User:BelowTheSun/Eleven

Eleven (Mark Watson novel)

Eleven

Author	Mark Watson
Cover artist	~cover artist name for novel~
Language	English
Genre	~novel genre(s)~
Published	2010
Publication place	Britain
Media type	Print (paperback)
Pages	388
ISBN	9781847379689

Eleven is a novel by British comedian and novelist Mark Watson.

Plot

Xavier Ireland, who had emigrated to London from Melbourne several years prior, hosts late night radio show Late Lines alongside co-host Murray. Leaving the show one night, Murray suggests to an uninterested Xavier that they try speed dating, as Murray is unhappy being single. Xavier returns to his flat and reminisces on his life in Australia with old friends Bec, Russell, and Matilda, during which time his name was Chris Cotswold. His neighbors include single mother Mel and her son Jamie downstairs and a couple above. The next afternoon, Xavier encounters a boy being bullied in the snow, which he weakly attempts to stop, but fails, starting a chain reaction.

Xavier and Murray attend speed dating, which Xavier finds ultimately unfulfilling, but does meet and book a cleaner. One of the girls he spoke to, Gemma, reaches out to him and the pair go to see a movie and later sleep together, but both find the encounter mediocre. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Carstairs, the mother of the boy bullied in the snow, writes a disappointing restaurant review following an epiphany related to her son's treatment.

The cleaner, Pippa, shows up at Xavier's house the next day, though Xavier had forgotten. Pippa is a very peppy, talkative woman, which is initially off-putting to Xavier, but he agrees to have her over again, glad to see his house cleaned, though he intends to be out of the house.

Development history

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Explanation of the novel's title

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Reception

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References

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