My Name Isn't Joe

by James Thomas

Modern loneliness and the absence of intimacy amongst London's millions are the ills suffered by the quirky yet deeply melancholic 30-something, Joseph Bogart. 

 

Weighed down with emotional baggage and feeling lost amidst a mass of failed relationships, Joseph uses his sharp wit and tragicomedy to fight the hopelessness gnawing at him. 

 

Through his trials, we discover if Joseph is able to find a successful way out of his life of 'quiet desperation'.

Genres: Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

Across his career he has written short films and a feature length screenplays for several independent directors, producers and independent production companies, as well as working in Los Angeles as a script editor. He has been writing professionally since he was a teenager, and has written film reviews for several newspapers, Internet magazines and for Sky Movies 24. Pre-pandemic, James ran creative writing course for teenagers in East London.

James’ debut novel My Name Isn't Joe, is a subtle work of literary fiction, which tells the story of a young man full of personal demons, self-deprecation and a wicked sense of humour. This story of hope, betrayal, grief and love is told through Joseph’s sharp wit and darkly sensitive insight, as he looks behind the masks people put on everyday and questions why we choose to continue when so many of us ‘lead lives of silent desperation’.

James studied Writing & Directing for Film and Theatre at City University, City & Islington College, Shoreditch College and has completed several writing courses with Raindance and attended writing seminars run by William Goldman, Robert McKee and Aaron Sorkin.

A trained trainer and public speaker who has been interviewed by the BBC, and on Sky TV in regards to his writing, James' varied job roles and life experience have helped shape his writing - he has been everything from a Corporate Business Manager to a KFC Cashier, he has travelled extensively across six continents (however, Antarctica still alludes him – or vice versa) and has endured tragic losses and enjoyed terrific wins. James' love of film and books is only surpassed by his passion for writing, and his desire to touch others through this art form.

Coming out soon: The Other Side of Love – a collection of short stories and poems on the unspoken aspects of life’s most potent emotion.

Reviews

[Andy Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful coming-of-age novel is heartbreaking, funny, devastating and hopeful, all in equal measure. Few books I have read have come closer to describing the pain and torture that come with loss, and the effort required to overcome it. But it does so with pathos and humour and without the slightest hint of gooey sentiment. A genuinely brilliant debut.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our protagonist Joseph Bogart is a man in his thirties, living alone in a rented flat in London. His daily routine revolves around work and home. With a history of unsuccessful romantic relationships in the past, he limits his social interactions to the bare minimum even with his office colleagues and though he yearns for company, Joseph hesitates to fully engage with others spending most of his free time watching reality television. When he meets ten-year-old Aaron, the son of his new neighbor, their unlikely friendship and Aaron’s innocent inquisitiveness motivate Joe to not only open up but also look inward and confront issues that have burdened him for years. As the narrative progresses we get to know more about Joseph, his family and relationships and the events from his past that have cast a long shadow on his present, holding him back from experiencing all that life has to offer. As Joseph navigates through his past trauma and personal losses, his friendship with Aaron, who is often left in Joseph’s care by his negligent mother, proves to be a catalyst that inspires Joseph to take stock of and make an effort to exact change in his outlook toward life.

Narrated in the first person,My Name Isn’t Joe by James Thomas is an emotional journey that touches upon themes of mental health, loneliness, grief and healing. The author paints a vivid picture of what is like to struggle with loneliness and depression and how important it is to be kind to oneself and one another in such situations. Needless to say, there are moments of intense grief and sadness in this story but there are also heartwarming moments where the author injects a good dose of wit, humor and wisdom. This is a slow and quiet read and though I took a while to adjust to the pace, I soon became engrossed in Joseph’s story. The prose is beautiful and the narrative flows seamlessly. I like how the author ends this on a hopeful note instead of tying everything together in a neat bow, which would have been unrealistic. Sad but hopeful, heartwarming and relatable, this is a book that made me shed more than a few tears but also made me smile. I would recommend reading this one slowly to fully appreciate the character and his journey. This is the kind of book that inspires pause and reflection. James Thomas writes beautifully and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this quiet, thoughtful debut, author James Thomas introduces us to Joseph Bogart, a thirty-something man living in the throes of loneliness and past trauma, while still somehow maintaining a mostly pleasant, calm and occasionally even funny demeanor. He flies under everyone’s radar, not completely ignored, but also known so little that his workmates call him Joe instead of Joseph, even though he hates it. While others pursue life, Joseph approaches it more passively, which may be why true love has still eluded him.

Things start to change for him one day when he meets Aaron, the 10-year-old son of a new neighbor. Aaron’s mother struggles to provide him the most basic of his needs, spending more time manipulating the grown men around her. When she starts increasingly leaving him with Joseph, taking advantage of his kindness and passivity, he and the boy develop a sweet friendship, with Joseph becoming essentially a de facto father figure to him. Some of my favorite moments of the book are the experiences and conversations these two share, which truly ran the range of emotion.

It’s a touching story which hits on those feelings of vulnerability and loneliness that everyone can experience at times. It’s relatable, it’s heartbreaking at times, but it also has genuine moments of warmth and humor to balance the heaviness.

It’s a well-written and lovely debut which serves its purpose of illustrating both the light and darkness of those struggling with depression and trauma. My only difficulty with the book is that the story pre-Aaron felt almost too quiet and slice-of-life, but once Aaron entered the story, I felt far more invested in the emotional dynamic between the two and also enjoyed seeing Joseph work through his own past.

Those with an interest in mental health issues, depression and family trauma may particularly find this a warm and worthy read, but those who just enjoy a good character-driven novel will likely appreciate it as well!

★★★★

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - slumping again.. :( · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose."-Guillermo Maldonado

Joseph Bogart has been shuffling through his life of "quiet desperation", besieged by this very sort of loneliness. While in many ways he prefers a solitary life and rejoices in his routines, past heartbreak and loss has left him closed off to many a new relationship. He ambles from day to day in his work life, spending time with his colleagues but never fully letting anyone in: they don't even know he prefers 'Joseph' over 'Joe.' He survives on reminiscing about the past loves he's had, but aches for something lasting, and something different...perhaps someone who can FULLY appreciate his little ticks and quirks.

Enter Joseph's inquisitive and plucky young neighbor, Aaron. At 10 years old, he in many ways has learned to raise himself, as his mother flits in and out of their lives and their apartment, leaving Joseph to fill in as a father of sorts. The two bond over video games and spontaneous outings, but Aaron also isn't afraid to quiz Joseph on his past, attempting to break down the walls he has painstakingly built over the past few years. When an embarrassing moment pushes Joseph a little TOO far outside his comfort zone and an unexpected tragedy follows in quick succession, is the new life Joseph has slowly been crafting destined to come crashing down? Will he finally succumb to a true life of quiet desperation...and is his painful, emotional past destined to keep him there?

This is novelist James Thomas' debut, but WOW! The characterization in this novel, particularly in terms of Joseph and his inner world, is spot-on. This book is written in the style of Joseph's personal journal, so it is even easier for the reader to feel as though they're truly getting his innermost and unfiltered thoughts at all times. My only quibble with the format is that at times it was difficult to keep track of how much time had passed between diary entries since there are no actual chapters, but once I was deeply entrenched in the narrative, I didn't notice this much.

Joseph is most definitely an introvert, and an introspective one at that, but his particular brand of humor is just offbeat enough to keep the book from getting too dark and heavy (particularly towards the end, where Joseph unpacks some MAJOR trauma). Everything from Joseph's appreciation for Starbucks to his respect for the wildly underrated Grease 2 (I must admit, one of my personal favorite moments! 👏) kept him grounded as a person. What Joseph discovers is that he is more than his depression: while mental illness sometimes acts like a spotlight for our deepest fears and darkest thoughts, we are ALL so much more than our thoughts or even our feelings, and it is this journey of self-discovery that resonated with me long after I turned the final pages of this novel.

Thoughtful, emotional, funny, sad, and tender: this book did everything author James Thomas set out to do. And in writing, it is clear that much like Joseph, he has truly found his purpose too.

4 stars

Many thanks to author James Thomas for a gifted copy of this book to read and review!

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A good book that will offer plenty to the right reader. But to me, this was a mixed experience, partly due to the writing style and partly due to my reading preferences. This is an outlier opinion.

Story Synopsis:

The eponymous Joe (whose "name isn't Joe") is a loner in his early thirties, staying in a small rental apartment in London. With many failed relationships behind him and stuck in a dead-end job where he is almost invisible, Joe is existing more than living. Things take a turn when a new neighbour moves in next door. Her ten-year-old son Aaron provides Joe with a fresh zest for life, though the going isn’t always smooth.
The story comes to us in Joe’s first person perspective.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Aaron. He enters the plot only around the 20% mark but he immediately lifts the book with his presence and his attitude. To me, the best part of the book was this young fellow who was stronger and wiser beyond his years.

😍 The book highlights well the issues of being a loner in a crowded city. Joe’s feelings of depression and helplessness and his tactic of combating them with a self-deprecating wit feels true to life.

😍 There is a dash of humour that lightens the otherwise heavy tone of the book to a certain extent.

😍 The ending was apt for the book. Just the right level of ‘happy’ without being ‘perfect’.

😍 Joe uses bracketed sentences to add his personal comments or opinions to the ongoing events. Solely in this regard, I found him like my kindred spirit as hardly any review of mine goes without a similar add-on comment. 😆


Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 There are some beautiful lines of thought when Joe in is one of his introspective moods. To those who like philosophical stuff (I don’t!), these will offer plenty to ponder upon. That said, I feel that these elements didn’t suit the tone of the book, nor fit in with the flow.

😐 The chapter title format is a bit unusual. Instead of having numbers or names, the title has vague time references such as ‘Two Days Later’ or ‘Fifteen Days Earlier’, followed by a bracketed note hinting at the events of that section. I did like this idea, especially at the start, as it offered a novel way of experiencing the chronology of the events. However, I lost track of the timeline after a point. The random flashbacks didn’t help matters.

😐 I like it when authors provide enough descriptions for me to be able to visualise the place or the characters. In this book, the characters are described in detail (a tad too much at times), but the description of the setting was underwhelming.

😐 The three dominant characters in the book were Joe, Aaron, and Aaron’s mom. Of these, Joe and Aaron were well-sketched, with their personalities helping us understand their actions. However, the depiction of Aaron’s mom (who stays unnamed throughout the book), was a hit-or-miss for me as there was no consistency to her detailing. The other secondary characters felt like strangers even till the end of the book.

😐 There’s a line in the book where Joe says, “I’m either mourning the loss of what was or just dreaming of what could be.” And this is exactly what he does for most of the book. If we look at this as a coming-of-age work (though Joe is beyond the age limit for that genre), the book functions better as Joe learns, over the period of the book, how not to look at the world only through the lens of “I, me, myself”. However, when one cannot connect to the central character in a first-person narration, it is tough to immerse oneself in the book. Most of the times, I found Joe too much of a whiny jerk to be able to like him. While I get that Joe was struggling emotionally, it somehow felt more because of his self-centred life choices than because of his (possible) depression.


Bookish Nays:
😒 All the relationships in the book, whether romantic or otherwise, seem instantaneous. There is no build-up at all.

😒 Despite Joe’s being a loner, he has had quite a few women in his past. Keeping track of them becomes quite confusing because of Joe’s tendency to go back and forth in his memories, and because of his habit to refer to them by pronouns than by name most of the times.

😒 Some scenes went much beyond my patience level, mainly in terms of character choices. (My threshold for tolerating self-absorbed characters is quite low.)

😒 Minor complaint: Having a Mac and a Matt in the office was confusing. I wish authors would keep character names distinct enough to make things a tad bit easy for us readers.


All in all, the book does have its merits, especially considering that it is a debut work. As a coming-of-age literary fiction with a central character who learns to think beyond himself, it offers a decent experience and a satisfying ending. But the journey towards this finale is ponderous and meandering.

I did try to go with the flow for this unusual work, but the flow ended up too directionless for my liking. As of today, mine is the only negative review for this book, so it is quite clear that this must be a case of a reader-book mismatch. Please read the other reviews to make up your mind about this novel. This is a mood read, and will be better read when you want something slow and contemplative.

2.5 stars, rounding up mostly for Aaron. That kid deserves so much better!


My thanks to author James Thomas for providing me with a complimentary copy of “My Name Isn't Joe”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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[Colin Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Thomas is another contemporary author I have met through Goodreads and his debut work, ‘My Names Isn’t Joe’, is added to my growing list of untapped good novels.

I have enjoyed a few innovative genres and sub-genres in the past year, but to return to fiction without ‘bells and whistles’ has been a pleasure.

It takes a capable author to write about somewhat everyday people and events and make them a cut above the ordinary, with splashes of humour; to create an opportunity for the reader to enter into their world, be a bystander to their journey and feel their pain and joy. James Thomas triumphs with this.

There were ripples of highs and lows in this storyline, sometimes dipping enough to put that 5th star on the line, but the aggregate satisfaction I felt on completion guaranteed a top rating.

Congratulations Mr Thomas!

As an aside, the book cover also deserves praise.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

What mattered the most to me was the honesty, authenticity, and beauty of the writing. Believe me, and I know this very well, people of faith or those who wrestle with faith, are often taught not to be vulnerable or be honest about their feelings. Especially if those feelings ask hard questions about the concept of God embraced by their faith group.

But here is a sincere writer, a heartfelt writer, an honest writer, so pain and suffering are not eschewed by him, anymore than belief and beauty are.

I will forever hold his metaphor of the tree and the sun and the seasons in my heart. Heart and life to all in this journey across time and space and soul. A good book.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, fiction is either a conduit to some alternative reality or it’s an opportunity to see the existing world from another perspective. My go-to reads are usually the classics (Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, Dracula, etc.) but occasionally I venture out of my comfort zone for something more contemporary. It’s not that I am afraid of taking literary chances, but… okay, maybe I am.

“I have the face of a worrier. Not a warrior, but a worrier. I looked like a hypochondriac. I didn’t look seriously ill, but I looked like I probably thought I was.”

James Thomas has created a protagonist here that I can relate to. Joseph is an intelligent, slightly successful, unmarried hot mess. He wakes one day to find himself in the mid-thirties doldrums: lonely, alone, and underemployed. Thomas masterfully evokes a sense of hopelessness; yes there is the ever-present possibility of redemption, but there is also an almost tangible abyss.

I enjoyed this more than I first thought I would. Thomas has a sense of humor that creeps into his storytelling at just the right times—keeping the arc from spiraling into something morose and out of perspective.

In spite of the somewhat dark undertone, My Name Isn’t Joe is ultimately uplifting, but in a very unexpected way.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph is a man of the current times, more alone then lonely, an introvert. He isn't sure how to go about living life. Then he meets and is asked to look after a neighbour's son, Aaron. All the emotions we go through with Joseph are very well described, without any false sentimentality. An extraordinary debut that will stay with me.

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spending time with Joseph was a serious melancholic time. He had a hard life with many layers of complexity with his family history, fractured relationships, a terrible sense of self-worth and an unsatisfying job. Joseph failed dramatically in being able to connect with fellow humans.

Everything was hard for Joseph, which made the reading quite depressing. I felt bogged down; I have a feeling my emotions have played a part in my experience. A hard life lived as a comedy of errors, it was hard to get my head around.

The chapters were named in a different way than I have seen before, with a kind of subtitle with what may come next. Sometimes that confused me, and as the book had been printed with a nontraditional publishing house, the font was very faint, which changed in strength from time to time. Sometimes things like this take away my focus which doesn’t help my concentration.

Joseph met a young neighbour which helped to take him out of his tendency to look inward and be self-focussed. I felt for him as a lot went wrong in his journey, almost to the point of ‘what’s next?’, and as a reader I could see it all snowballing. This serious and interesting young man finally met a couple who became his friends, who gave some generic advice, but I was sad yet again for Joseph as I didn’t see a true connection. Much the same as advice delivered speech style by a woman from times gone by.

Readers who struggle with emotions and being effected by depression may find some themes confronting, as this is a serious introspective read. I will be interested to keep an eye out on what comes next from this writer.

With my sincere thanks to debut author James Thomas for providing a physical copy for me to read and review.

[James Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It still makes me laugh, and cry

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of My Name Isn’t Joe by James Thomas

”Most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of
the time I don’t have any fun at all.” - Ernest Hemingway.

I opened this book mid-morning on a Sunday and, with the exception of mandatory breaks, read until the last page. I loved it.

This is a debut novel written by James Thomas. At first, I thought it was a humor book Mr. Thomas’ description of Joe’s bleak existence, both at work and at home had many laughable parts. Reality TV was his favorite pass time at home.

Until it wasn’t funny anymore

Joe is clearly deeply despondent over his lack of a “life”. We hear of more than one example of failed relationships and the inability to make friends. It’s a sad existence for poor Joe. Until, a woman and her 10-year-old son move into the apartment two doors down. This precocious child, Aaron, slowly cracks Joe’s barriers and they become fast friends. The story goes on from there and I hesitate to reveal too much as I don’t like spoilers. I will however include a few quotes that I saved.

“She’s not a Christian, going to church doesn’t make you a
Christian any more than… standing in a garage makes you a car.”

“It’s not death that you want… you just want the
pain to stop” – Joseph at one point seeks the advice of a counselor.

“Reality TV feels so good, because so often
reality is only portrayed as being so bad.
Joe is living his life vicariously through reality tv. This avoiding the bad things in real life.”

“Maybe it’s not so much that people ignore me, but that I seek
to be ignored.” - Joseph ruminates on why he seems invisible to most people.

In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks to the author, James Thomas for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You have just read it.

Highly recommended.

[Andrea Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me emotional at times, took me to some difficult subjects, loneliness, mental illness, trauma, self sabotage and made me think how important the connections we make in our lives, how they impact us in a long term. It is a beautiful, well written book about someone trying to find a way out of trauma to light. I would strong recommend this reading.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Full Circle*

Joseph Bogart is a young man in his 30’s, at the heart of things he is a good person but he is always feeling as if something is always missing from his life. When he thinks he has filled the void be it with relationships or whatever nothing truly works. He is living alone but has no real friends and he lacks confidence so rarely socialises. One day his neighbour turns up and asks him to look after her son Aaron. She stays out all night and over time he ends up looking after Aaron the majority of the time not even understanding the bond that he is forming. It takes this young boy and all his questions to make Joe consider and confront his past.

Over time we start to understand why Joe often makes jokes to cover up what is going on inside and preventing him from digging deeper. When it is revealed later in the book what he has not dealt with it breaks my heart as a lightbulb goes off in Joseph’s mind and I could feel his pain and was rooting for him.

This is a thoughtful and delicately written debut.

[John Gilbert]

I've been reading this for nearly a year, hoping it would rise to the glowing reviews of GR friends, but at 20% over 11 months, I'm throwing in the towel. Misery guts, depressing, nothing to even give me hope that our protagonist will get it together. I must not be patient enough, but enough misery for me now. DNF 20%

[Kim Bramham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this fantastic novel over the past few days, having downloaded it onto my Kindle as soon as it was published, having picked up the news via Social Media. I couldn't put it down! It is an amazing piece of work, and is so accomplished that it really makes one excited to seek out more debut novels - if only they were all of the quality of My Name Isn't Joe.
I seem to have gone through every possible emotion whilst reading this novel I found the story so compelling from the outset, and I think the story resonates so powerfully, maybe because we have all known (or have been) a Joe at some time in our life. In turns I felt happy, sad, frustrated, amused, and definitely reflective and hopeful when reading this story. This is one of those books that stays with you, and leaves you wanting to know more about the main characters even after the final page.
Each character is written with such a light touch, allowing the reader to make their own conclusions and judgements, which I found so refreshing. For me, this book is up there with Girl Woman Other by Bernadine Evaristo (Booker prize winner 2019) in the way it tackles issues from different angles.
I am taking this book to my book club to share my discovery of such a breath-taking new talent - it deserves to be read far and wide.

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author reached out to me to read and review his book. I usually dont do this with authors I dont know, but it seemed like an interesting read. Not my usual genre but I am game to trying new ones. I must say in the beginning I wasnt sure I would finish this book. At best I was giving it 3 stars. But you need to hang in there to get the story.

We follow Joseph who is big time depressed (not a fan of stories about depression) but we do find a very sad life - he gets stabbed, breaks toe, etc. and I found that I wanted to help him straighten out his life (must be the mother in me). But the more I read the more I found out a whole different side to Joseph and how sometimes the life we grew up in determines the life we make for ourselves. This is definitely a deep story and warrants a look into why people feel they way they do. Very emotional and worth the read if you can get past the sadness.

[Mr Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want something different and enjoyable, then this is a must read. The honesty and heart that is expressed in these pages comes deep from a writer who has experienced much of the difficulties the character 'Joseph' goes through. You will not be disappointed

[kehindeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that truly spoke to my soul, but wow this book took my breath away. I always find it so devastatingly beautiful when books are able to capture the essence of the human condition so coherently.

‘My Name Isn’t Joe’ follows our protagonist named Joseph Bogart who feels lost and out of touch with his life. He’s in his thirties but is unsatisfied with life, unfulfilled with his job and as a result he sticks out like a sore thumb, a bystander in a world full of confident individuals.

This book perfectly captures what is like to feel like you are constantly behind in adulthood, the complexities of life and how grief can take such a toll on our mental health.

One of the most painful feelings in this life, is feeling unseen and misunderstood by everyone in your life, even the ones that you value the most.

I appear confident to most people but truly deep inside I am just like Joseph, constantly looking for validation in others to confirm my identity, and forever chasing and craving the everlasting need to feel known.

I feel like throughout life there is this ribbon of loneliness following me wherever I go. I have moments of happiness, as we all do, but sometimes I worry that I will never be happy, that this terrible feeling will run over the course of my life. This book reminded me that I won’t always feel like this, that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and although the wound is not my fault, I owe it to myself to heal.

Forever keeping this book at the centre of my heart, and will definitely be coming back to this in the future.

This is a further reminder to have a community. I hope that everyone reading this has a person/people that they can call home, that they can run to whenever they need. This life is far too hard to do it alone. We weren’t made to experience life alone. Under the shelter of each other, people survive.

𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

“𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞.”

“𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞? 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫—𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞.”

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐕, 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.”

[Salma El · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this with tears down my cheeks, this will be in my memory as long as I live.
As I was reading the book, I had plenty of suggestions and notes and a somehow clear idea of what I was going to write here. I could say all of these things if I was to see the Novel as a product, but no, I see it the same way I would see a Pollock. At first glance, abstract expressionism is chaos, it might chase away some people, but if you keep looking, it unveils the internal chaos of the beholder, and it is exactly what this novel did to me.

[Tatenda Mpedzisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

His name is Joseph but most know him as Joe, the standoffish recluse living in ‘quiet desperation’.
For the past 6 years Joe has had a void he has been trying to fill with junk food, failed relationships and a soul sucking job. That is until he accidentally befriends his neighbors kid Aaron, and bond over game boys, cooking shows, and life stories. The unlikely friendship heals something Joe didn’t realise was broken, reintroduces him to the world as Joseph who is witty, brave and an incredible friend to an unsuspecting work colleague. Most of all, Aaron gives him something he thought he had long lost: hope.

This story took me through the full range of human emotions. I laughed out loud a lot! I swooned at romantic partners, genuinely wanting to be real life friends with the characters. I hated some characters and envied James’ ability to bring to life people I could dislike so much. The relationship between Joseph and Aaron filled me with so much joy and warmth because I’d never experienced something so precious. Then there were tears as the truth of his pain was revealed and more tears when the one thing holding him together was taken away. I grieved with him and healed with him. I was inspired by him, in awe of his strength and incredibly proud of his growth. For the first time in my life I was not just there in the sidelines of someone else’s story. I felt seen and reflected in Joseph both in who I was and who I wanted to be. I didn’t get the ending I wanted but I got the ending I needed, one that conveys the importance of hope. Because if we dare to hope, there are infinite possibilities.

James Thomas is a magician with words and weaves a beautiful and powerful story that explores topics often not addressed enough such as men’s mental health, modern day loneliness, grief, unresolved parental issues, survivors guilt, memory repression and the importance of adult friendships. This was a true work of art and I was honoured to have experienced it.

[Andreea Pădurean · Rating 5 out of 5]

'My Name Isn't Joe' is not just a work of art through its poeticism, but also a book about life (with its ups and downs).

Not only had I read the book eagerly to discover what it was about to offer next, but I also accompanied the protagonist in his travel to the depths of despair and back on the heights of redemption.

Reality, fear and misery are replaced by the joy and hope of a second chance, that always matters if you know how to use it.

I always search for rich and veridic emotions in books and 'My Name Isn't Joe' has exceeded my expectations regarding this aspect.

I highly recommend it if you are also looking for a masterpiece of the human emotions skillfully transposed in literature in a poetical yet realistic manner.

[Kas Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like I was reading a story about my life, well a large part of it at a period of time. Most men really do lead lives of quiet desperation...I was definitely one of them. Reading Joe’s life (or lack there of) unfold was strangely intriguing. We all can learn from this book how important life is, and that we must live it as it is a precious gift…and most importantly – pain and hard times are a part of who we are as human beings. What’s great about the book is Joe’s introspection...the way he analyses his life, his behaviour and the behaviour of others – and boy is he funny at times.
Very skillful writing by the author.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. This book was incredible for so many reasons.

The way the author truly captures apathy and depression was so vulnerable and honest, I really felt for all the characters and cried for them.
I loved how Joseph opens himself up to other people and realises that everyone is going through things, not just him.
The author spins the story in a way that gives the reader just the right amount of guidance and the reader is allowed to connect the dots on their own.
The ending was emotional and heartbreaking, just a perfect conclusion to the story.

Just absolutely beautifully written, I will be thinking about this book for some time. It gave me similar vibes to the mezzanine by Nicholson Baker.

[Paulina (infinitechapters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

I don't think I've ever read anything as brutally honest as this

[readwithkapz · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘My Name Isn’t Joe’ by James Thomas

Book review:

‘You just want the pain to stop right?’

‘My Name Isn’t Joe’ centres on Joseph Bogart, a young man who works a 9-5, rents a 1 bedroom flat in London. You’d think he is living a comfortable life right?

Wrong.

Joseph constantly battles with this feeling of sadness and emptiness, struggling to understand why and how to overcome it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The format of the books feels like a running diary. I really liked how each entry felt like a short story in itself.

One thing you realise with Joseph is that he’s very empathetic: he’s good at empathising with other people’s hardships and seeing what they need, but struggles to see what he needs.

It’s almost as if Joseph makes the happiness of those around him his primary sources of happiness. So when you remove people from his life or take away their happiness, he becomes unhappy and is left with a void.

Truly a sensational read. One that I will cherish for a very long time.

[Faith Mzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and profund book. Although you closely learn about Joseph's past and present life, his experiences and emotions leads to sincere introspection. Many of us have felt or been a Joseph at some point of our life.

I love the meaning of this book. James is a fantastic author, and this is a worthwhile read. A book with deep meaning that unashamedly highlights the many pressing issues all of us face.

[Sukh Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started slowly and there were moments that I wasn’t sure, however it quickly picked up momentum. The author’s depiction of internalised grief, pain, and desperation is excellently executed.
On the surface, Joseph goes about his daily life through a series of motions. He is not invested in his home, job or life. A chance meeting with his neighbour and her child, allows Joseph an outlet. A relationship of nurture, protector, and friend, allows Joseph an opportunity to start unlocking some of the love he has stored very deep inside him.
For me, the book got stronger as it progressed, and it was definitely worth a read.

[Sakshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story this was! Who could have guessed this ending, it was excellent. Joseph, the protagonist of the story, is just the guy next door, who always goes unnoticed. He doesn't fit in. He's never missed. He doesn't have any friends. I loved how the story unfolded, piece by piece, with emotions flowing out tremendously. I rarely cry when I read something but at the end, a tear shed from my eyes. The little baby boy, Aaron's character, has all my heart. I can't help but think how much he reminded me of Oliver from Oliver Twist. The story was emotional in many aspects. I am not sure if I will ever get over this story.

[Savannah Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well deserved flowers for this one James Thomas! This will most definitely be a re-read for me. I loved this book!

5/5⭐️