the writing almost poetic in places yet still what I would consider an easy read. You never get lost and the characters are extremely memorable, I never felt like I had to go back over parts of the book when I picked it back up to read. This is a real achievement and the careful balance of humour and drama is what makes this an all rounder, I can well believe that just about anyone could easily enjoy The Universe vs. Alex Woods.
If you are a fan of discovering new and exciting fiction, have a peek at this year's full list of Waterstones 11 titles. There is something for everyone on the list.
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