Reviews

Muž, ktorého asi poznám by Mike Gayle

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mymindspeaksbooks's review against another edition

2.0

I'm afraid I have been led astray by high rated reviews again... because this was another popular book that just fell completely flat for me! A wonderful premise, not so great execution, and I may have loved the cover more than the book itself...

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".

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 so wanted to like this book, and I think that's why I kept going until the end. There had to be a redeeming quality, right? It had such great reviews, after all. And I don't think it was a pointless book - it got me reflecting on what it would be like to have to start life over again, for things to not go the way you had planned, and the importance of family and friends in supporting you. However, the switch never flicked. I got to the end - to the cringey, predictable and unsatisfying end - and I felt nothing.

paulinaw's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

katylv's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars

luellabenkess's review against another edition

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5.0

What a heartwarming story!

I’d give it more * if I could.

arvonka's review

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4.0

Príbeh týchto dvoch mužov ma bavil a dojímal už od samého začiatku. Vďaka tomu, že sa Danny a James ako rozprávači v jednotlivých kapitolách striedali, mohla som ich oboch spoznať, fandiť im a obľúbiť si ich. Sledovala som ich rozvíjajúce sa priateľstvo a dúfala som, že to nakoniec pre oboch dopadne dobre. A to som sa dozvedela celkom skoro, pretože vďaka autorovmu jednoduchému štýlu a krátkym kapitolám stránky len tak lietali a ani som sa nenazdala a už som bola na konci.

Ak máte chuť na výbornú oddychovku, po ktorej prečítaní vo vás zostanú len pekné a príjemné pocity, kniha Muž, ktorého asi poznám je to pravé orechové.

lynsey1889's review against another edition

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4.0

Really enjoyed this. Very well written and will definitely look to read more by the author. Only downside was that the end was a tiny bit cheesy. Throughout the book, I had enjoyed the honesty and the stories which reflected that life can be tricky and difficult things happen. A nice read to end 2020!