Home
/
Fiction
/
Take One Young Man
Take One Young Man
Nov 9, 2025 3:49 AM

Author:Vivien Kelly

Take One Young Man

Sam Glass wants to go far. But not up the career ladder. Sam wants to go to Antarctica.

Sam is a slave to his pager. A drone in the advertising industry, he spends his days being insulted by bosses, ad agency creatives and clients alike, and his evenings drinking with friends. At twenty-five, he's stuck in a rut of post-university, first-job existence. And he hates it. When he notices an advert for a research job in Antarctica, Sam is galvanised into action: this magical land of snow, ice and utter serenity represents the ultimate escape. While he and his best friend, Henry, endure the gruelling selection procedure, he embarks on both the destruction of his ordered, career-orientated, tidy life, and a string of well-organised, casual affairs. What Sam doesn't bargain for, however, is falling in love.

Lively, funny and incredibly perceptive, Take One Young Man is a profoundly intelligent and moving novel.

Reviews

Spectacularly sensitive and accomplished ... we need more stuff like this!

—— Lisa Jewell

An incredibly ambitious and assured first novel ... Quite and achievement

—— Esther Freud

Lively and sharp ... a well-observed picture of contemporary life

—— The Times

Clever, witty and well written

—— Daily Express

Brilliant ... moving and hilariously funny

—— Woman's Own

The advertising world should tremble at the sharp wit behind this work

—— The Times

An exceptional first novel which mixes fluent storytelling, thoughtful insight, sensitive observation, seriousness and humour, all in perfect proportion

—— The Richmond Review

It's set in my favourite place (Suffolk) and I opened it at random, read a page and laughed

—— Julie Myerson , Daily Telegraph

A darkly comic read that's perfect for anyone considering chucking in city life and starting afresh

—— Sport Magazine

The author's comic take on the gap between his characters' aspirations and their shortfall makes for hilarious, snappy reading... A sermon on the perils of the rural dream, it will have estate agents blanching. But as a robust and sharp piece of fiction, it is smart, confident and, in places, eye wateringly upfront

—— Elizabeth Buchan , Sunday Times

Jon Canter is hilarious and self-deprecating, a wonderful, wise and witty writer

—— Helen Fielding

Jon Canter is a North London Woody Allen

—— Independent

Canter is a sharp writer with a wickedly dry wit

—— Metro

Hilarious…every page contains a joke

—— Christopher Hirst , Independent

Metropolitan media types transplanted to Suffolk provides fertile ground for Canter’s third hilarious novel…every page contains a joke

—— Christopher Hirst , Independent

Acute, horrifying and entertaining

—— The Lady

Pleasingly geeky novel ... No wonder there are plans to make into a film

—— Shortlist

Ready Player One is a fantastic adventure set in a futuristic world with a retro heart. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down and I couldn't wait to pick it back up

—— S.G. Browne, author of Breathers and Fated

Cline's novel is a nerdcore odyssey; engaging and fun, this Gen-X popcult thrillride drew me in like a Galaxian machine set to free play.

—— James Swallow

Cline [crafts] a fresh and imaginative world from our old toy box ... Cline strikes the nerves of nerd culture as expertly as Andy played that skeleton organ in The Goonies

—— Entertainment Weekly

Totally awesome!

—— Edinburgh Evening News

I would recommend this book in a heartbeat...young or old - it's just brilliant!

—— Books4Teens.co.uk

In the safe hands of none other than Mr. Steven Spielberg, this is your last chance to read the book before the movie hype drowns out the written word. A mixed up dystopian fantasy adventure novel with more nods to 80’s pop culture than even the biggest John Hughes fan will be able to handle, it’s just a whole lot of fun to read

—— 'Best books of 2015’, All in London

This is one you need to read before EVERYONE knows about it!

—— So Feminine

Ultimately entertaining, enthusiastic and enjoyable. A real must-have for any collection…a beautifully constructed piece of escapism which will pull you in with such vigour that you miss your train stop.

—— Live Magazines

Powerful and very timely message

—— Guardian
Comments
Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved