Alex Woods is ten years old when he has his
first brush with the universe, in the form of a meteorite that crashes through
the roof. There are immediate and longer term consequences that lead indirectly
to his involvement in the vandalisation of Mr Peterson’s back garden.
The reclusive Isaac Peterson is not
impressed, and neither is Alex’s mother who insists her son makes reparations.
Thus begins an unlikely friendship between the two loners across several
generations.
As things are settling down for Alex the
universe (or fate) strikes back with some devastating health news for his
friend. How he (now a teenager) comes to terms with the potential effects provides
the meat of the novel.
It is a bitter sweet tale, heart-warming and
shot through with enough black humour to steer clear of mawkishness. Instead it
is genuinely moving with a lump in the throat and a tear on the cheek climax.
Gavin Extence writes it well, combining some
coming-of-age anxiety and humour with Kurt Vonnegut philosophy while addressing
a sensitive subject with intelligence and respect.
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