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A Question of Attraction
It is 1985, and Brian Jackson, a working-class kid on full scholarship, has started his first semester at a university. In addition to his anxiety about his humble origins and whether or not he'll fit in, Brian harbors a dark a burning, long-held, lovingly kindled ambition.... He wants to appear on the wildly popular TV quiz show University Challenge.
When he finally makes the team and his dream comes true, life seems perfect, especially given his infatuation for a fellow teammate - the beautiful, brainy, and intimidatingly WASPy Alice Harbinson. But just when Brian thinks he has all the answers, he discovers the question of attraction is the most mind-boggling of all....
When he finally makes the team and his dream comes true, life seems perfect, especially given his infatuation for a fellow teammate - the beautiful, brainy, and intimidatingly WASPy Alice Harbinson. But just when Brian thinks he has all the answers, he discovers the question of attraction is the most mind-boggling of all....
Paperback
Published January 1, 2003
5 people want to read
About the author
David Nicholls
33 books5,509 followersDavid Nicholls is a British author, screenwriter, and actor. A student of Toynbee Comprehensive school and Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, he Graduated from the University of Bristol having studied English Literature and Drama.
After graduation, he won a scholarship to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, before returning to London in 1991 and finally earning an Equity card. He worked sporadically as an actor for the next eight years, eventually earning a three year stint at the Royal National Theatre, followed by a job at BBC Radio Drama as a script reader/researcher. This led to script-editing jobs at London Weekend Television and Tiger Aspect Productions.
During this period, he began to write, developing an adaptation of Sam Shepard’s stage-play Simpatico with the director Matthew Warchus, an old friend from University. He also wrote his first original script, a situation comedy about frustrated waiters, Waiting, which was later optioned by the BBC.
Simpatico was turned into a feature film in 1999, and this allowed David to start writing full-time. He has been twice nominated for BAFTA awards and his first novel, Starter for Ten was featured on the first Richard and Judy Book Club.
After graduation, he won a scholarship to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, before returning to London in 1991 and finally earning an Equity card. He worked sporadically as an actor for the next eight years, eventually earning a three year stint at the Royal National Theatre, followed by a job at BBC Radio Drama as a script reader/researcher. This led to script-editing jobs at London Weekend Television and Tiger Aspect Productions.
During this period, he began to write, developing an adaptation of Sam Shepard’s stage-play Simpatico with the director Matthew Warchus, an old friend from University. He also wrote his first original script, a situation comedy about frustrated waiters, Waiting, which was later optioned by the BBC.
Simpatico was turned into a feature film in 1999, and this allowed David to start writing full-time. He has been twice nominated for BAFTA awards and his first novel, Starter for Ten was featured on the first Richard and Judy Book Club.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2025
I was wondering why there's only one other rating/review for this book (by a very popular author), but then I learned that this is the American title for Nicholls' debut novel, Starter for Ten.
I recently read Sweet Sorrow, and this felt like a companion story or in some ways an earlier draft -- there many similarities ... (though QoA is set in the mid-80s and may be more loosely autobiographical, while SS is set in the 90s). The main characters in both books have complicated and poignant relationships with their fathers -- and their hometown friends. At the same time, the funny parts are absolutely hilarious – I kept wanting to quote long passages to people, and I was definitely laughing out loud – often.
The narrator in the audio version is brilliant. (That's true for Sweet Sorrow as well – different narrators, who both nail it.)
I recently read Sweet Sorrow, and this felt like a companion story or in some ways an earlier draft -- there many similarities ... (though QoA is set in the mid-80s and may be more loosely autobiographical, while SS is set in the 90s). The main characters in both books have complicated and poignant relationships with their fathers -- and their hometown friends. At the same time, the funny parts are absolutely hilarious – I kept wanting to quote long passages to people, and I was definitely laughing out loud – often.
The narrator in the audio version is brilliant. (That's true for Sweet Sorrow as well – different narrators, who both nail it.)
August 16, 2025
I absolutely loved it up until I read the ending. Nicholls, what happened? It seemed like you gave up on Brian and tacked on an ending as a way out of the book. It fell flat; I was deeply disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews