First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a first novel by an author who said he was "too young to be a beatnik and too old to be a hippie":

"They're out there. Black boys in white suits up before me to commit sex acts in the hall and get it mopped up before I can catch them."

* Entries, including postal address, should be sent to First Impressions, The Times Higher , Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX, faxed to 020 7782 3300 or emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk

The winner receives a £25 book voucher. The closing date is December 29.

The winner of last week's competition, who identified The Complete Fables by Aesop, is Stuart Booker from Dundee.

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