Cupid's Dart

by David Nobbs

Hilarious storytelling from the creator of Reginald Perrin.Alan and Ange are on a train, heading for London. Alan is a philosophy lecturer, still a virgin at fifty-five; Ange a twenty-something, horoscope reading, darts groupie. They certainly don't expect their first casual meeting to lead to anything, but it does. Seizing the day, as they pull into Euston station, Alan asks Ange out to dinner and so begins the unlikeliest of liaisons. As they get to know each other, they are initiated into each other's worlds. From the claustrophobic confines of an Oxford College to the heady excitement of a big dart's match; from Liebfraumilch to Wittgenstein and everything in between. They even travel to Rome seeing many wonderful things as Alan learns to live for the moment and Ange to appreciate the finer things in life. But can they survive their differences in age and background? Are Alan's feelings the stuff of obsession and infatuation or is this true love? And what sort of philosopher is he if he cannot define and understand love? Told through the voice of Alan, this touching and hilarious story is much more than a tale about an unlikely couple. Ultimately, it is a story about the nature of love.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Humor, Modern, Literary Fiction

304 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Muaz Jalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly refreshing and a good conclusion. More serious than Perrin

[John Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essex chavette/darts groupie hooks up with life-long virgin Oxford philosophy don. A sweet book. Readable. Likable characters. I'm an American, so maybe I was one or beats off of the comic stylings. I liked the fact that Nobbs kept control of the story, didn't fall into various cliche traps that surround a story like this.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
The first half was pleasant enough, but then I got pretty bored. I didn’t find it funny and witty anymore, just kind of repetitive and uninteresting. I skim read the last 20% in a bit to get it over and done with.
Based on this, I wouldn’t read anything else by this author

[Paschalis]

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[Meagan Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title suggests that this is a terribly cheesy romance--a Harlequin, say? While this is a love story, it's not the kind I thought it'd be. A middle-aged professor of philosophy falls for a 24-year-old "Essex girl", with whom he has nothing at all in common. He is stuffy, humourless and, most tragically, a virgin. She appears to be a woman of the world. Somewhat predictably, her youth, zest for life, and "easy come, easy go" attitude renew his interest in his own life. The true joy of this book is how unpredictably she does this. This little novel is charming, heartwarming, and so funny that I caught myself giggling to myself several times. It's light reading, to be sure, but it is intelligently written, and wonderfully credible. Enjoy it, for it's short, and very sweet.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is that rare thing, a disappointing David Nobbs novel. There is nothing really wrong withe the story, a late middle aged philosophy professor has his life turned upside down by a chance encounter with a young woman from a a council estate with an obsessional love of darts. Both are changed by the relationship that follows. Its diverting and touching, but compared to his best stuff, particularly The Cucumber Man and Going Gently, this is almost like he isn't trying.

[Vi Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book reminds me of just how much we've lost as a result of David Nobbs' death. No-one combines humour, humanity and poignancy as skillfully as he does. The book centres round the unlikely relationship between a 55 year old Oxford don and a 24 year old darts groupie. Sometimes you're squirming with embarrassment and the next you can't resist an "aaw". Lovely book.

[JackieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming gentle comedy about romance. I was a bit worried it would be a bit sleazy but it wasn't at all. Sometimes I thought David Nobbs overdid Alan's naivety but it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the book.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Nobbs always making me laugh with his witticisms

[Kieran Telo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A May-to-December romance evolves from a chance encounter on a train. Enjoyable pabulum with a few good laughs.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - well worth reading.