Mr Commitment - Mike Gayle

Two things put me off Mr Commitment before I even reached page one. First, the lead character is a ‘temp’. Again. It seems that these days every author’s answer to finding a suitable occupation for the lead character is to make him or her a temp. Secondly, and most importantly, whoever was in charge of marketing and cover design needs a good kick up the rear. Take the blurb on the front cover: "Full of belly-laughs and painfully acute observations". So, this book is great, right? Think again. Read the tiny print underneath and you’ll see that the quote is referring to the author’s PREVIOUS book. An appalling and these days too ...  Read the complete review

I read this book in one evening it had me hooked after the first page. It is witty and funny and extremely close to the bone at times. It explores a mans problems with commitment to his girlfriend when she asks him to marry her and in parts I really thought someone had been listening to some of the conversations myself and my partner have!!!! There is one particular chapter where the couple go to Ikea to purchase goods and I was crying ...... the mental picture I had was sooo incredibly real!! He really can't see what it is that she is getting so het up about and is just trailing round after her with her getting more and more upset and angry with ...  Read the complete review

It been a while since I read this book, and it is the first of Mike Gayle's books that I read, I have to say though, it really stuck in my mind and I remember thinking that it was one of the best books I had ever read, mainly because at the time the situation was very close to my heart! It's about a 28 year old guy called Duffy who know's that Mel ( his girlfriend) is the one for him, but things like trips to IKEA and dinner parties, baby talk and all the things that go with growing up and settling down begin to scare him. Is he able to get over his fears and become Mr Commitment? You will have to read it and find out. This is a really funny book, ...  Read the complete review

Mr Commitment , published by Hodder and Stoughton is about a 28 year old man called Ben Duffy , but people just call him Duffy. He is Mr Commitment , or at the moment , Mr Irresponsible . He is our main character and one which you grow to adore. His girlfriend Mel is wanting commitment after four years of "dating" , she wants them to move in together and get engaged. He is low paid in his temping job while he is waiting for his big break on the comedy circuit. Duffy knows he loves Mel, but doesn't want the big commitment , after a trip to IKEA , where all trouble must begin !! They break up. Mel thinks he doesn't want to marry ...  Read the complete review

In my opinion on Mike Gayle's first novel MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND I said that although I was disappointed with that novel, I would persevere and try his second novel, MR. COMMITMENT. This was because his novels had come so highly recommended by a friend who's opinion I value. I can honestly say that I am glad I did, as this novel is definately better than MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND. For a start, it takes place over a period of months, rather than one weekend - it always seemed weird to me that the hero of the first novel had such life-changing events happen to him in only the space of a weekend. MR. COMMITMENT tells the story of Ben Duffy, a ...  Read the complete review