The Man I Think I Know: A feel-good, uplifting story of the most unlikely friendship

Product Information

Mike is always wise and wonderful, but this is a whole new departure for him - read it! (Jenny Colgan) When his sister sends James’ mum and dad on a cruise for their anniversary, James is put into a respite home as he is unable to be left on his own. It is here that he meets Danny, a boy he went to a very prestigious school with. James recognises Danny straight away, but Danny pretends not to know him at first. He is ashamed that he has fallen so far from his academic pedestal that he fears he will be judged for being 'only a carer' when he was destined for other things. This story is about friendship in the most hard to find places and the curve balls that life can throw at you in the most brutal an unexpected ways. Kedua-duanya ada kisah silam yang suram, dan bersama-sama mereka mula memperbaiki diri sendiri. Saling sokong-menyokong dan akhirnya perlahan-lahan mereka keluar dari kepompong masalah yang membelenggu selama ini. This is the stunning novel from bestselling author Mike Gayle, for fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. A powerful and bittersweet story of an unexpected male friendship and an unlikely love story, a thought provoking storyline told with Mike’s distinctive wit and insight, touching on issues which affect us all. This uplifting tale reminds us of the simple courage at the heart of every human being. Sebenarnya boleh saja, dengan kawalan yang cermat saya boleh saja kembali aktif. Perlu tahu had diri. Itu saja.

Having been a great fan of Mike Gayle since reading his first novel "My Legendary Girlfriend" I am always impatiently waiting for his new release. This time he let us wait long but it was worth the wait, as I think that "The Man I Think I Know" must be his best novel yet. Mike Gayle has always been a champion of writing about relationships but this time he's opted for a different one, this of a friendship, and still he pulled it off completely, delivering a fantastic, emotional and realistic story. I had a feeling that few of Mike Gayle's last books were a little different in tone but this book seems like a new direction - it's mature, it's powerful yet it still reads like other books by this author. This book felt very different to the majority of the others I've read by Mike Gayle and if this is the new direction he is taking his writing, then I can only applaud him. The Man I Think I Know is a remarkable book that I wish could have continued for longer.

About this book

Príbeh o dvoch spolužiakov, ktorí mali našliapnuté na závratnú kariéru, no ich život nie je taký, aký si naplánovali. James sa po úraze a poškodení mozgu musel učiť všetko odznovu, Danny ako dlhoročný abstinent trpiaci depresiou sa tiež so svojím životom nepohol ďalej. Keď sa stretnú v ústave - jeden ako dočasný pacient a druhý ako ošetrovateľ, zistia, že si môžu byť navzájom veľmi nápomocní. Zachraňujú sa navzájom. V Jamesovom prípade ide o zvládanie každodenných maličkostí, ako je osamostatnenie sa od rodičov, varenie a nakupovanie, ale aj o vyrovnanie sa s minulosťou. So zodpovednosťou za svoj život a vzťahy sa musí vyrovnať aj Danny, miestami je to ešte bolestnejšie, ide o jeho dlhoročne zanedbávané rodinné vzťahy. Z celého príbehu je však neuveriteľne cítiť úžasnú rodinnú podporu a lásku, je to veľmi pekné, aj taký ten kvočkovský a ochranársky syndróm zo strany Jamesových rodičov a sestry, aj priateľstvo oboch mužov. Dannyho rodine sa dostane priestor až v závere knihy, aj to je veľmi dojímavé a milé. Depressed and unemployed, Danny is facing an ultimatum from his girlfriend Maya: if he doesn't get out and get a job, she's leaving.

However, the dialogue was the most frustrating part for me. It was unbelievably unrealistic and it felt stilted and forced. Normal conversations were turned into arguments in a matter of seconds with no build up, and there were too many clichés in this book to count, including the typical argument conclusion "it's not fair!" from a grown woman, and the classic "my heart feels like it has just broken into a million tiny pieces." I have no comment. I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs). Overall rating:“The Man I Think I Know” is a lovely story of male friendship and overcoming life’s difficulties. It may be cheesy and predictable in parts, but it works and I’ve returned this book to the library with a smile on my face. Mike Gayle‘s getting 4 stars from me for this one. Cuma saya tertarik dengan kisah James, yang menghadapai kecederaan otak dan kemudian dijaga oleh kedua ibu bapanya bagai menatang minyak yang penuh. James, akhirnya bosan dengan kehidupan begitu tetapi kemudiannya menjadi teragak-agak ketika mula melepaskan diri dari kongkongan.

Summary

Depressed and unemployed, Danny is facing an ultimatum from his girlfriend Maya: if he doesn’t get out and get a job, she’s leaving. The main reason this book did not resonate with me was that I felt like there was very poor character development. With a book on such a sensitive topic, speaking about brain injury, alcoholism and depression, I would expect to have some emotional attachment to the situations at hand, but I found myself completely detached. Although the perspective was switching between the two main characters, I often lost myself on who was speaking because there were no differentiating characteristics. It was like they just moulded into the same person, with the only difference being one calling the other "mate". A tale of redemption which falls far short of being maudlin and sentimental because of the author’s way with words and how he lets each protagonist tell his own story in thoughts and feelings, along with their very human ups and downs. Each character so very different and yet they have more in common than makes any real sense at first. Both very likable men in their own ways. It’s a bit weird,” says Danny to James and indeed it is. Here are two thirty-six year old single young men who were once rival star scholars at an elite public boarding school now damaged. Danny was the scholarship student from a council estate, James an upper-class lad from wealthy parents. Both have sunk into a pit. How they got there and are desperately trying to climb out makes for a sensitive and highly compulsive read. Danny suffered loss and has been unable to get over the trauma, James had an “incident” which has left him brain damaged, he is now looked after by his restrictive parents. James is inadvertently responsible for Danny quitting his job and so hits upon the idea of being able to get away from his parents by having Danny look after him. A bit weird indeed. I truly loved this book, unusual for Mike Gayle and very special indeed.

The Man I Think I Know" is a book about second chances and personal growths. It's heart - warming and uplifting, as well as poignant and moving. I drank this story in with my whole being, I didn't want to miss a single word. A bittersweet, realistic tale about family dynamics, love and second chances with enough drama, fun and charming romance that I highly, highly recommend! PDF / EPUB File Name: The_Man_I_Think_I_Know_-_Mike_Gayle.pdf, The_Man_I_Think_I_Know_-_Mike_Gayle.epubIt's a question all of us find ourselves asking at some time and Mike Gayle's powerful, poignant novel answers it with regard to Danny Morgan and James McManus - rivals for top honours in everything throughout their school years in Birmingham. What is the path that has brought these two people to this unexpected place, and where will it take them next?