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Daisy
MEET DAISY. A PICTURE OF GRACE AND DIGNITY. MEET HEROD. A... DISAPPOINTMENT
Written in his own words, and guided by a man who collects glasses in a local pub, this is the story of Herod 'Rod' Pinkney's search for Daisy Lamprich, a young woman he first sees on a decade-old episode of the Judge Judy Show, and who he now intends to marry.
When Daisy is located in the coastal city of Huntington Beach, California, he travels there with his good friend and next-door neighbour, Donald, a man who once fought in the tunnels of Cu Chi during the Vietnam War and who now spends most of his time in Herod's basement.
Herod is confident that the outcome will be favourable, but there's a problem... Will the course of true love ever run smoothly for this unlikely hero?
A funny and touching story of an improbable and heart-warming quest to find true love, Daisy is perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Written in his own words, and guided by a man who collects glasses in a local pub, this is the story of Herod 'Rod' Pinkney's search for Daisy Lamprich, a young woman he first sees on a decade-old episode of the Judge Judy Show, and who he now intends to marry.
When Daisy is located in the coastal city of Huntington Beach, California, he travels there with his good friend and next-door neighbour, Donald, a man who once fought in the tunnels of Cu Chi during the Vietnam War and who now spends most of his time in Herod's basement.
Herod is confident that the outcome will be favourable, but there's a problem... Will the course of true love ever run smoothly for this unlikely hero?
A funny and touching story of an improbable and heart-warming quest to find true love, Daisy is perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2020
7 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 16, 2020
My review is on my website. www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
I wanted to read this A funny and touching story of Daisy because I loved reading The Rosie Project and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
The first words that keep me wanting to read more. My name is Herod Rod Pinkney and I’m in love with a girl called Daisy. The fun part that came to my attention very early on in the story that Herod Rod Pinkney was trying to write a book. He showed his first chapter to his agent Ric who collects glasses at a pub called the Landdowne. It may seem odd that Ric works in a pub collecting glasses and not in a conventional literary agency, but that wasn’t somethings that concerned Herod. It was in fact it was Ric who suggested that Herod write a book, before the new landlord moved in. When Ric offers Herod Rod Pinkney for a drink he ordered a small drink because he had a book to write and books didn’t write themselves. J P Henderson has written a lovely cast of characters that you all will enjoy reading. The paperback Daisy is bound to be a bestseller with everyone talking about it.
I loved reading all about Herod Rod Pinkney, as it was an escape to the usual crime novels that I read. Daisy now is one of my favourite humorous fiction books.
I recommend reading Daisy by J P Henderson as it is just one one those books that you can’t leave with beingtrapped in reading all what happens in Herod’s venture.
I wanted to read this A funny and touching story of Daisy because I loved reading The Rosie Project and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
The first words that keep me wanting to read more. My name is Herod Rod Pinkney and I’m in love with a girl called Daisy. The fun part that came to my attention very early on in the story that Herod Rod Pinkney was trying to write a book. He showed his first chapter to his agent Ric who collects glasses at a pub called the Landdowne. It may seem odd that Ric works in a pub collecting glasses and not in a conventional literary agency, but that wasn’t somethings that concerned Herod. It was in fact it was Ric who suggested that Herod write a book, before the new landlord moved in. When Ric offers Herod Rod Pinkney for a drink he ordered a small drink because he had a book to write and books didn’t write themselves. J P Henderson has written a lovely cast of characters that you all will enjoy reading. The paperback Daisy is bound to be a bestseller with everyone talking about it.
I loved reading all about Herod Rod Pinkney, as it was an escape to the usual crime novels that I read. Daisy now is one of my favourite humorous fiction books.
I recommend reading Daisy by J P Henderson as it is just one one those books that you can’t leave with beingtrapped in reading all what happens in Herod’s venture.
April 20, 2020
One evening, Herod and his friends are watching judge judy as they always do. Herod falls in love with a girl named Daisy who is on the show and decides to track her down, even though the episode is years old!
Ok I'm not gonna lie, it's taken me a really long time to get to the end of this book. I probably would have given up early on if I hadn't read a book by this author in the past. I really enjoyed the quirky and wacky book 'The Last Of The Bowmans' so when netgalley offered up his latest book I had to request ASAP! I was intrigued by the story but too much description and the writing going off on another topic made it drag a bit for me. For example I'm not religious but there were lots of details about the bible. The chapters were also too long for me. Overall this is another quirky read that I found enjoyable, when I could keep my focus on it! I laughed out loud, loved the characters and it was a great story ☺
Ok I'm not gonna lie, it's taken me a really long time to get to the end of this book. I probably would have given up early on if I hadn't read a book by this author in the past. I really enjoyed the quirky and wacky book 'The Last Of The Bowmans' so when netgalley offered up his latest book I had to request ASAP! I was intrigued by the story but too much description and the writing going off on another topic made it drag a bit for me. For example I'm not religious but there were lots of details about the bible. The chapters were also too long for me. Overall this is another quirky read that I found enjoyable, when I could keep my focus on it! I laughed out loud, loved the characters and it was a great story ☺
April 8, 2020
This was a fun, quirky read which I found extremely funny.
Rod was a fantastic main character who I warmed to instantly. He’s quite an eccentric man which made it hugely enjoyable to follow him on his journey. As you can probably imagine things don’t always go according to plan but I found myself completely on Rod’s side hoping that he wins Daisy over. He makes some very interesting and unexpected friendships on the way which were very amusing at times.
Overall I thought this was a quick, easy read which I managed to sail through in a few days. There are lots of amusing moments which had me laughing out loud, including some darker humour which I wasn’t expecting. If you liked The Unexpected Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry then I think you’ll enjoy this book as I thought the style was similar.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to No Exit Press for my copy of this book.
Rod was a fantastic main character who I warmed to instantly. He’s quite an eccentric man which made it hugely enjoyable to follow him on his journey. As you can probably imagine things don’t always go according to plan but I found myself completely on Rod’s side hoping that he wins Daisy over. He makes some very interesting and unexpected friendships on the way which were very amusing at times.
Overall I thought this was a quick, easy read which I managed to sail through in a few days. There are lots of amusing moments which had me laughing out loud, including some darker humour which I wasn’t expecting. If you liked The Unexpected Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry then I think you’ll enjoy this book as I thought the style was similar.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to No Exit Press for my copy of this book.
May 31, 2020
I loved the chatty writing style of this book as we follow Rod on his journey to find Daisy. We learn about his life in the run up to finding her, starting from early childhood. The beginning of this was brilliant and many a moment had me chuckling away.
I enjoyed the friendships Rod made and his relationships with the friends was heart-warming and lovely to read. We learnt about them in their own chapters too, which was a nice touch.
I did however feel it lost its way a bit in the middle and some of it left me feeling totally confused. I'm glad to report though that the last third was a good as the first third and it ended strongly.
I will be looking out for more from this author.
I enjoyed the friendships Rod made and his relationships with the friends was heart-warming and lovely to read. We learnt about them in their own chapters too, which was a nice touch.
I did however feel it lost its way a bit in the middle and some of it left me feeling totally confused. I'm glad to report though that the last third was a good as the first third and it ended strongly.
I will be looking out for more from this author.
April 8, 2020
Unfortunately this was a really hard slog that never really seemed to get going. Interesting, well written characters but a plot that dragged by and was really hard to hold any interest because it was so unclear if anything was ever going to happen
April 22, 2020
Daisy' will be available from No Exit Press in paperback from September 2020, and ebook from April 23rd.Huge thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things for the blogtour invite and the publishers for my gifted review copy.
It takes a writer with confidence to name a book after a woman who doesn't appear until approximately half way through it, and the tightly plotted, eccentrically populated 'Daisy' shows an author with oodles of skill in this department.
Rod's start in life, and his very genesis in fact, is seeded in disappointment as he is very obviously, not his constantly vaunted-and departed-older brother.
Labelled with a moniker which means more to those who hear it than he who wears it, the dice are stacked against the almost oblivious Rod, who takes what would have floored a lesser person, in minutes.
However, the tragedies and circumstances which befall him, mostly through no fault of his own -he feels like a passive observer of his own life in places-create a situation where he can populate his life with people that he actually wants to spend his time with. These inlcude Ric, the bartender at The Landsdowne pub (Rod's agent) to whom he shows the parts of his book as he writes them. Ric acts as our conduit into the tale, dictating how and when the reader should meet Daisy, the journey up to that point as well as providing literary criticism without ever showing the evidence to back up his place as 'agent'.
The use of the masculine narrative really intrigued me-the expectations of fathers upon their sons, the weight of what they have to live up to and the constant feeling of disappointment in those who place such a burden is vividly explored. From the parents who waste no time in parcelling him off to boarding school, sending him to live with relatives-without even telling them he was coming-girlfriends and acquaintences at work all see this man who happily goes with the flow. He doesn't even use his actual name working in his father's business, he goes under a pseudonym! Because his own father does not want anyone to know they are related!
He fulfills none of the expectations people place upon him but somehow, unwittingly makes a success of his life by the sheer connections he makes once he become his own man.
Such a charcter would seem frustraing for the reader, constantly facing situations without a murmur until he sees Daisy on Judge Judy and , feeling she has been wrongly short changed, sets out to find her, declare his love and give her her just fiscal reward he feels was denied her.
It's dryly humorous and reminded me, as I was reading, of the way David Nobbs' 'The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin' makes the reader connect with the central protagonist. You laugh at things which really shouldn't be funny, find youself connected to a character that in the real world you would get frustrated with and want to shake out of his apparent apathy.
I really enjoyed reading it, and must say, huge apologies for the delayed review-a cumulative effect of bereavement and work in this 'new normal' we exist within has left me struggling to read, focus and concentrate. So I very much appreciate the publishers and blog tour organiser Anne's patience, and again, apologies to the author.
It takes a writer with confidence to name a book after a woman who doesn't appear until approximately half way through it, and the tightly plotted, eccentrically populated 'Daisy' shows an author with oodles of skill in this department.
Rod's start in life, and his very genesis in fact, is seeded in disappointment as he is very obviously, not his constantly vaunted-and departed-older brother.
Labelled with a moniker which means more to those who hear it than he who wears it, the dice are stacked against the almost oblivious Rod, who takes what would have floored a lesser person, in minutes.
However, the tragedies and circumstances which befall him, mostly through no fault of his own -he feels like a passive observer of his own life in places-create a situation where he can populate his life with people that he actually wants to spend his time with. These inlcude Ric, the bartender at The Landsdowne pub (Rod's agent) to whom he shows the parts of his book as he writes them. Ric acts as our conduit into the tale, dictating how and when the reader should meet Daisy, the journey up to that point as well as providing literary criticism without ever showing the evidence to back up his place as 'agent'.
The use of the masculine narrative really intrigued me-the expectations of fathers upon their sons, the weight of what they have to live up to and the constant feeling of disappointment in those who place such a burden is vividly explored. From the parents who waste no time in parcelling him off to boarding school, sending him to live with relatives-without even telling them he was coming-girlfriends and acquaintences at work all see this man who happily goes with the flow. He doesn't even use his actual name working in his father's business, he goes under a pseudonym! Because his own father does not want anyone to know they are related!
He fulfills none of the expectations people place upon him but somehow, unwittingly makes a success of his life by the sheer connections he makes once he become his own man.
Such a charcter would seem frustraing for the reader, constantly facing situations without a murmur until he sees Daisy on Judge Judy and , feeling she has been wrongly short changed, sets out to find her, declare his love and give her her just fiscal reward he feels was denied her.
It's dryly humorous and reminded me, as I was reading, of the way David Nobbs' 'The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin' makes the reader connect with the central protagonist. You laugh at things which really shouldn't be funny, find youself connected to a character that in the real world you would get frustrated with and want to shake out of his apparent apathy.
I really enjoyed reading it, and must say, huge apologies for the delayed review-a cumulative effect of bereavement and work in this 'new normal' we exist within has left me struggling to read, focus and concentrate. So I very much appreciate the publishers and blog tour organiser Anne's patience, and again, apologies to the author.
April 13, 2020
Do you ever come across those books that you just instantly click with.
You read the synopsis - click.
You look at the cover - click.
You begin reading - click, click, click.
Well this is how is was for me and Daisy. I was absolutely smitten right from the very first page. Herod S Pinkey is the most extraordinary character I have read since I was introduced to Ove in A Man Called Ove and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project. Like them Herod (or Rod as he prefers to have been called), has firmly taken up residence in my heart alongside those two equally unforgettable characters.
This is an absolutely charming read charting the life and loves of the most unlikely hero I think I have ever come across.
Rod is naturally lazy (and proud of it - why walk everywhere and wear out a perefctly good set of legs?), kind, thoughtful and completely fascinating as he ambles through life in search of the things that bring him joy.
He accepted early on that he was ultimately a massive disappointment to his parents and simply wasn't cut out for a career in the family firm. So, quite refreshingly, he chooses his own path in life. And what a fascinating path he follows!
His natural, understated charm and detemination to live his life on his terms brings about some wonderful encounters and friendships. Rod is content with his lot in life, until one day he watches an episode of Judy Judy that will change his life forever. The episode, recorded 13 years ago, features a young lady called Daisy. This young lady, Rod decides, is the girl he is going to marry. But first he has to find her...
Featuring a glorious cast of characters, this quirky, funny and gloriously written novel is one of my absolute favourites of 2020 and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It is published on April 23rd 2020 and well worth pre-ordering.
You read the synopsis - click.
You look at the cover - click.
You begin reading - click, click, click.
Well this is how is was for me and Daisy. I was absolutely smitten right from the very first page. Herod S Pinkey is the most extraordinary character I have read since I was introduced to Ove in A Man Called Ove and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project. Like them Herod (or Rod as he prefers to have been called), has firmly taken up residence in my heart alongside those two equally unforgettable characters.
This is an absolutely charming read charting the life and loves of the most unlikely hero I think I have ever come across.
Rod is naturally lazy (and proud of it - why walk everywhere and wear out a perefctly good set of legs?), kind, thoughtful and completely fascinating as he ambles through life in search of the things that bring him joy.
He accepted early on that he was ultimately a massive disappointment to his parents and simply wasn't cut out for a career in the family firm. So, quite refreshingly, he chooses his own path in life. And what a fascinating path he follows!
His natural, understated charm and detemination to live his life on his terms brings about some wonderful encounters and friendships. Rod is content with his lot in life, until one day he watches an episode of Judy Judy that will change his life forever. The episode, recorded 13 years ago, features a young lady called Daisy. This young lady, Rod decides, is the girl he is going to marry. But first he has to find her...
Featuring a glorious cast of characters, this quirky, funny and gloriously written novel is one of my absolute favourites of 2020 and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It is published on April 23rd 2020 and well worth pre-ordering.
April 9, 2020
Herod ‘Rod’ Pinkney is writing a book about his quest for love.
Daisy is a lovely book. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself into Rod’s world, not least because the first person narrative has such a distinct voice that I felt as if I knew Rod personally. I knew Daisy was going to appeal to me from the very beginning as I had laughed aloud several times at Rod’s comments within a very few pages of the book and that rarely happens when I read. He has a human persona that feels very real.
There’s a smashing plot here because J P Henderson balances major events alongside the minutiae of Rod’s ordinary life with a dry witticism and perfect eye for detail so that I could picture the people, places and events describe with crystal clear vision. I found myself reading with a smile on my face throughout and it obviously impacted on me as I had a dream about guinea pigs, but you’ll have to read the book to see how that experience was prompted! The senses are so well catered for in this vivid writing, especially through food which features frequently.
Although Daisy is light entertainment at its best, that’s not to say that there aren’t some more sombre issues hidden in this hugely entertaining story. Rod’s attempt to find God, his relationships with his parents, Donald’s marriage and war history, Edmundo’s shady past, attitudes towards others in society concerning gender, race, appearance and so on all weave through the pages making for considerable interest as well as light relief.
I feel J P Henderson has created a microcosm of the world in Rod’s life so that Daisy can be read on many different levels. The book can be enjoyed as a simple amusement, but it can also be considered at greater depth so that it is thought provoking too. However you might like to read Daisy, I can really recommend that you do as it’s a smashing book.
Daisy is a lovely book. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself into Rod’s world, not least because the first person narrative has such a distinct voice that I felt as if I knew Rod personally. I knew Daisy was going to appeal to me from the very beginning as I had laughed aloud several times at Rod’s comments within a very few pages of the book and that rarely happens when I read. He has a human persona that feels very real.
There’s a smashing plot here because J P Henderson balances major events alongside the minutiae of Rod’s ordinary life with a dry witticism and perfect eye for detail so that I could picture the people, places and events describe with crystal clear vision. I found myself reading with a smile on my face throughout and it obviously impacted on me as I had a dream about guinea pigs, but you’ll have to read the book to see how that experience was prompted! The senses are so well catered for in this vivid writing, especially through food which features frequently.
Although Daisy is light entertainment at its best, that’s not to say that there aren’t some more sombre issues hidden in this hugely entertaining story. Rod’s attempt to find God, his relationships with his parents, Donald’s marriage and war history, Edmundo’s shady past, attitudes towards others in society concerning gender, race, appearance and so on all weave through the pages making for considerable interest as well as light relief.
I feel J P Henderson has created a microcosm of the world in Rod’s life so that Daisy can be read on many different levels. The book can be enjoyed as a simple amusement, but it can also be considered at greater depth so that it is thought provoking too. However you might like to read Daisy, I can really recommend that you do as it’s a smashing book.
April 5, 2020
A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader therefore am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
April 12, 2020
I have been gifted a arc copy to review from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty I mostly enjoyed this nook to start with. It was an interesting read that had me bubbling along with it. The end left me feeling a bit lost and it felt a bit rushed and not really a plot twist as such. I liked the other characters more than I liked him.
In all honesty I mostly enjoyed this nook to start with. It was an interesting read that had me bubbling along with it. The end left me feeling a bit lost and it felt a bit rushed and not really a plot twist as such. I liked the other characters more than I liked him.
May 2, 2020
I received this copy of Daisy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this quirky book, it had me laughing throughout. I felt it got a little slow in the middle but I am so pleased I stuck with it..... The twist at the end..... Awesome!
Definitely one for fans of the Rosie project and Eleanor oliphant, I definately recommend this book!
I absolutely loved this quirky book, it had me laughing throughout. I felt it got a little slow in the middle but I am so pleased I stuck with it..... The twist at the end..... Awesome!
Definitely one for fans of the Rosie project and Eleanor oliphant, I definately recommend this book!
April 11, 2020
Read & reviewed for The Bookbag: http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...
April 1, 2020
This is the story of Herod, his life and the moments up to when he meets Daisy. Herod, or Rod as he prefers to be called hasn't had the most loving of childhoods but he is now a very wealthy man who doesn't need to work and so the plot is allowed to go anywhere it wants without the restraints of the normal, everyday affairs.
This book was fun, quick and easy to read, it reminded me of The Hundred Year Old Man combined with The Rosie Project, it had me laughing out loud. Rod, the main character was a jovial, eccentric character who I warmed to immediately and the supporting characters where well developed and added an extra touch to the story. I really enjoyed the little twist at the end that I didn't see coming!
This book was fun, quick and easy to read, it reminded me of The Hundred Year Old Man combined with The Rosie Project, it had me laughing out loud. Rod, the main character was a jovial, eccentric character who I warmed to immediately and the supporting characters where well developed and added an extra touch to the story. I really enjoyed the little twist at the end that I didn't see coming!
April 23, 2020
Written in his own words, and guided by a man who collects glasses in a local pub, this is the story of Herod ‘Rod’ Pinkney’s search for Daisy Lamprich, a young woman he first sees on a decade-old episode of the Judge Judy Show, and who he now intends to marry.
When Daisy is located in the coastal city of Huntington Beach, California, he travels there with his good friend and next-door neighbour, Donald, a man who once fought in the tunnels of Cu Chi during the Vietnam War and who now spends most of his time in Herod’s basement. Herod is confident that the outcome will be favourable, but there’s a problem...
This hilarious book is J P Henderson’s fourth. Although Daisy has a strong story line, as summarised above, this is a journey where to travel joyfully is almost better than to arrive – but not quite. Henderson’s picaresque narrative style reminds me of The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, and I’m sure it would make an equally entertaining film. However, Allan Karlsson is a canny old codger. Herod S. Pinkney is more of an innocent abroad, but none the worse for that.
Because the humour of Daisy is refreshingly quirky, and because it’s fiendishly difficult to write about without dropping one reveal after another, in this review I’m going to share a selection of my favourite laugh-out-loud quotations. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
HEROD S PINKNEY IN HIS OWN WORDS
Of his inherited wealth:
‘I couldn’t get used to being rich….I didn’t know how a man with money was supposed to behave.’
On his flirtation with religion:
‘I wished that Enid Blyton had written the Bible, because if she had, it would have been a lot easier to read and I’d probably have understood the adventures better.’
About his Peruvian friend:
‘He spoke English falteringly, as if the words he sought were coated in grease and forever slipping from his grasp.’
His description of a girlfriend:
‘Her complexion was the purest white, as though she was sickening for something and had just thrown up in a bucket.’
What he has to say about his new basement:
‘It is ironic, do you not think, that in a city synonymous with capitalism, upward mobility is now achieved by going downwards?’
Describing the builder who dug the basement:
‘….a man in his mid-fifties whose clothes were old friends rather than fashion statements.’
Commenting on his neighbour’s cold-blooded wife:
‘When you’re in love with a person, you don’t necessarily think to ask about hot-water bottles.’
Herod’s riposte to the parent of an over-talkative teenager:
‘I don’t want to worry you, but I think your son might be a plagiarist.’
Of American culture:
‘I think cats are probably less of a fashion statement in California, and it would be difficult tying one to a leash. I saw one woman with a dog in her handbag, and I can’t see a cat standing for that.’
Lastly, my personal favourite, for name-related reasons:
‘I’d invited an old friend who was between husbands. Her name was Lorna Doom – if you can believe this – and she carried visiting cards in her purse that she handed to people whenever they got her name wrong: “My name is Lorna Doom and not Lorna Doone.” ’
What do I like about this book? ‘Daisy’ made me laugh out loud all the way through. You don’t get many belly laughs to the pound, certainly not during a pandemic.
What would I change? I found it disconcerting when, at intervals, sweet, adorable Herod lapsed into grumpiness. Other readers may think these sections are among the funniest.
When Daisy is located in the coastal city of Huntington Beach, California, he travels there with his good friend and next-door neighbour, Donald, a man who once fought in the tunnels of Cu Chi during the Vietnam War and who now spends most of his time in Herod’s basement. Herod is confident that the outcome will be favourable, but there’s a problem...
This hilarious book is J P Henderson’s fourth. Although Daisy has a strong story line, as summarised above, this is a journey where to travel joyfully is almost better than to arrive – but not quite. Henderson’s picaresque narrative style reminds me of The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, and I’m sure it would make an equally entertaining film. However, Allan Karlsson is a canny old codger. Herod S. Pinkney is more of an innocent abroad, but none the worse for that.
Because the humour of Daisy is refreshingly quirky, and because it’s fiendishly difficult to write about without dropping one reveal after another, in this review I’m going to share a selection of my favourite laugh-out-loud quotations. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
HEROD S PINKNEY IN HIS OWN WORDS
Of his inherited wealth:
‘I couldn’t get used to being rich….I didn’t know how a man with money was supposed to behave.’
On his flirtation with religion:
‘I wished that Enid Blyton had written the Bible, because if she had, it would have been a lot easier to read and I’d probably have understood the adventures better.’
About his Peruvian friend:
‘He spoke English falteringly, as if the words he sought were coated in grease and forever slipping from his grasp.’
His description of a girlfriend:
‘Her complexion was the purest white, as though she was sickening for something and had just thrown up in a bucket.’
What he has to say about his new basement:
‘It is ironic, do you not think, that in a city synonymous with capitalism, upward mobility is now achieved by going downwards?’
Describing the builder who dug the basement:
‘….a man in his mid-fifties whose clothes were old friends rather than fashion statements.’
Commenting on his neighbour’s cold-blooded wife:
‘When you’re in love with a person, you don’t necessarily think to ask about hot-water bottles.’
Herod’s riposte to the parent of an over-talkative teenager:
‘I don’t want to worry you, but I think your son might be a plagiarist.’
Of American culture:
‘I think cats are probably less of a fashion statement in California, and it would be difficult tying one to a leash. I saw one woman with a dog in her handbag, and I can’t see a cat standing for that.’
Lastly, my personal favourite, for name-related reasons:
‘I’d invited an old friend who was between husbands. Her name was Lorna Doom – if you can believe this – and she carried visiting cards in her purse that she handed to people whenever they got her name wrong: “My name is Lorna Doom and not Lorna Doone.” ’
What do I like about this book? ‘Daisy’ made me laugh out loud all the way through. You don’t get many belly laughs to the pound, certainly not during a pandemic.
What would I change? I found it disconcerting when, at intervals, sweet, adorable Herod lapsed into grumpiness. Other readers may think these sections are among the funniest.
May 30, 2023
Meet Herod (but please call him Rod - he’s not enamoured about being named after a child slaughtering king) Pinkney, an eccentric man who resides in Battersea, London. When spending one Thursday evening in his usual routine of drinking wine and watching TV with his friends, Edmundo & Donald (who each have their own eccentric life stories), Rod finds himself falling in love with one of the plaintiffs on a decade old re-run of the Judge Judy show, Daisy. We follow Rod as he embarks on a journey to America in pursuit of Daisy as he is sure she will also fall in love with him and want to return to London as his wife. But not everything is as it seems…
I absolutely loved this book! It had me engaged from the very beginning and I was seriously lolling at times - some of my favourite moments being Rod’s rant about Made in Chelsea and Ric’s tirade about readers being conformists and just reading what others (namely Richard & Judy, lol!) recommend.
I found myself rooting for Rod throughout and really wanted him to experience a happy ending with Daisy! I also loved the side characters: Edmundo, Donald, Nelly but especially Lorna… she was 𝐟𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬!
I definitely did not see the end twist coming. I found it really surprising and hilarious!
I would love to experience more from J P Henderson!
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
I absolutely loved this book! It had me engaged from the very beginning and I was seriously lolling at times - some of my favourite moments being Rod’s rant about Made in Chelsea and Ric’s tirade about readers being conformists and just reading what others (namely Richard & Judy, lol!) recommend.
I found myself rooting for Rod throughout and really wanted him to experience a happy ending with Daisy! I also loved the side characters: Edmundo, Donald, Nelly but especially Lorna… she was 𝐟𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬!
I definitely did not see the end twist coming. I found it really surprising and hilarious!
I would love to experience more from J P Henderson!
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
May 4, 2020
I should have known really. When the main character of the book is called Herod, names after the infamous purveyor of infanticide, it is clear that this was is going to be a bit unusual. The story of this unusual man of means and his quest to win the affections of the losing litigant he saw on an random episode of the cable classic “Judge Judy”, was distinctly odd but totally absorbing.
Collecting waifs and strays along the way, Rod is a man who knows what he wants and despite having a less than halcyon childhood (Dad loved the original Herod’s Go Get ‘em business acumen ) , he has a childlike innocence that allows him to make friends across all social strata and to create bonds between them until Rod has assembled a faux family that would be the envy of many!
This merry band sends Rod in search of the lady of the courtroom .
The style of the storytelling here is quaintly endearing and despite a gentle meander along, that inches towards a truly fabulous ending, it never falters. Henderson has crafted a hero that makes being just a tad eccentric whilst trying to be ordinary exceedingly good fun!
Hard to describe without revealing choice nuggets of joy, but trust me, it’s brilliant!.
Collecting waifs and strays along the way, Rod is a man who knows what he wants and despite having a less than halcyon childhood (Dad loved the original Herod’s Go Get ‘em business acumen ) , he has a childlike innocence that allows him to make friends across all social strata and to create bonds between them until Rod has assembled a faux family that would be the envy of many!
This merry band sends Rod in search of the lady of the courtroom .
The style of the storytelling here is quaintly endearing and despite a gentle meander along, that inches towards a truly fabulous ending, it never falters. Henderson has crafted a hero that makes being just a tad eccentric whilst trying to be ordinary exceedingly good fun!
Hard to describe without revealing choice nuggets of joy, but trust me, it’s brilliant!.
April 21, 2020
If you like character-driven literary humour, with personable characters and a quirky, lighthearted yet sometimes poignant and satirical plot Daisy will please you. Herod or Rod is an enigma. After being a disappointment to those who should care for him, he is now happy with his life and content to just live. His two friends are equally quirky. Setting out on a quest for true love is out of Herod’s comfort zone. Seeing Daisy on TV changes everything for him and his story is funny, romantic and a little sad.
This story has many tangents, not all of them relevant to the quest, but all pertinent to Herod. This story has an immersive quality, told from Herod’s point of view. Something different, engaging and humorous, with a character who resonates.
I received a copy of this book from no exit press in return for an honest review.
This story has many tangents, not all of them relevant to the quest, but all pertinent to Herod. This story has an immersive quality, told from Herod’s point of view. Something different, engaging and humorous, with a character who resonates.
I received a copy of this book from no exit press in return for an honest review.
Want to read
March 24, 20213,5 stars
Rod (Herod) Pinkney is living a comfortable life, after inheriting a huge fortune from his late family. his late family was cold and often dismissed him as a failure. but being his lovely self he managed to always be surrounded by loyal and encouraging friends.
One day while watching a program on TV, he spotted the love of his life. Daisy. He is instantly bewitched and decides that his new mission in life is to find her and pay her the money she never won on the show.
The plot was alluring and I enjoyed the first part of the book, but the narrative went slow in the middle and I couldn't focus after that. To be fair the story had its funny moments and I couldn't help but sheer for Herod. The ending was interesting.
many thanks to Netgalley and Olddcastle books for my e-Arc
Rod (Herod) Pinkney is living a comfortable life, after inheriting a huge fortune from his late family. his late family was cold and often dismissed him as a failure. but being his lovely self he managed to always be surrounded by loyal and encouraging friends.
One day while watching a program on TV, he spotted the love of his life. Daisy. He is instantly bewitched and decides that his new mission in life is to find her and pay her the money she never won on the show.
The plot was alluring and I enjoyed the first part of the book, but the narrative went slow in the middle and I couldn't focus after that. To be fair the story had its funny moments and I couldn't help but sheer for Herod. The ending was interesting.
many thanks to Netgalley and Olddcastle books for my e-Arc
December 14, 2021
A nice bit of escapism.
We follow Herod (Rod) a socially awkward man who since inheriting his family wealth spends his time renovating the family home, trying to befriend his eclectic group of neighbours and writing. After watching an old episode of Judge Judy he focuses on spending his time looking for Daisy, a lady from the show.
This is a fun easy read even though Herod does seem to be a bit of a stalker in trying to find Daisy ! but his intentions are good.
If you liked The Rosie Project, and Eleanor Oliphant then this book may be for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for a honest review.
We follow Herod (Rod) a socially awkward man who since inheriting his family wealth spends his time renovating the family home, trying to befriend his eclectic group of neighbours and writing. After watching an old episode of Judge Judy he focuses on spending his time looking for Daisy, a lady from the show.
This is a fun easy read even though Herod does seem to be a bit of a stalker in trying to find Daisy ! but his intentions are good.
If you liked The Rosie Project, and Eleanor Oliphant then this book may be for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for a honest review.
April 23, 2020
This is a really lovely story of unlikely love. It was really funny I laughed out loud many times which I really love about a book. I loved the main protagonist Herod, he was as lovable as Ove and as Eleanor, each of them in their own ways. Although this is an easy read there are some serious sections in the book also which provide very worthwhile food for thought. Love from Judge Judy, I think this could only ever have been a book of laughter. Well done J P Henderson. I really enjoyed this book.
April 14, 2023
Not the normal type of book I read so I don’t know if that’s the reason why I’ve rated it so low. The book seemed to take so long to get to any mention of Daisy and it was dragged out by far too much background detail. I struggled to keep reading so ended up skipping paragraphs/chapters to get to the storyline of Daisy and then I didn’t even finish it fully. Not my usual type of book but still one I would definitely not recommend as a romance novel which is how it was pitched to me.
February 19, 2024
A quirky book with some great characters... and I should have loved it, but it stops just short of the 5 stars because for some reason it felt really long. And when you don’t just power through a book and feel a bit gutted when it’s ended, something is wrong.
On the plus side, it was quirky, clever and funny and you could never guess what would happen next. There was one moment that really shocked me. In a great way. Well played!
On the plus side, it was quirky, clever and funny and you could never guess what would happen next. There was one moment that really shocked me. In a great way. Well played!
March 6, 2020
3.5 stars
I think this is going to be a real crowd pleaser of a book.
Rod is a likeable/loveable eccentric of a character,independently wealthy,so we are not tied down by boring stuff like jobs.
He's surrounded by a cast of colourful characters,and we get to hear some back stories.
Then we have a quirky story.
It's all just good fun.
I think this is going to be a real crowd pleaser of a book.
Rod is a likeable/loveable eccentric of a character,independently wealthy,so we are not tied down by boring stuff like jobs.
He's surrounded by a cast of colourful characters,and we get to hear some back stories.
Then we have a quirky story.
It's all just good fun.
April 23, 2020
A great novel, that will make you think and make you chuckle out loud which I think we all need, the story follows Herod looking for love with a lady he’s never met but seen on the telly so with his friend they go off to find her, it’s definitely a book that will stay with you long after you have finished.
July 24, 2020
Definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time, and the first in some years that I've considered actually buying a physical copy of.
It flows at the exact same pace the whole way through, all the main characters having interesting back stories, and it has lots of fabulous outings for a change of scenery. It's a very calming book to read in these days!
It flows at the exact same pace the whole way through, all the main characters having interesting back stories, and it has lots of fabulous outings for a change of scenery. It's a very calming book to read in these days!
April 6, 2024
Dieses Buch wird eines meiner Lieblingsbücher! Ich habe es grad ausgelesen und könnte grad wieder von vorne anfangen. Es ist gleichzeitig so lustig und melancholisch, dass es die Seele tief berührt. Das Ende ist ebenso überraschend wie genial. Ich kann es nur empfehlen. Wer Letzter Bus nach Coffeeville mochte, wird es lieben!
April 24, 2020
Herod S Pinkney is quite the character! He's a poor wee soul trying to make a decent fist of things, unwittingly hilarious and hugely endearing. I rather loved him. The book is completely bonkers, life-affirming and uplifting. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 28, 2020
I’m not sure how to describe this book, other than odd but not in a way I find riveting. If not for the narrator I would have given up. Not terrible at all and had a very interesting twist at the end, not expected but it’s not for me. The first half is better than the latter.
February 15, 2025
Easy read but struggled to like the main character. Definitely a nice book for some. Struggled to connect to the characters and found the plot to be so-so. If I wasn't so stubborn, I probably would have DNF'ed.
June 12, 2020
The main character is great but i just really struggled to concentrate as there was so much unnecessary writing.
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