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

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Danny Allen and James DeWitt meet up again at a later stage in their lives having simultaneously attended a prestigious boarding school that each left with high marks and great expectations, and one of them with an award. James, oh how my heart broke for him and his family. His sister, mother and father treats him like a small boy and whilst you can completely understand that they want to wrap him in cotton wool and protect him from the world having nearly lost him, reading from James' point of view, you can see why he is utterly frustrated. He is a grown man with adult thoughts and cannot always express how he feels articulately. It is food for thought thinking of those living with acquired brain injury (ABI) and those supporting them. The things the characters are forced to deal with, those many things in their lives are true to life, and the way they're dealt with is realistic, relatable and believable. The author offers also a very deep and detailed insight into a life with ABI - acquired brain injury and I loved the way it was dealt with, with tons of understanding and subtlety but without pitying. With his words, he touches upon the right heart - strings. Beautifully written, thought-provoking and completely charming...reminds us that the everyday things we take for granted without realising how precious they are, can be snatched away in an instant with catastrophic consequences' Ruth Hogan

I couldn't help thinking this is an unlikely plot but the friendship is so lovely that I ended up believing in them.The past is about to catch up with both of them in a way that which will change their lives forever, unexpectedly. Mike is always wise and wonderful, but this is a whole new departure for him - read it! (Jenny Colgan) 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. I felt more aware of Acquired Brain Injury after finishing this. It really is an astounding novel! I really appreciate storylines like this where there is a deeply moving story that also helps raise awareness.

Mike Gayle is the king of touching, human stories, and this big-hearted book is his best yet' Heat, 5* James was living a privileged life as an MP and property developer. He had it all. This is, until "the Incident" that left him with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). His world from then on is reduced to his overprotective parents and sister. Mike Gayle is the king of touching, human stories, and this big-hearted book is his best yet. 5* ( Heat)What is the path that has brought these two people to this unexpected place, and where will it take them next? I could see parts of myself in both characters, not the clever parts but elements of their lives and minds trying to come to terms with and deal with unexpected tragic events that can occur throughout life. I loved it and could see myself taking on a role if it's ever turned into a movie or television drama. Wink Wink! Right, where's that number for acting lessons? To anyone who is sceptical of employing someone they know as a caregiver, I know from personal experience that it works. I'd read a few books prior to this one that I really hadn't enjoyed so had expectations that this one would give me some inspiration. 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.To sum up, The Man I Think I Know is an extremely well-written novel about new opportunities and second chances at life and friendship. I was gripped by it and finished it in a matter of hours. This is the first book by Mike Gayle I have had the pleasure of reviewing and I am honoured to be a part of the blog tour for this title.

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! 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. What I am delighted to be able to say was that I was gripped and moved by the story, I just wanted more and more of these two remarkable young men and their stories. The book alternates viewpoints between James and Danny and I loved getting to know both of them on many levels.

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mi však v príbehu prekáža, je azda prílišná podobnosť týchto dvoch priateľov. Jamesovo pomalšie rozprávanie v dôsledku zranení je vidno aj vo vetách, v tom, ako myslí a rozoberá do detailov všetko. Ale keby kapitoly nemali odlíšené v názvoch aj mená oboch protagonistov, ťažšie by sa dali určiť Dannyho myšlienky. On v podstate tiež trpí (duševne) a nikto mu neposkytuje lekársku pomoc. Keby nie Jamesa, tak sa asi ostane zacyklený vo svojich traumách. Vlastne, veľkou pomocou sú aj peniaze, ktoré James predtým zarobil, bez nich by asi všetko bolo niekoľkonásobne ťažšie. Ale teda obaja sú si dosť podobní. This book is sad, funny, quirky, touching, heartbreaking but - and this is going to sound totally cliched and corny - life affirming.' Sebenarnya boleh saja, dengan kawalan yang cermat saya boleh saja kembali aktif. Perlu tahu had diri. Itu saja. This is the stunning new 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. Kerana temanya tentang persahabatan antara dua lelaki (bukan geng "kunyit", ya). Tema yang jarang diangkat dalam novel.