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Who is Tom Ditto?
We join the action just as our ‘hero’ Tom, (early thirties, reads the ‘news’ on the radio) finds out that his girlfriend has NOT left him.
Tom,
I have not left you. But I am gone.
Please carry on as normal.
Love always,
Hayley
Has Hayley gone or hasn’t she? Is she coming back? If she has gone, but is coming back, when is she coming back? And what is he supposed to bloody do in the meantime?
And what if she’s never coming back??
Trying to work out what’s happening to his confusing life, Tom tries to track Hayley down. In doing so, he stumbles across a strange and eccentric group of people with an irregular and highly-addictive hobby.
Next, he’s being followed, but he’s not sure by whom. And then he also almost loses his job at the radio station in the now infamous ‘Jam Nazi’ episode, which of course, you know about.
Above all, Tom is trying to work out who everyone is.
Because who is Hayley? Who is this new girl following him around the supermarket?
And who, for that matter, is TOM DITTO?
Tom,
I have not left you. But I am gone.
Please carry on as normal.
Love always,
Hayley
Has Hayley gone or hasn’t she? Is she coming back? If she has gone, but is coming back, when is she coming back? And what is he supposed to bloody do in the meantime?
And what if she’s never coming back??
Trying to work out what’s happening to his confusing life, Tom tries to track Hayley down. In doing so, he stumbles across a strange and eccentric group of people with an irregular and highly-addictive hobby.
Next, he’s being followed, but he’s not sure by whom. And then he also almost loses his job at the radio station in the now infamous ‘Jam Nazi’ episode, which of course, you know about.
Above all, Tom is trying to work out who everyone is.
Because who is Hayley? Who is this new girl following him around the supermarket?
And who, for that matter, is TOM DITTO?
358 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2014
53 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Danny Wallace
59 books639 followersDaniel Frederick Wallace is a British filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television. His notable works include the books Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. As an author, Wallace's bestselling books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience: a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.
At 22, he became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global. As a journalist, Wallace has worked for The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, The Times and other publications.
In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.
In 2003, Wallace's book Join Me was published. The book explains how he "accidentally started a 'cult'" called Join Me. The movement would go global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday ("Good Fridays"). Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates "Karmageddon 10" in December 2011. Traditionally, hundreds of members travel to London for the meet-up and undertake good deeds for strangers, with Wallace present. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Wallace next wrote a short book called Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place, with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Make An Old Man Very Happy."
Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass.
Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2 March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.
Wallace's book, Friends Like These, was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee,
He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience: a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.
At 22, he became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global. As a journalist, Wallace has worked for The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, The Times and other publications.
In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.
In 2003, Wallace's book Join Me was published. The book explains how he "accidentally started a 'cult'" called Join Me. The movement would go global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday ("Good Fridays"). Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates "Karmageddon 10" in December 2011. Traditionally, hundreds of members travel to London for the meet-up and undertake good deeds for strangers, with Wallace present. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Wallace next wrote a short book called Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place, with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Make An Old Man Very Happy."
Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass.
Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2 March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.
Wallace's book, Friends Like These, was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
February 24, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, more so than I had expected going into it. The premise of the novel is interesting, but not very interesting. A guy returns home to find a note from his girlfriend telling him that she left, but she didn't leave him. That's it. There's no information on where she went, or with who, or when she's planning on coming back.
Tom, a radio host, decides to investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend, Hayley. He takes offense on her sudden departure, and finds it unlikely that she didn't actually "leave" him. In his journey of finding out where she left and who she's been in contact with before she left, he finds himself in the midst of a strange support group - of sorts. They "follow" people they find interesting and imitate them for the duration that they are following them (and that duration could vary), so if that person is having a tuna melt at a cafe, they'll order the same thing, they'll pay the same exact amount, and even tell the same stories (if they are close enough to hear them speak). It sounds bizarre and very creepy, yes. Tom, thinks so too. He is astounded to find out that Hayley was part of that group, and leaves in a rush, only to be followed by Pia.
In the next weeks, Tom and Pia form a very strange friendship based on her following him, and even gets him to join in on her adventures of following people. These adventures lead Tom to meeting an abundance of new and interesting people, experiencing new things, and even improves his career immensely. He almost forgets about his problems with Hayley...almost. And just when he was starting to find his footing again, Hayley barges back into his life.
He thought he had Hayley all figured out once he found out about her habit of following people to the point of impersonating them completely, but upon her return, he soon finds out even more than he ever bargained for.
I found the humor of Danny Wallace very entertaining and clever. I loved the characters, and I loved the relationship between Tom and Pia. The conclusion was absolute perfection in my opinion, and I'm glad Wallace tied all the loose ends the way he did. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Great entertainment. Highly recommend this book.
Tom, a radio host, decides to investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend, Hayley. He takes offense on her sudden departure, and finds it unlikely that she didn't actually "leave" him. In his journey of finding out where she left and who she's been in contact with before she left, he finds himself in the midst of a strange support group - of sorts. They "follow" people they find interesting and imitate them for the duration that they are following them (and that duration could vary), so if that person is having a tuna melt at a cafe, they'll order the same thing, they'll pay the same exact amount, and even tell the same stories (if they are close enough to hear them speak). It sounds bizarre and very creepy, yes. Tom, thinks so too. He is astounded to find out that Hayley was part of that group, and leaves in a rush, only to be followed by Pia.
In the next weeks, Tom and Pia form a very strange friendship based on her following him, and even gets him to join in on her adventures of following people. These adventures lead Tom to meeting an abundance of new and interesting people, experiencing new things, and even improves his career immensely. He almost forgets about his problems with Hayley...almost. And just when he was starting to find his footing again, Hayley barges back into his life.
He thought he had Hayley all figured out once he found out about her habit of following people to the point of impersonating them completely, but upon her return, he soon finds out even more than he ever bargained for.
I found the humor of Danny Wallace very entertaining and clever. I loved the characters, and I loved the relationship between Tom and Pia. The conclusion was absolute perfection in my opinion, and I'm glad Wallace tied all the loose ends the way he did. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Great entertainment. Highly recommend this book.
July 29, 2016
I've heard of Danny Wallace; I'm aware of his various comic non-fiction books, and I heard good things about his first novel, Charlotte Street, but found the premise offputting. This, though, sounded far more intriguing, and as soon as I read about it I was curious. While still a light-hearted story, it promises a consipracy thriller type of set-up, with an unwitting protagonist being drawn into the mysterious world of a secret society.
It begins with what I guess is a cheeky riff on Gone Girl: Tom's girlfriend, Hayley, disappears, leaving a note saying she has not left him but is 'gone'. Tom - a newsreader at a London radio station - sets about trying to discover what's happened to her, but every clue he finds leads to more questions. Eventually, he finds out she was a member of a strange group calling themselves CC, whose history is illuminated in occasional chapters made up of a not-quite-convincing biographical essay about their founder, Professor Ezra Cockroft.
I'd guess that Who is Tom Ditto? is part of a trend, although I don't know enough about that trend to identify it exactly. It's sort of... chick-lit for guys, I suppose, but not 'lad-lit', because that implies a sort of cartoonishly exaggerated stereotypically 'male' behaviour that's not on display here. It seems to fit in quite neatly with the recent thing of romantic comedy films being made to appeal to men as well as women. It's amazing how much this is exactly like a chick-lit book, with the same relationship and character tropes, and similarly ridiculous, unrealistic actions which are meant to be believable or romantic or whatever. It's also amazing how Nice Guy-ish it is - objectifying women but then making a big thing of being contemptuous towards men who objectify women in a nastier way, etc. It's difficult to figure out who, exactly, the target audience is supposed to be: it seems a bit too laddish to appeal to chick-lit fans, but it's also pretty heavy on the romance.
Anyway, the plot turned out to be a disappointment. The CC thing isn't anything much at all in the end - it's largely sidelined in favour of Tom moping over Hayley, followed by a will-they-won't-they situation with another female character. Given Wallace's background it's no surprise that he's at his best when writing comic scenes: the antics of Tom's radio station colleagues, particularly the belligerent, old-fashioned breakfast DJ, are definitely the funniest and most enjoyable thing about the book. The ending throws a bit of a curveball - - which I imagine would make it very unsatisfying if you had any investment in the characters' relationships.
Interesting as a curiosity, but not really recommended.
It begins with what I guess is a cheeky riff on Gone Girl: Tom's girlfriend, Hayley, disappears, leaving a note saying she has not left him but is 'gone'. Tom - a newsreader at a London radio station - sets about trying to discover what's happened to her, but every clue he finds leads to more questions. Eventually, he finds out she was a member of a strange group calling themselves CC, whose history is illuminated in occasional chapters made up of a not-quite-convincing biographical essay about their founder, Professor Ezra Cockroft.
I'd guess that Who is Tom Ditto? is part of a trend, although I don't know enough about that trend to identify it exactly. It's sort of... chick-lit for guys, I suppose, but not 'lad-lit', because that implies a sort of cartoonishly exaggerated stereotypically 'male' behaviour that's not on display here. It seems to fit in quite neatly with the recent thing of romantic comedy films being made to appeal to men as well as women. It's amazing how much this is exactly like a chick-lit book, with the same relationship and character tropes, and similarly ridiculous, unrealistic actions which are meant to be believable or romantic or whatever. It's also amazing how Nice Guy-ish it is - objectifying women but then making a big thing of being contemptuous towards men who objectify women in a nastier way, etc. It's difficult to figure out who, exactly, the target audience is supposed to be: it seems a bit too laddish to appeal to chick-lit fans, but it's also pretty heavy on the romance.
Anyway, the plot turned out to be a disappointment. The CC thing isn't anything much at all in the end - it's largely sidelined in favour of Tom moping over Hayley, followed by a will-they-won't-they situation with another female character. Given Wallace's background it's no surprise that he's at his best when writing comic scenes: the antics of Tom's radio station colleagues, particularly the belligerent, old-fashioned breakfast DJ, are definitely the funniest and most enjoyable thing about the book. The ending throws a bit of a curveball - - which I imagine would make it very unsatisfying if you had any investment in the characters' relationships.
Interesting as a curiosity, but not really recommended.
November 4, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
September 18, 2014
I've been a fan of Danny Wallace for a good few years now. I've read everything he's written, and saw him talk about his last full-length non-fiction book,
Friends Like These
, back in 2008. He's one of the handful of authors that I'll automatically read anything new by, without even having to know what it's about, which I think is perhaps why Tom Ditto and I didn't get on so well.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book for the most part.... but. It wasn't really what I expected. I assumed it would be something light, breezy, and above all funny, in line with the rest of Wallace's bibliography. And while it did make me smile from time to time and there are certainly funny incidents, by and large this is far more contemporary fiction than humour. And the awkward sort of contemporary fiction where we're invited to smile wryly at people who use words like "bants", at that. So I went into this expecting an easy, funny read and instead got a sort-of-funny three hundred page examination on the nature of individuality and personal happiness, which threw me a bit off kilter.
Our protagonist Tom is a typical thirty-something Londoner who reads the news on breakfast radio. One day he returns home to find a note from his girlfriend, informing him that she is gone but hasn't left him, and that he should carry on as normal. I found the first third of the novel, where Tom attempts to piece together his girlfriend's disappearance, the most compelling. It certainly kept me turning the pages at night. However, once he stumbles across the answer to what was going on in her life and the bizarre club she was part of, it all gets a bit... strange. The remainder of the novel follows Tom's experiences with a girl from said club, and what they get up to is just, well, weird. The whole thing sort of reads like Wallace had another out-there idea, of the variety that shaped his early non-fiction (What if he said 'yes' to every single proposition for a year? What if he started his own country?), then realised it's questionable legal and deeply bizarre, and really better explored through fictional characters than himself.
I think what's most missing from Tom Ditto is the personal warmth Wallace injects into his non-fiction, as though he's sitting you down and telling you a bloody good story. Tom Ditto isn't a bad book, but in the grand scheme of things it's probably a forgettable one.
[Disclaimer: I received a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.]
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book for the most part.... but. It wasn't really what I expected. I assumed it would be something light, breezy, and above all funny, in line with the rest of Wallace's bibliography. And while it did make me smile from time to time and there are certainly funny incidents, by and large this is far more contemporary fiction than humour. And the awkward sort of contemporary fiction where we're invited to smile wryly at people who use words like "bants", at that. So I went into this expecting an easy, funny read and instead got a sort-of-funny three hundred page examination on the nature of individuality and personal happiness, which threw me a bit off kilter.
Our protagonist Tom is a typical thirty-something Londoner who reads the news on breakfast radio. One day he returns home to find a note from his girlfriend, informing him that she is gone but hasn't left him, and that he should carry on as normal. I found the first third of the novel, where Tom attempts to piece together his girlfriend's disappearance, the most compelling. It certainly kept me turning the pages at night. However, once he stumbles across the answer to what was going on in her life and the bizarre club she was part of, it all gets a bit... strange. The remainder of the novel follows Tom's experiences with a girl from said club, and what they get up to is just, well, weird. The whole thing sort of reads like Wallace had another out-there idea, of the variety that shaped his early non-fiction (What if he said 'yes' to every single proposition for a year? What if he started his own country?), then realised it's questionable legal and deeply bizarre, and really better explored through fictional characters than himself.
I think what's most missing from Tom Ditto is the personal warmth Wallace injects into his non-fiction, as though he's sitting you down and telling you a bloody good story. Tom Ditto isn't a bad book, but in the grand scheme of things it's probably a forgettable one.
[Disclaimer: I received a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.]
May 14, 2015
I didn't really expect to enjoy this book all that much when I picked it up but ended up loving it. Danny Wallace's writing is incredibly witty, so much so that I genuinely cackled on numerous occasions. It is both playful and at times, on reflection, quite unsettling as the main character Tom, whilst searching for his girlfriend who disappeared, comes across a type of support-group with an unconventional method of trying to improve their lives. Something that at first seems strange soon becomes rather exciting as Tom gets sucked into their way of life and ultimately meets Pia - an odd but extremely likeable character.
The concept of 'following' within the book is completely absurd but interesting as it explores the extent to which our lives are comprised of our own decisions rather than those of the people around us. Wallace portrayed this very well, adding depth to the comedy.
I'll always remember highs of nineteen and the Jam Nazi episode.
The concept of 'following' within the book is completely absurd but interesting as it explores the extent to which our lives are comprised of our own decisions rather than those of the people around us. Wallace portrayed this very well, adding depth to the comedy.
I'll always remember highs of nineteen and the Jam Nazi episode.
July 19, 2018
Who is Tom Ditto has some funny lines. Danny is very clever at writing a moving story and funny at the same time. I felt sorry for tom who on the 12th of June finds a note from his girlfriend Hayley to say I have not left you. Please just carry on as normal. Love always Hayley.
Poor Tom is frantic phoning friends and asking if they know where Hayley is. There is a shock heading towards Tom about Hayley.
Poor Tom is frantic phoning friends and asking if they know where Hayley is. There is a shock heading towards Tom about Hayley.
June 17, 2019
Tom's girlfriend leaves him a message to say she's gone but she hasn't left him. This throws him into all sorts of anxiety laden japes. I had to give up on this as I really didn't care about Tom or why Hayley had gone. I much prefer this author as a non-fiction writer.
April 15, 2020
Light and fluffy with an interesting premise and some characters who are more than 2 dimensional, it’s a perfect quick read for a midweek in isolation. If you know the author you can hear his voice on the page. Not a must read but definitely a good read.
August 27, 2021
No non ci siamo...un libro che vorrebbe essere ironico e lanciare il messaggio che ognuno è unico e irripetibile, ma riesce solo ad essere confuso e noiosetto. Peccato!
April 22, 2014
Released on the 24th of April 2014.
Danny Wallace loves a bit of hype – a few years ago he became head of state of his own micro-nation and spent 6 months saying ‘YES’ to everything. In preparation for the launch of his latest novel ‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ he even launched Tom Ditto IPA beer which he brewed himself at the Truman’s Brewery.
So who is Tom Ditto? Much like in Danny Wallace’s last novel ‘Charlotte Street’ which I really enjoyed, the main character (Tom) is just a normal guy. We writes and reads the news for a mediocre radio station and lives in a flat with his girlfriend Hayley. But one day Hayley leaves a note saying that she’s left. Not that she has left him, just that she has left and he should carry on as normal. So again, much like in his last novel we embark on a mystery of a normal guy looking for a special girl.
This book had lots of parallels with Wallace’s last work of fiction but where ‘Charlotte Street’ took us on a crazy journey around London in hot pursuit of clues for the main character to track down the possible love of his life, ‘Tom Ditto’ left a little bit bored. When Tom eventually gets to a place where people know his girlfriend and shine a light on their strange ‘hobby’ I almost completely lost interest. It wasn’t an interested twist or a concept that wowed me. It was just a bit weird. And the fact that Tom starts joining in too was completely unbelievable. Of course I don’t blame him for wanting to find out where his girlfriend had got too, but on falling upon a big group of complete loonies I think the more likely path would have been that he’d just run a mile and start looking for her elsewhere, not join in with their strange behaviour.
I did find the relationship between Tom and Pia very sweet and the ending of the book was just great – no great romance and no shocking twist to bring down everything that you’d been led to believe either. But this book was so obviously written by a man. Witty, laddy quips jump out of every page and constant references to popular culture alienate the older generations of any hope of a boosted female readership.
Unfortunately ‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ didn’t really tick any boxes for me. it wasn’t funny, there was no great mystery or crime, it was neither happy or sad. A real disappointment after ‘Charlotte Street’ and for that reason I am giving Wallace a 2.5/5
Danny Wallace loves a bit of hype – a few years ago he became head of state of his own micro-nation and spent 6 months saying ‘YES’ to everything. In preparation for the launch of his latest novel ‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ he even launched Tom Ditto IPA beer which he brewed himself at the Truman’s Brewery.
So who is Tom Ditto? Much like in Danny Wallace’s last novel ‘Charlotte Street’ which I really enjoyed, the main character (Tom) is just a normal guy. We writes and reads the news for a mediocre radio station and lives in a flat with his girlfriend Hayley. But one day Hayley leaves a note saying that she’s left. Not that she has left him, just that she has left and he should carry on as normal. So again, much like in his last novel we embark on a mystery of a normal guy looking for a special girl.
This book had lots of parallels with Wallace’s last work of fiction but where ‘Charlotte Street’ took us on a crazy journey around London in hot pursuit of clues for the main character to track down the possible love of his life, ‘Tom Ditto’ left a little bit bored. When Tom eventually gets to a place where people know his girlfriend and shine a light on their strange ‘hobby’ I almost completely lost interest. It wasn’t an interested twist or a concept that wowed me. It was just a bit weird. And the fact that Tom starts joining in too was completely unbelievable. Of course I don’t blame him for wanting to find out where his girlfriend had got too, but on falling upon a big group of complete loonies I think the more likely path would have been that he’d just run a mile and start looking for her elsewhere, not join in with their strange behaviour.
I did find the relationship between Tom and Pia very sweet and the ending of the book was just great – no great romance and no shocking twist to bring down everything that you’d been led to believe either. But this book was so obviously written by a man. Witty, laddy quips jump out of every page and constant references to popular culture alienate the older generations of any hope of a boosted female readership.
Unfortunately ‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ didn’t really tick any boxes for me. it wasn’t funny, there was no great mystery or crime, it was neither happy or sad. A real disappointment after ‘Charlotte Street’ and for that reason I am giving Wallace a 2.5/5
June 6, 2018
I like the books of Danny Wallace. I should read more of them. I've read about three (or maybe four) now and I like his laddish way of looking at life. Seems to me that he always writes about himself, even when it's fiction.
This book has much the same tone as the others but with a pinch of depression mixed in. I can imagine that this is part of the author's personality too - a bit like Matt Haig, but not as overt.
It's about ... well, I can't really tell you that because it'd give most of the plot away. Best that you experience it yourself. The theme is 'be yourself' - that'll do. In fact, why not just be yourself anyway without reading the book. Not that it's a bad book - it's entertaining in a limp kind of a way. But it's not really funny. Not as funny as his other books. It's kind of serious really.
What else?
Nothing really. As you were.
This book has much the same tone as the others but with a pinch of depression mixed in. I can imagine that this is part of the author's personality too - a bit like Matt Haig, but not as overt.
It's about ... well, I can't really tell you that because it'd give most of the plot away. Best that you experience it yourself. The theme is 'be yourself' - that'll do. In fact, why not just be yourself anyway without reading the book. Not that it's a bad book - it's entertaining in a limp kind of a way. But it's not really funny. Not as funny as his other books. It's kind of serious really.
What else?
Nothing really. As you were.
November 13, 2014
After reading Yes Man I was convinced to read this one as well. I was disappointed after reading the start and realising that it's fiction. I can't help but enjoy his style though so I endured. It was an easy read and occupied me for at least half of an overnight train ride. I definitely couldn't read non fiction for that long! Summary, boy gets left by girlfriend, feels sorry for himself, realises that he wasn't happy anyway, sorts his life out by learning about how other people live their lives, girl wants to get back with him but by then he's moved on. Good read, but I thought the end was a bit of a fizzle. What do you think?
December 14, 2014
Very readable, as Danny Wallace tends to be. I have always enjoyed his writing, moreso the non fiction than his latest attempts at fiction, but none the less you're always guaranteed a good number of laughs and a reminisce on London life in late 20s/early 30s. On the flip side, the story wasn't as engaging as I'd hoped, perhaps the concept of "following" was just too quirky for me and became a distraction. I would normally round my rating up rather than down, but this time I'm going with 3 since I can't give it 3.5
June 8, 2014
As someone said, it's chick-lit for blokes! I found it funny and entertaining which is exactly what I wanted after a run of heavier novels of late. The star of the book for me is Maureen-the sender of the type of e-mails everyone who has ever worked in an office knows all too well, but who you never meet!
October 23, 2014
Danny Wallace's first novel I is an intriguing page turner. A main character who is likeable from the off! An interesting story, that keeps you asking questions until the very last page. Is CC real? Is Ezra Cockcroft? Probably not, but everything is so believable!
May 26, 2015
I really liked the humorous style and the enjoyably disturbed characters in the beginnig. In the middle, after Tom met Pia, it became a bit lengthy but then again turned - into "nice" this time. I also liked how it fell into place in the end, that it was a bit different from "typical" endings :)
October 8, 2015
Je trouvais ça pas très bon au début et puis je me suis laissée totalement embarquer dans l'histoire. C'est drôle, original, touchant... J'ai très envie de lire ses autres livres (fiction et non-fiction).
June 9, 2014
Cretinous. Not worth the half hour of speed reading that got me
to 20% through. Bloody awful.
to 20% through. Bloody awful.
July 5, 2015
Actually enjoyed this more than the length of time it took me to read would suggest. Not as good as some of Danny Wallace's non-fiction, stuff but still really good.
October 6, 2024
Overall an enjoyable read, a bit slow to start, but a simple and interesting theme.
March 30, 2024
Per una recensione fatta un po' meglio, più completa e dettagliata, dovrei essere sicura io per prima di questo scrittore. Non tanto del libro, ché di quello mi son già fatta la mia idea e mi sono presa il tempo di metabolizzare.
E infatti credo che leggerò quel tanto celebrato "La ragazza di Charlotte Street" di cui tanti parlano con toni entusiastici e poi quel "Yes man" che l'ha consacrato, anche grazie all'interpretazione su grande schermo di Jim Carrey.
Questo librino qui, questo "Copia-e-incolla", è un po' una delusione.
Perché ti immagini che sia originalissimo, divertente e sferzante. Una ventata d'aria fresca nel piattume dei giorni.
E invece no. Invece è un romanzetto.
Scritto bene, in maniera scorrevole con un buon ritmo.
Il nostro Danny Wallace le conosce le tecniche di scrittura perché le applica benissimo: i salti temporali, i flussi di coscienza, i dialoghi brillanti.
Però i suoi personaggi risultano troppo irreali. O meglio, quelli ancora ancora... di gente bizzarra a Londra ne puoi incontrare effettivamente a frotte.
Quello che non regge alla luce della logica e della realtà sono i dialoghi stessi. Troppo "originali" per essere veri e spontanei. Poco autentici. Parecchio artefatti e apparecchiati all'occasione.
Quindi 2 stelline e non di più. Sufficienza piena ma non si va oltre. Per lo stile, dicevamo. Per la tecnica. Per il ritmo. L'originalità di base c'è. Accennata. Ma non viene elaborata.
Avrebbe potuto esplodere, questo libro. Ma ha scelto di implodere piano piano.
I primi due terzi li leggi poco volentieri. Sono il romanzetto vero e proprio, e ti fanno spegnere il cervello. Poi per fortuna si salva con un colpo di coda verso la fine. E qualche sorriso e qualche "ma dai" te lo strappa.
Capisco possa piacere molto... nel piattume delle letture contemporanee, in effetti, bisogna essere fortunati. L'avrei forse apprezzato di più se non fossi affezionata ai libri degli israeliani contemporanei e ad altre penne.
E infatti credo che leggerò quel tanto celebrato "La ragazza di Charlotte Street" di cui tanti parlano con toni entusiastici e poi quel "Yes man" che l'ha consacrato, anche grazie all'interpretazione su grande schermo di Jim Carrey.
Questo librino qui, questo "Copia-e-incolla", è un po' una delusione.
Perché ti immagini che sia originalissimo, divertente e sferzante. Una ventata d'aria fresca nel piattume dei giorni.
E invece no. Invece è un romanzetto.
Scritto bene, in maniera scorrevole con un buon ritmo.
Il nostro Danny Wallace le conosce le tecniche di scrittura perché le applica benissimo: i salti temporali, i flussi di coscienza, i dialoghi brillanti.
Però i suoi personaggi risultano troppo irreali. O meglio, quelli ancora ancora... di gente bizzarra a Londra ne puoi incontrare effettivamente a frotte.
Quello che non regge alla luce della logica e della realtà sono i dialoghi stessi. Troppo "originali" per essere veri e spontanei. Poco autentici. Parecchio artefatti e apparecchiati all'occasione.
Quindi 2 stelline e non di più. Sufficienza piena ma non si va oltre. Per lo stile, dicevamo. Per la tecnica. Per il ritmo. L'originalità di base c'è. Accennata. Ma non viene elaborata.
Avrebbe potuto esplodere, questo libro. Ma ha scelto di implodere piano piano.
I primi due terzi li leggi poco volentieri. Sono il romanzetto vero e proprio, e ti fanno spegnere il cervello. Poi per fortuna si salva con un colpo di coda verso la fine. E qualche sorriso e qualche "ma dai" te lo strappa.
Capisco possa piacere molto... nel piattume delle letture contemporanee, in effetti, bisogna essere fortunati. L'avrei forse apprezzato di più se non fossi affezionata ai libri degli israeliani contemporanei e ad altre penne.
August 6, 2018
Als je op zoek bent naar jezelf, wilt weten wie je bent of zou kunnen zijn, leef dan eens het leven van een ander. Zoek iemand uit, op straat of in de bus, die je interessant lijkt, die misschien een leven leidt waar jij van droomt of zou willen dromen, en volg diegene. Treedt letterlijk in zijn voetsporen, ga waar hij gaat, eet wat hij eet en probeer zijn leven uit, zoals je in het pashokje een broek past, voordat je besluit of je hem aanschaft. Dat is de filosofie van de mensen die Tom ontmoet, nadat zijn vriendin verdwijnt en hem een mysterieus briefje achterlaat waarin ze hem op het hart drukt dat ze hem niet verlaten heeft.
Terwijl Tom in het reine probeert te komen met het vertrek van zijn vriendin en tegelijkertijd probeert het mysterie daaromtrend te verklaren, ontmoet hij een groep mensen wiens passie het is om anderen te volgen. Met een van hen krijgt hij een bijzondere band, totdat zijn vriendin ineens terugkeert. Maar of hij nou zo blij is met haar terugkeer....
‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ is een roman van de zeer oorspronkelijke alleskunner Danny Wallace, die in Friends Like These op zoek ging naar al zijn jeugdvrienden en die op televisie bekendheid verwierf met How to Start Your Own Country en met de verfilming van Yes, Man - het boek waarin hij alleen nog maar ‘ja’ zegt op alle vragen en verzoeken die hij krijgt. Ik had een vrolijk, luchtig boek verwacht maar hoewel er zeker veel te lachen valt, zet het boek je ook aan het denken over identiteit en over keuzes maken. Toms vriendin Hayley zorgt voor een wrange noot in het boek en zijn bijzondere band met Pia, die andere mensen volgt om zichzelf terug te vinden, is dieper voelbaar juist doordat er zich geen voorspelbare romance vormt.
Het is geen boek dat je leven verandert, maar wel een knap geconstrueerd en origineel verhaal, met humor en tragedie en een fleugje filosofie.
Terwijl Tom in het reine probeert te komen met het vertrek van zijn vriendin en tegelijkertijd probeert het mysterie daaromtrend te verklaren, ontmoet hij een groep mensen wiens passie het is om anderen te volgen. Met een van hen krijgt hij een bijzondere band, totdat zijn vriendin ineens terugkeert. Maar of hij nou zo blij is met haar terugkeer....
‘Who is Tom Ditto?’ is een roman van de zeer oorspronkelijke alleskunner Danny Wallace, die in Friends Like These op zoek ging naar al zijn jeugdvrienden en die op televisie bekendheid verwierf met How to Start Your Own Country en met de verfilming van Yes, Man - het boek waarin hij alleen nog maar ‘ja’ zegt op alle vragen en verzoeken die hij krijgt. Ik had een vrolijk, luchtig boek verwacht maar hoewel er zeker veel te lachen valt, zet het boek je ook aan het denken over identiteit en over keuzes maken. Toms vriendin Hayley zorgt voor een wrange noot in het boek en zijn bijzondere band met Pia, die andere mensen volgt om zichzelf terug te vinden, is dieper voelbaar juist doordat er zich geen voorspelbare romance vormt.
Het is geen boek dat je leven verandert, maar wel een knap geconstrueerd en origineel verhaal, met humor en tragedie en een fleugje filosofie.
April 27, 2020
We join the action just as our ‘hero’ Tom, (early thirties, reads the ‘news’ on the radio) finds out that his girlfriend has NOT left him.
Tom,
I have not left you. But I am gone.
Please carry on as normal.
Love always,
Hayley
Has Hayley gone or hasn’t she? Is she coming back? If she has gone, but is coming back, when is she coming back? And what is he supposed to bloody do in the meantime?
And what if she’s never coming back??
Trying to work out what’s happening to his confusing life, Tom tries to track Hayley down. In doing so, he stumbles across a strange and eccentric group of people with an irregular and highly-addictive hobby.
Next, he’s being followed, but he’s not sure by whom. And then he also almost loses his job at the radio station in the now infamous ‘Jam Nazi’ episode, which of course, you know about.
Above all, Tom is trying to work out who everyone is.
Because who is Hayley? Who is this new girl following him around the supermarket?
And who, for that matter, is TOM DITTO?
I really really enjoyed this book.
I had already read Charlotte Street previously which I thought was excellent and when I saw this I had to give it a read.
Really funny, really clever, with great characters who you can picture as we've all met or know of someone like then.
A great premise as well, which if I'm honest, makes you think, why haven't I thought about following somebody before!!!!
I enjoy Danny Wallace on all that he has done and I have also read Yes Man (book was way better than the film!!!!!) and Follow Me but I much prefer his fiction.
I cant wait to see what he writes next.
Tom,
I have not left you. But I am gone.
Please carry on as normal.
Love always,
Hayley
Has Hayley gone or hasn’t she? Is she coming back? If she has gone, but is coming back, when is she coming back? And what is he supposed to bloody do in the meantime?
And what if she’s never coming back??
Trying to work out what’s happening to his confusing life, Tom tries to track Hayley down. In doing so, he stumbles across a strange and eccentric group of people with an irregular and highly-addictive hobby.
Next, he’s being followed, but he’s not sure by whom. And then he also almost loses his job at the radio station in the now infamous ‘Jam Nazi’ episode, which of course, you know about.
Above all, Tom is trying to work out who everyone is.
Because who is Hayley? Who is this new girl following him around the supermarket?
And who, for that matter, is TOM DITTO?
I really really enjoyed this book.
I had already read Charlotte Street previously which I thought was excellent and when I saw this I had to give it a read.
Really funny, really clever, with great characters who you can picture as we've all met or know of someone like then.
A great premise as well, which if I'm honest, makes you think, why haven't I thought about following somebody before!!!!
I enjoy Danny Wallace on all that he has done and I have also read Yes Man (book was way better than the film!!!!!) and Follow Me but I much prefer his fiction.
I cant wait to see what he writes next.
September 11, 2025
"Wir alle kopieren. Es steckt in uns. Es stellt den größten Teil unserer eigenen Persönlichkeit dar." S.164
Tom's Sommer startet unspektakulär – bis er eines Tages einen Zettel findet: „Ich habe dich nicht verlassen, aber ich bin weg!“ Zurückgelassen von seiner Freundin stolpert er in eine Reihe merkwürdiger Begegnungen, kurioser Zufälle und ein Geheimnis, das größer ist, als er geahnt hätte.
Die Figuren sind liebenswert verschroben, der Schreibstil humorvoll und leichtfüßig, mit einigen nachdenklichen Momenten. Trotzdem hatte ich beim Lesen auch so meine Irritationen: Im ersten Drittel heißt der Protagonist nämlich gar nicht Tom Ditto. Ich fragte mich ernsthaft, ob es sich um einen Übersetzungsfehler handelt, ob noch ein zweiter Tom auftaucht oder ob das Rätsel um den Namen später noch aufgelöst wird. (Mini-Spoiler: Er wird kurz erwähnt, spielt aber eigentlich überhaupt keine Rolle – fürs Cover aber scheinbar schon.)
Spannend fand ich den Aspekt, dass Menschen nachgeahmt werden, um deren kleine Abenteuer mitzuerleben. Im Buch hat das einen gewissen Reiz, in der Realität wirkt es aber eher gruselig – fast schon wie Stalking. Außerdem störte mich das riesige Fass, das um den Radiosender aufgemacht wurde. Für mich war das eher langatmig und ohne klaren Mehrwert für die Geschichte.
Und trotzdem: Das Grundproblem – Was ist mit Hayley passiert? – hielt mich bei der Stange. Die Suche nach Antworten trägt die Geschichte und macht das Buch trotz seiner Schwächen zu einer charmanten, etwas schrägen Sommerlektüre.
Tom's Sommer startet unspektakulär – bis er eines Tages einen Zettel findet: „Ich habe dich nicht verlassen, aber ich bin weg!“ Zurückgelassen von seiner Freundin stolpert er in eine Reihe merkwürdiger Begegnungen, kurioser Zufälle und ein Geheimnis, das größer ist, als er geahnt hätte.
Die Figuren sind liebenswert verschroben, der Schreibstil humorvoll und leichtfüßig, mit einigen nachdenklichen Momenten. Trotzdem hatte ich beim Lesen auch so meine Irritationen: Im ersten Drittel heißt der Protagonist nämlich gar nicht Tom Ditto. Ich fragte mich ernsthaft, ob es sich um einen Übersetzungsfehler handelt, ob noch ein zweiter Tom auftaucht oder ob das Rätsel um den Namen später noch aufgelöst wird. (Mini-Spoiler: Er wird kurz erwähnt, spielt aber eigentlich überhaupt keine Rolle – fürs Cover aber scheinbar schon.)
Spannend fand ich den Aspekt, dass Menschen nachgeahmt werden, um deren kleine Abenteuer mitzuerleben. Im Buch hat das einen gewissen Reiz, in der Realität wirkt es aber eher gruselig – fast schon wie Stalking. Außerdem störte mich das riesige Fass, das um den Radiosender aufgemacht wurde. Für mich war das eher langatmig und ohne klaren Mehrwert für die Geschichte.
Und trotzdem: Das Grundproblem – Was ist mit Hayley passiert? – hielt mich bei der Stange. Die Suche nach Antworten trägt die Geschichte und macht das Buch trotz seiner Schwächen zu einer charmanten, etwas schrägen Sommerlektüre.
November 30, 2018
Mi è piaciuto? Se si considera che l'ho letto tutto d'un fiato perché non vedevo l'ora di finirlo, sì.
Che la trama però sia valida... Un libro surreale, quasi allucinato in certe parti. Qualche ribaltamento di fronte (la protagonista o meglio non protagonista, perché non si vede per la maggior parte del libro: prima pare malvagia, poi sembra tornare accettabile, poi di nuovo malvagia, poi...), tanta suspence, però in fondo non è che l'idea di base sia poi una grande idea.
Ma in fondo, merita? Sì. E' ben scritto, scorrevole, appassionante dal punto di vista del mistero.
A mio parere, dietro questo tourbillon di inseguimenti il "messaggio", se di "messaggio" si vuol parlare, è una specie di inno al "coinvolgimento". In fondo, cosa vuol dire seguire le persone ed osservare la loro vita, se non un uscire da se stessi, provare interesse per l'altro? Cos'è se non un antidoto alla solitudine? E se forse non fosse l'inseguimento ad essere terapeutico quanto il farlo insieme ad altre persone, sentirsi quindi sostenuti e capiti da qualcuno?
In sostanza, quindi, il giudizio è positivo. Anche se sono tuttora allucinata pure io.
Che la trama però sia valida... Un libro surreale, quasi allucinato in certe parti. Qualche ribaltamento di fronte (la protagonista o meglio non protagonista, perché non si vede per la maggior parte del libro: prima pare malvagia, poi sembra tornare accettabile, poi di nuovo malvagia, poi...), tanta suspence, però in fondo non è che l'idea di base sia poi una grande idea.
Ma in fondo, merita? Sì. E' ben scritto, scorrevole, appassionante dal punto di vista del mistero.
A mio parere, dietro questo tourbillon di inseguimenti il "messaggio", se di "messaggio" si vuol parlare, è una specie di inno al "coinvolgimento". In fondo, cosa vuol dire seguire le persone ed osservare la loro vita, se non un uscire da se stessi, provare interesse per l'altro? Cos'è se non un antidoto alla solitudine? E se forse non fosse l'inseguimento ad essere terapeutico quanto il farlo insieme ad altre persone, sentirsi quindi sostenuti e capiti da qualcuno?
In sostanza, quindi, il giudizio è positivo. Anche se sono tuttora allucinata pure io.
May 10, 2018
There was a lot about this book that I really liked.
The whole concept of the CC Club.
Pia.
More Pia.
But then there were things that I didn't like. In the beginning, I wasn't quite sure what sort of book it was, or was trying to be. It felt very laddish, a boy's version of chicklit, and I wasn't sure I would stick with it, but then it slowly won me over. Mainly because of Pia. Lots of it I found gripping...I loved the following and the copying - it was such an interesting idea, and really well depicted. I loved that aspect of the book because it was all just a little bit nuts! But then the ending, I felt, really let things down. I had to go back and reread a little of what had happened because I assumed it just couldn't be & I must have misread it! Without giving away spoilers, I was unhappy with where it went, and unsure of why it went there.
This is probably a 3.5 for me, and I did enjoy reading it.
This was a book group read.
The whole concept of the CC Club.
Pia.
More Pia.
But then there were things that I didn't like. In the beginning, I wasn't quite sure what sort of book it was, or was trying to be. It felt very laddish, a boy's version of chicklit, and I wasn't sure I would stick with it, but then it slowly won me over. Mainly because of Pia. Lots of it I found gripping...I loved the following and the copying - it was such an interesting idea, and really well depicted. I loved that aspect of the book because it was all just a little bit nuts! But then the ending, I felt, really let things down. I had to go back and reread a little of what had happened because I assumed it just couldn't be & I must have misread it! Without giving away spoilers, I was unhappy with where it went, and unsure of why it went there.
This is probably a 3.5 for me, and I did enjoy reading it.
This was a book group read.
March 17, 2017
This was a very strange tale, unlike anything I've read before. And while I felt it took a while for me to get into it, it seemed to end rather quickly.
Imagine waking up one day to find your other half has gone away, not left you, just gone away. And in their note they tell you to carry on as normal,but how do you do it?
With the help of his new friend, as Tom tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his girlfriend, Hayley, he starts to learns more about himself than he ever knew existed, while at the same time realising he knew virtually nothing about the woman he'd been sharing his life with.
Initially a little confusing with a parallel tale being told in the between chapters, it's a story that encourages to look at your life through the eyes of others. And for me it soon became a well-paced tale that I found hard to put down.
Imagine waking up one day to find your other half has gone away, not left you, just gone away. And in their note they tell you to carry on as normal,but how do you do it?
With the help of his new friend, as Tom tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his girlfriend, Hayley, he starts to learns more about himself than he ever knew existed, while at the same time realising he knew virtually nothing about the woman he'd been sharing his life with.
Initially a little confusing with a parallel tale being told in the between chapters, it's a story that encourages to look at your life through the eyes of others. And for me it soon became a well-paced tale that I found hard to put down.
January 31, 2024
This isn’t my usual kind of book but the blurb was intriguing and Danny Wallace is renowned for his humour so I thought it was worth taking a chance on. As quirky as the story may be I think there is at the heart a musing about living the mundane and the possibility that there are others out there desperately seeking more who may look on people’s lives with envy. I liked Tom and his searching for answers as to why his girlfriend Hayley suddenly upped and left and his discovery of the CC club and Pia took the story to some unexpected places. As a radio presenter with a script that forms the show every day where the daily events just add detail, it for me thinking about if this is how most lives play out. Most books have an unsatisfying ending, but not so, this one. In some ways the way it played out was life-affirming.
November 5, 2017
3,5/5 disons. Un début prometteur d'un point de vue hyène hilare, le résumé et les premières pages annonçaient également de l'intrigant haut niveau, et puis léger changement de direction qui m'a un peu perdue par rapport au genre d'histoires que j'attendais (ie une sorte de comédie délirante avec une pointe de thriller/enquête). En fait c'est ça mais d'un point de vue tout à fait inattendu. L'intrigue et le propos sont en réalité très originaux mais on est finalement plus dans la comédie dramatique, l'introspection, et finalement plus la réflexion que le délire pur. Une histoire un peu comme un clown triste au final. On rit au début et puis on finit par ressentir toute sa tristesse. Une histoire moins légère et drôle que je ne m'y attendais.
April 3, 2018
What an intriguing tale! I wouldn't have expected anything less from DW, a person who has followed many oddball initiatives to their potty conclusions over the years.
A great mystery, kind of a tangential love story: threads twining, meeting, going off in new directions. Yes, funny, but that's not its first purpose. This is about how important it is to be genuine about who you are, whilst remaining open to all possibilities. A book about friendship, empty celebrity culture and annoyingly badly-spelled emails.
The only thing I didn't like was that the last couple of chapters felt slightly rushed as a wrap-up of loose ends (although we didn't find out what happened to Binky!). I liked the way things ended, though.
A great mystery, kind of a tangential love story: threads twining, meeting, going off in new directions. Yes, funny, but that's not its first purpose. This is about how important it is to be genuine about who you are, whilst remaining open to all possibilities. A book about friendship, empty celebrity culture and annoyingly badly-spelled emails.
The only thing I didn't like was that the last couple of chapters felt slightly rushed as a wrap-up of loose ends (although we didn't find out what happened to Binky!). I liked the way things ended, though.
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