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Tomorrow
A wise old dog travels through the courts and battlefields of Europe and through the centuries in search of the master who granted him immortality
Tomorrow tells the story of a 217-year-old dog and his search for his lost master. His adventures take him through the London Frost Fair, the strange court of King Charles I, the wars of the Spanish succession, Versailles, the golden age of Amsterdam and to nineteenth-century Venice. As he journeys through Europe, he befriends both animals and humans, falls in love (only once), marvels at the human ability to make music, despairs at their capacity for war and gains insight into both the strength and frailties of the human spirit.
With the rich historical vision of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and the captivating canine perspective of A Dog’s Purpose, Tomorrow draws us into a unique century-spanning tale of the unbreakable connection between dog and human.
Tomorrow tells the story of a 217-year-old dog and his search for his lost master. His adventures take him through the London Frost Fair, the strange court of King Charles I, the wars of the Spanish succession, Versailles, the golden age of Amsterdam and to nineteenth-century Venice. As he journeys through Europe, he befriends both animals and humans, falls in love (only once), marvels at the human ability to make music, despairs at their capacity for war and gains insight into both the strength and frailties of the human spirit.
With the rich historical vision of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and the captivating canine perspective of A Dog’s Purpose, Tomorrow draws us into a unique century-spanning tale of the unbreakable connection between dog and human.
335 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2018
362 people are currently reading
5992 people want to read
About the author
Damian Dibben
13 books210 followersDamian Dibben is a best-selling British author. His novels have been translated into 27 languages, in over 40 countries. His latest, THE COLOUR STORM, a love story and thriller set in the art world of the renaissance, is published by MichaelJoseph/Penguin in the UK in June 2022 and HarperCollins in the US this September.
His previous novels include the critically acclaimed TOMORROW, (2018) as well as the international sensation, THE HISTORY KEEPERS series.
Damian has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom Of The Opera and Puss In Boots. He lives on London's Southbank with his partner Ali and three dogs, Dudley, Daphne & Velvet.
Praise for THE COLOUR STORM:
"An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour". THE SUNDAY TIMES
"Addictive, ambitious and knife sharp. A compelling thriller and a celebration of art. Ravishing". RACHEL JOYCE
"A terrific book . . . Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colourful. An original tale told beautifully". A. D. SWANSTON
His previous novels include the critically acclaimed TOMORROW, (2018) as well as the international sensation, THE HISTORY KEEPERS series.
Damian has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom Of The Opera and Puss In Boots. He lives on London's Southbank with his partner Ali and three dogs, Dudley, Daphne & Velvet.
Praise for THE COLOUR STORM:
"An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour". THE SUNDAY TIMES
"Addictive, ambitious and knife sharp. A compelling thriller and a celebration of art. Ravishing". RACHEL JOYCE
"A terrific book . . . Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colourful. An original tale told beautifully". A. D. SWANSTON
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 664 reviews
April 4, 2018
Some of my Goodreads friends will love this book, while others definitely will not. I enjoyed this novel a great deal while acknowledging there are aspects to it that may not attract all readers.
It is a fantasy, although the only part that is fantasy is that our main protagonist, a dog, along with his master and his master’s nemesis all have eternal life. They can be killed, but it is very difficult to do so; and that’s why their story gallivants throughout history with an amazing in-person (and in-dog) perspective of how things change over centuries – and how they stay the same.
The dog’s master, Valentyne, has the mind of a scientist in a time when science barely existed. Their story actively begins in 1602 but from what I deduced, it was somewhere in the late 1400’s or early 1500’s when Valentyne discovered a way to access immortality. Valentyne calls his dog, ‘my champion’, and he is indeed that. At one point they become lost to each other and the dog spends 127 years waiting for his master in close proximity to the spot where his master said he would meet him just before they were separated.
Throughout this book, we move back and forth between their "present time" (the early 1800's) and times in the past. Some readers don’t enjoy this device but for me, this read depended on it. Partly to give dimension to the idea of immortality, but also because had we stayed only with Valentyne’s story or only with his ‘champion’s’ story, we would lose so much.
Valentyne and his ‘champion’s’ travels throughout Europe are fascinating, for Valentyne puts himself into service by way of becoming an army doctor. During those centuries there was definitely no shortage of wars to choose from. Some of the descriptions of these wars were so real, it was cinematic – and because it was war, sometimes uncomfortably cinematic.
There are tragedies, but there are also beautiful and heartwarming times. I can understand completely why Valentyne chose to ensure that his companion through eternity was a dog he loved. When things went awry, he would invariably say, “Tomorrow, things will be better”. Who could believe that more deeply than a dog? Especially one who was willing to do his part to make it so.
It is a fantasy, although the only part that is fantasy is that our main protagonist, a dog, along with his master and his master’s nemesis all have eternal life. They can be killed, but it is very difficult to do so; and that’s why their story gallivants throughout history with an amazing in-person (and in-dog) perspective of how things change over centuries – and how they stay the same.
The dog’s master, Valentyne, has the mind of a scientist in a time when science barely existed. Their story actively begins in 1602 but from what I deduced, it was somewhere in the late 1400’s or early 1500’s when Valentyne discovered a way to access immortality. Valentyne calls his dog, ‘my champion’, and he is indeed that. At one point they become lost to each other and the dog spends 127 years waiting for his master in close proximity to the spot where his master said he would meet him just before they were separated.
Throughout this book, we move back and forth between their "present time" (the early 1800's) and times in the past. Some readers don’t enjoy this device but for me, this read depended on it. Partly to give dimension to the idea of immortality, but also because had we stayed only with Valentyne’s story or only with his ‘champion’s’ story, we would lose so much.
Valentyne and his ‘champion’s’ travels throughout Europe are fascinating, for Valentyne puts himself into service by way of becoming an army doctor. During those centuries there was definitely no shortage of wars to choose from. Some of the descriptions of these wars were so real, it was cinematic – and because it was war, sometimes uncomfortably cinematic.
There are tragedies, but there are also beautiful and heartwarming times. I can understand completely why Valentyne chose to ensure that his companion through eternity was a dog he loved. When things went awry, he would invariably say, “Tomorrow, things will be better”. Who could believe that more deeply than a dog? Especially one who was willing to do his part to make it so.
February 7, 2018
A book to keep and re-read. A book I will be sending to friends. Forget that I love dogs and the perspective is heart breakingly pure since it is the dog's; this is a poignant, thought provoking book about living and love and family and (oh good grief I could go on--redemption, friendship, invention and war....) The author has a true gift for scenes which transport the reader to another time, another life.
Plot wise this book grabs you from page one and never lets up. Mr. Dibben is a very talented writer and I highly recommend this book!
Plot wise this book grabs you from page one and never lets up. Mr. Dibben is a very talented writer and I highly recommend this book!
December 13, 2024
Spodziewałam się, że o wiele bardziej mi się spodoba. Czułam niedosyt — brakowało mi większego zaangażowania w historię, spowodowanego małą ilością szczegółów. Dlaczego pies czekał na pana aż tyle lat? Jak było to w ogóle możliwe? — potrzebowałam o wiele więcej detali, aby poczuć zainteresowanie.
Całość wypadła w porządku, ale nie porwała mnie — niestety, ale mam wrażenie, że 90% książki było jak „wstęp” do kilku końcowych rozdziałów i to one sprawiły, że zakończyłam lekturę z jako takim usatysfakcjonowaniem…
Odniosłam wrażenie, że choć sam Jutro chciał poszukiwać swojego pana, ja przez większość czasu nie miałam na to ochoty.
Całość wypadła w porządku, ale nie porwała mnie — niestety, ale mam wrażenie, że 90% książki było jak „wstęp” do kilku końcowych rozdziałów i to one sprawiły, że zakończyłam lekturę z jako takim usatysfakcjonowaniem…
Odniosłam wrażenie, że choć sam Jutro chciał poszukiwać swojego pana, ja przez większość czasu nie miałam na to ochoty.
March 22, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by this book. I went into this book with incredibly high expectations so some of that disappointment is of my own making. When I first saw this book's cover, I knew that I had to read it. Then I read the book's synopsis and knew that I would love it. I ended up liking the book but I didn't love it.
This is Champion's story and is told from his point of view. Champion is not just an any dog. He is immortal and has lived for 217 years. Champion was separated from his master in Venice over 100 years ago and has spent that time waiting for him as he was told to do. He has made connections with others and even rescued another dog, Sporco, but he never stops looking for his master.
The timeline of this story does jump around a bit. We see Champion after waiting for more than 100 years for his master before going to search for him and we also see different points in the past before they lost each other. I never found the time sequence to be confusing. It really seemed like the points in the past were important to the story and felt more like memories. I really liked the historical setting of the novel which spans from the 1600's into the 1800's which I thought added a lot to the story.
I really enjoyed Champion's journey to find his master more than any other part of the book. Sporco was my favorite character by far and I enjoyed his love of life. I really felt like Sporco felt much more dog-like than Champion did. Champion has lived a very long time and is wiser than most humans. His most dog-like quality would be his loyalty to his master.
The book felt a bit uneven to me with some parts falling flat. I liked the parts of the book that were focused on what the dogs were doing the most. During the last part of the book, the focus seemed to shift more to the humans as witnessed by the dog which wasn't as enjoyable for me. There were times that the book felt like it was longer than it needed to be and dragged at points.
I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one a bit more than I did. It is a really unique story set in a vividly described period of time. I didn't love the book as much as I had hoped I would but I am glad that I made the decision to read it. I would definitely read more of Damian Dibben's works in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Harlequin - Hanover Square Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I am a bit disappointed with this one. The last part of this book fell really flat to me. It seemed like things became more about the people than the dog and I liked the parts more focused on the dog. This was probably more of a 2.5 star read for me but I am rounding up for now.
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by this book. I went into this book with incredibly high expectations so some of that disappointment is of my own making. When I first saw this book's cover, I knew that I had to read it. Then I read the book's synopsis and knew that I would love it. I ended up liking the book but I didn't love it.
This is Champion's story and is told from his point of view. Champion is not just an any dog. He is immortal and has lived for 217 years. Champion was separated from his master in Venice over 100 years ago and has spent that time waiting for him as he was told to do. He has made connections with others and even rescued another dog, Sporco, but he never stops looking for his master.
The timeline of this story does jump around a bit. We see Champion after waiting for more than 100 years for his master before going to search for him and we also see different points in the past before they lost each other. I never found the time sequence to be confusing. It really seemed like the points in the past were important to the story and felt more like memories. I really liked the historical setting of the novel which spans from the 1600's into the 1800's which I thought added a lot to the story.
I really enjoyed Champion's journey to find his master more than any other part of the book. Sporco was my favorite character by far and I enjoyed his love of life. I really felt like Sporco felt much more dog-like than Champion did. Champion has lived a very long time and is wiser than most humans. His most dog-like quality would be his loyalty to his master.
The book felt a bit uneven to me with some parts falling flat. I liked the parts of the book that were focused on what the dogs were doing the most. During the last part of the book, the focus seemed to shift more to the humans as witnessed by the dog which wasn't as enjoyable for me. There were times that the book felt like it was longer than it needed to be and dragged at points.
I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one a bit more than I did. It is a really unique story set in a vividly described period of time. I didn't love the book as much as I had hoped I would but I am glad that I made the decision to read it. I would definitely read more of Damian Dibben's works in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Harlequin - Hanover Square Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I am a bit disappointed with this one. The last part of this book fell really flat to me. It seemed like things became more about the people than the dog and I liked the parts more focused on the dog. This was probably more of a 2.5 star read for me but I am rounding up for now.
December 11, 2022
Książka, która kilka razy doprowadziła mnie do łez. Może nie była idealna, ale i tak na długo pozostanie w moim serduchu. Myślę, że może spodobać się osobom, które lubią "Niewidzialne życie Addie LaRue". Klątwa życia wiecznego, samotność, no wiecie. Podobne tematy jak w Addie, tylko zdecydowanie lepiej podane :) No i to cudne wydanie z serii butikowej wyd. Albatros! ps. oczywiście ni muszę dodawać, że jest to idealna pozycja dla miłośników psów :))) Szykujcie chusteczki!
May 21, 2020
SPOILERS DELETED
This dog named Tomorrow is more erudite and articulate than most human writers. I love the character. Insightful, observant, wise, and wonderful. Yes, he's a dog. Grant the writer some willing suspension of disbelief, or you'll miss out on a great story. This one opens with a dog awaiting the return of his beloved Master - for almost two centuries! - thanks to a mysterious something that allows a man and his dog to live crazy-long lives.
The dog narrates tales of their time on a battlefield, tending to the wounded.
He's there in 1815 when Napolean meets Waterloo.
Betrayals, insanely wrong imprisonments, adventures, mishaps, reunions - this is a long story, beautifully told.
My willing suspension of disbelief, however, kept kicking in. I was barely able to stay in the story. I read to escape, and sometimes, I just don't have the wherewithal to work at reading.
I'm spoiled by Jack London, who kept his dog adventures on the shorter side.
Also, London's dogs didn't sound like they had a PhD in literature or philosophy.
Still!
This is a most endearing story, with memorable scenes and characters, and heartbreak, as our immortal dog outlives his canine companions.
Be strong.
I wanted to savor every word, but this is a long novel, so I skimmed the parts where mortal dog friends die (sniff! sob!) and jumped ahead to where - FINALLY - dog and Master are reunited, and traitors are exposed. (Is that a spoiler? Of course they must meet at the end, or why would we keep turning pages?)
Historical Fiction is not for the faint of heart.
Brutal stuff, beautifully written.
This dog named Tomorrow is more erudite and articulate than most human writers. I love the character. Insightful, observant, wise, and wonderful. Yes, he's a dog. Grant the writer some willing suspension of disbelief, or you'll miss out on a great story. This one opens with a dog awaiting the return of his beloved Master - for almost two centuries! - thanks to a mysterious something that allows a man and his dog to live crazy-long lives.
The dog narrates tales of their time on a battlefield, tending to the wounded.
He's there in 1815 when Napolean meets Waterloo.
Betrayals, insanely wrong imprisonments, adventures, mishaps, reunions - this is a long story, beautifully told.
My willing suspension of disbelief, however, kept kicking in. I was barely able to stay in the story. I read to escape, and sometimes, I just don't have the wherewithal to work at reading.
I'm spoiled by Jack London, who kept his dog adventures on the shorter side.
Also, London's dogs didn't sound like they had a PhD in literature or philosophy.
Still!
This is a most endearing story, with memorable scenes and characters, and heartbreak, as our immortal dog outlives his canine companions.
Be strong.
I wanted to savor every word, but this is a long novel, so I skimmed the parts where mortal dog friends die (sniff! sob!) and jumped ahead to where - FINALLY - dog and Master are reunited, and traitors are exposed. (Is that a spoiler? Of course they must meet at the end, or why would we keep turning pages?)
Historical Fiction is not for the faint of heart.
Brutal stuff, beautifully written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2017
Damien Dibben’s forthcoming novel, Tomorrow, follows the journey of one extraordinary dog on his quest to be reunited with his extraordinary master. On this hazardous road, both dog and master are forced to confront the ethics and pitfalls of love, loyalty and eternal life—all this unfolding over centuries across the canvas of war-torn Europe. The story is enchanting and tender, the details accurate and thought-provoking, whether chronicling the horrors of war, the best of human art and innovation, or the truly noble character of a good dog.
May 1, 2018
This was a fascinating idea for a story and the historical span of the book was very rewarding. The author really brings the different periods of history to life with his well researched details. From the frost fairs of London, to Venice and Vienna, we follow Champion and Sporca. Alchemy has been used to lengthen life and Champion searches over centuries for his lost master. I loved Champion and Sporca’s journey and point of view. The story lacked pace in places and was over wordy. Still, an enjoyable read.
June 27, 2018
The future can offer both hope and despair. For the canine protagonist of this novel, “tomorrow” augurs a new day filled with hope and possibility. Without that hope he would be bereft of a reason to live. “Tomorrow we begin again.” The words echo in his mind. It is what his master would say in the face of disappointment or set-back. This particular dog, however, has greeted 127 years of tomorrows with the hope of hearing that voice again. One perfect day, over a century ago, his master mysteriously vanished from St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice. “'If we lose one another, my champion, wait for me on the steps. Just here, by the door.'” (Location 833) And so the dog has waited, year after year.
Although this book is narrated by the dog, it is no mere light-weight anthropomorphic fantasy. His master's story began long before the dog's. His medieval travels exposed him to alchemy, chemistry and medicine, still intertwined in a world of questions without answers. The dog was born in 1602 but vestiges of that world still linger. An atmosphere of gothic mystery pervades the opening scene in the aftermath of a week long storm: “The sand became stonier, colder and wetter underfoot, like unset cement. And the weather altered too: a chillier breeze crept in from the north. It seemed to wash away the color from the sun, and from the sky too, turning it as hoary as the silt flats making everything dimensionless.” (Location 65) “The wind whistled and churned up ghoulish spectral sand....” (Location 78) Inevitably, a corpse turns up on the beach. The unsettling fact is not the corpse but the dog's master's reaction — a mix of inexplicable dread followed by a puzzling sense of relief.
A second prologue jumps ahead five years. The setting is England, and there is an implicit contrast between the Elizabethan cultural glories of the past and the Stuart monarch's dour lack of curiosity. The dog is no longer a puppy, but he is still an innocent. He recalls the sudden appearance of a flamboyant stranger named Vilder, someone from his master's past. The man exudes a malign charm. He asks a strange favor, is refused, and departs the next day.
The author employs inventive morphological conversions to sustain an archaic sense. The dog smells the beached corpse: “Close up, the stench gloved my throat.” (Location 102) He portrays Venice: “...a dreamy sliver of a city, a mirage, where land becomes sea and sea becomes land, as mysterious as the glass that's furnaced in nearby Murano.” (Location 465)
The present-day narrative is set in 1815 with intermittent flashbacks to Amsterdam at the outset of the Thirty Years War, to a remote village in the Carpathians, and to the horrors of Europe's battlefields.
The choice of a dog as narrator is particularly affecting. For many of us, dogs are truly best friends, not pets but part of the family. Their lifespans are tragically brief, a mere ten to fifteen years. To imagine almost endless longevity in a dog is an inviting prospect. The baggage of human immortality implied in the myth of Prometheus, countless sci-fi dystopias, and the exotic romance of LOST HORIZON is at first easily dismissed in the case of a dog. However, the more sentient the dog becomes, the more he displays compassion, courage and connection, the more we encounter the same reservations. There is even a sense of nostalgia as the dog describes the splendors of Venice through the exuberant eyes of his young companion Sporco.
I loved this book. When it ended I felt the rare sensation of regret. It was an unexpected pleasure to feel immersed in a gothic tradition reminiscent of Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker. Dibben provides unexpected plot twists and unforgettable sketches of historical figures and events. At the heart of this book is the idea of timeless connection. His master points to the dog: “'He is not my family...He is my soul. What am I without my champion? Just a box of notions and logics.'” (Location 1942) For this dog, the feeling is mutual. What is he without his master?
Although this book is narrated by the dog, it is no mere light-weight anthropomorphic fantasy. His master's story began long before the dog's. His medieval travels exposed him to alchemy, chemistry and medicine, still intertwined in a world of questions without answers. The dog was born in 1602 but vestiges of that world still linger. An atmosphere of gothic mystery pervades the opening scene in the aftermath of a week long storm: “The sand became stonier, colder and wetter underfoot, like unset cement. And the weather altered too: a chillier breeze crept in from the north. It seemed to wash away the color from the sun, and from the sky too, turning it as hoary as the silt flats making everything dimensionless.” (Location 65) “The wind whistled and churned up ghoulish spectral sand....” (Location 78) Inevitably, a corpse turns up on the beach. The unsettling fact is not the corpse but the dog's master's reaction — a mix of inexplicable dread followed by a puzzling sense of relief.
A second prologue jumps ahead five years. The setting is England, and there is an implicit contrast between the Elizabethan cultural glories of the past and the Stuart monarch's dour lack of curiosity. The dog is no longer a puppy, but he is still an innocent. He recalls the sudden appearance of a flamboyant stranger named Vilder, someone from his master's past. The man exudes a malign charm. He asks a strange favor, is refused, and departs the next day.
The author employs inventive morphological conversions to sustain an archaic sense. The dog smells the beached corpse: “Close up, the stench gloved my throat.” (Location 102) He portrays Venice: “...a dreamy sliver of a city, a mirage, where land becomes sea and sea becomes land, as mysterious as the glass that's furnaced in nearby Murano.” (Location 465)
The present-day narrative is set in 1815 with intermittent flashbacks to Amsterdam at the outset of the Thirty Years War, to a remote village in the Carpathians, and to the horrors of Europe's battlefields.
The choice of a dog as narrator is particularly affecting. For many of us, dogs are truly best friends, not pets but part of the family. Their lifespans are tragically brief, a mere ten to fifteen years. To imagine almost endless longevity in a dog is an inviting prospect. The baggage of human immortality implied in the myth of Prometheus, countless sci-fi dystopias, and the exotic romance of LOST HORIZON is at first easily dismissed in the case of a dog. However, the more sentient the dog becomes, the more he displays compassion, courage and connection, the more we encounter the same reservations. There is even a sense of nostalgia as the dog describes the splendors of Venice through the exuberant eyes of his young companion Sporco.
I loved this book. When it ended I felt the rare sensation of regret. It was an unexpected pleasure to feel immersed in a gothic tradition reminiscent of Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker. Dibben provides unexpected plot twists and unforgettable sketches of historical figures and events. At the heart of this book is the idea of timeless connection. His master points to the dog: “'He is not my family...He is my soul. What am I without my champion? Just a box of notions and logics.'” (Location 1942) For this dog, the feeling is mutual. What is he without his master?
January 28, 2018
3.5-4 stars
Tomorrow relays the story of a loyal dog searching the European continent for his owner Valentyne during the 1700 and 1800’s. Both Valentyne and the dog are immortal following Valentyne’s discovery of a method that stops aging. While the story addresses love, loyalty, and heartbreak, the insight regarding the pitfalls of remaining frozen at a certain age while everyone else around those characters continues to age provides the most food for thought in Tomorrow. This aspect of Tomorrow is reminiscent of How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. While the idea of immortality might appeal to some, the actuality would instead be a curse.
While I enjoyed the tales of travel through fascinating periods in Europe, the book is longer than necessary. I enjoyed and was surprised by events at the end but had to skim a bit to get there. Overall, I liked the book. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Tomorrow relays the story of a loyal dog searching the European continent for his owner Valentyne during the 1700 and 1800’s. Both Valentyne and the dog are immortal following Valentyne’s discovery of a method that stops aging. While the story addresses love, loyalty, and heartbreak, the insight regarding the pitfalls of remaining frozen at a certain age while everyone else around those characters continues to age provides the most food for thought in Tomorrow. This aspect of Tomorrow is reminiscent of How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. While the idea of immortality might appeal to some, the actuality would instead be a curse.
While I enjoyed the tales of travel through fascinating periods in Europe, the book is longer than necessary. I enjoyed and was surprised by events at the end but had to skim a bit to get there. Overall, I liked the book. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
January 22, 2018
The story of a man and his very loyal dog, Tomorrow. The master goes missing and the dog stays in Venice waiting for him for 127 years. The tale is told from the view point of Tomorrow and is well written, funny, touching, and a joy to read.
This is one of the giveaways I've received from Goodreads.
This is one of the giveaways I've received from Goodreads.
January 22, 2018
This book was really good I was hooked by the second page. There are a lot of twists and turns and surprises. You never new what was next.I would recommend this book to everyone.
April 14, 2019
Poruszająca serce opowieść o wiecznym życiu, wierności i nieśmiertelnej przyjaźni na przestrzeni wieków – „Mam na imię jutro” Damiana Dibbena.
Pies, bo to on jest narratorem tej opowieści, snuje barwną, pełną tęsknoty opowieść o dziejach minionych, o podróżach i odkryciach, o kolejnych miejscach, w których on i jego pan odnaleźli chwilową przystań. Był towarzyszem alchemika, ale też lekarza i filozofa, człowieka o dobrym sercu i wielkim miłosierdziu. Doradzał największym tego świata, ratował ich kruche żywoty, dawał z siebie wszystko co najlepsze, chociaż mógł jedynie gromadzić, bogacić się, by wreszcie samemu po latach zdobyć władzę. Mógł tego dokonać, ale wybrał ścieżkę wiecznego tułacza, samotnika z ukochanym zwierzakiem u boku, który wciąż żył w strachu przed potworem, którego stworzył przed laty. Jego nemezis, ten, który nie wytrzymał presji nieśmiertelności, a który nieustannie mści się, szarżuje, wciąż goni i niszczy, będąc przeklętym, ale też samemu przeklinając swojego stwórcę.
Damian Dibben zaskakuje już samym wyborem narratora, wrzucając czytelnika na nieznane terytoria psiego żywota, przesyconego miłością do ukochanego człowieka, unikając jednak infantylizacji. „Mam na imię jutro” wypełniona jest bogactwem opisów – hipnotyzuje natężeniem zapachów, perfekcyjnie oddaje realia historyczne kolejnych epok, portrety i krajobrazy, dzięki którym wpadamy w kolejne wieki, zaskoczeni, że stulecia mogły być tak bliskie i tak dalekie jednocześnie. Dibben stworzył opowieść o klątwie życia wiecznego, o samotności i tragedii rozdzielenia, ale przede wszystkim o tęsknocie. Porażającej, druzgoczącej, takiej, którą pojąć mogą jedynie istoty skazane na siebie, a pozbawione swojej obecności. Bo jaki sens ma wieczność, jeśli nie ma z kim jej dzielić? Nie ma kogo kochać?
Szykujcie chusteczki i czytajcie – zachłyśniecie się prostotą i pięknem.
Pies, bo to on jest narratorem tej opowieści, snuje barwną, pełną tęsknoty opowieść o dziejach minionych, o podróżach i odkryciach, o kolejnych miejscach, w których on i jego pan odnaleźli chwilową przystań. Był towarzyszem alchemika, ale też lekarza i filozofa, człowieka o dobrym sercu i wielkim miłosierdziu. Doradzał największym tego świata, ratował ich kruche żywoty, dawał z siebie wszystko co najlepsze, chociaż mógł jedynie gromadzić, bogacić się, by wreszcie samemu po latach zdobyć władzę. Mógł tego dokonać, ale wybrał ścieżkę wiecznego tułacza, samotnika z ukochanym zwierzakiem u boku, który wciąż żył w strachu przed potworem, którego stworzył przed laty. Jego nemezis, ten, który nie wytrzymał presji nieśmiertelności, a który nieustannie mści się, szarżuje, wciąż goni i niszczy, będąc przeklętym, ale też samemu przeklinając swojego stwórcę.
Damian Dibben zaskakuje już samym wyborem narratora, wrzucając czytelnika na nieznane terytoria psiego żywota, przesyconego miłością do ukochanego człowieka, unikając jednak infantylizacji. „Mam na imię jutro” wypełniona jest bogactwem opisów – hipnotyzuje natężeniem zapachów, perfekcyjnie oddaje realia historyczne kolejnych epok, portrety i krajobrazy, dzięki którym wpadamy w kolejne wieki, zaskoczeni, że stulecia mogły być tak bliskie i tak dalekie jednocześnie. Dibben stworzył opowieść o klątwie życia wiecznego, o samotności i tragedii rozdzielenia, ale przede wszystkim o tęsknocie. Porażającej, druzgoczącej, takiej, którą pojąć mogą jedynie istoty skazane na siebie, a pozbawione swojej obecności. Bo jaki sens ma wieczność, jeśli nie ma z kim jej dzielić? Nie ma kogo kochać?
Szykujcie chusteczki i czytajcie – zachłyśniecie się prostotą i pięknem.
January 28, 2018
I won an ARC of this book from Goodreads Giveaways.
Tomorrow is a beautifully written novel which draws the reader into the world of a dog searching for his master. Dibben provides a thoughtful look at the human race through the eyes of man's most loyal friend. Through the eyes of this insightful puppy, we celebrate the great achievements of mankind and witness the horrors we are capable of inflicting.
Yet, I struggle to say much more about this novel. The middle of the story lags a bit and contains an odd lecture on not eating meat, the combination of which almost caused me to throw down the book (despite being a pescatarian, myself). I feel I cannot give a fair review without finishing a book, so I pressed on.
The ending of the book was worth the middle. While most of the twists and turns are predictable, Dibben's treats the reader to an unexpected and wonderful conclusion. He reveals the strength and beauty of tragedy, the peace of forgiveness, the complicated dynamic of familial love, and leaves the reader with a wonderful bit of hope. It is in these last one-hundred or so pages that the reader can see the author's purpose revealed. His purpose is beautiful and wonderful, but I am not sure it is cohesive throughout the novel.
So, I leave you with a review that doesn't feel complete as I try to reconcile my emotions and thoughts regarding this novel.
Tomorrow is a beautifully written novel which draws the reader into the world of a dog searching for his master. Dibben provides a thoughtful look at the human race through the eyes of man's most loyal friend. Through the eyes of this insightful puppy, we celebrate the great achievements of mankind and witness the horrors we are capable of inflicting.
Yet, I struggle to say much more about this novel. The middle of the story lags a bit and contains an odd lecture on not eating meat, the combination of which almost caused me to throw down the book (despite being a pescatarian, myself). I feel I cannot give a fair review without finishing a book, so I pressed on.
The ending of the book was worth the middle. While most of the twists and turns are predictable, Dibben's treats the reader to an unexpected and wonderful conclusion. He reveals the strength and beauty of tragedy, the peace of forgiveness, the complicated dynamic of familial love, and leaves the reader with a wonderful bit of hope. It is in these last one-hundred or so pages that the reader can see the author's purpose revealed. His purpose is beautiful and wonderful, but I am not sure it is cohesive throughout the novel.
So, I leave you with a review that doesn't feel complete as I try to reconcile my emotions and thoughts regarding this novel.
June 27, 2018
This was one of the best books I have read in a while. This dog is noble, smart, erudite, courageous, faithful and more. If you love dogs (and I do) you would love for dogs to have the type of social interaction, imagination and love that is described in this book. Life is hard and then you die, except for the dog and his master. The history and savage warfare described is sometimes difficult to read, but very accurate. I would unconditionally recommend this book to anyone, and especially if you have a dog in your home you love. You will not look at your dog quite the same anymore.
March 14, 2018
Won this book on Goodreads. I would like to give this book a 10 stars. Was not expecting such a wonderful story of friendship through history of a man and his dog. Takes you on a journey through centuries and history in Europe. Loved all the characters and their stories told through Tomorrow. Absolutely recommend this book to history lovers and animal lovers. Trying to explain the book to my husband after I finished had me in tears thinking of the love they had for each other, and the time in Venice.
May 3, 2018
‘It began, this journey of many lifetimes, in an ordinary way: he and I went to pick oysters on the shore.’
Our narrator is a dog. A dog who has lived for longer than 200 years. A dog who has been searching for his lost master for over 100 years. While the dog searches for his master, and having new adventures of his own, he remembers some of their earlier adventures together. These adventures take us from 1602 until 1833. So, how did dog and master become separated? How is it that they’ve lived such long lives? Why is the dog so certain that his master is still alive?
‘If we lose one another, my champion, wait for me on the steps. Just here, by the door.’
The dog’s name is Tomorrow, his master’s name is Valentyne. Their adventures take them from 17th century London, through the court of King Charles I, through Versailles, Amsterdam and 19th century Venice. Tomorrow makes friends along the way, especially with Sporco an abandoned pup he finds in Venice.
I found this novel utterly engrossing. Tomorrow’s faith that he would find his master kept me turning the pages. Trying to understand the reason behind Tomorrow’s longevity was one of the hooks that kept me reading, as was trying to understand the relationship between Valentyne and Vilder. A dog’s perspective has me wondering even more about the passage of time (and what we learn during our existence) as well as humankind’s capacity for war. Tomorrow does not speak to people, we are in his head observing his thoughts. Occasionally this is tricky, but it worked for me. After all, if you can believe that a dog can live for longer than 200 hundred years then understanding his thoughts is comparatively easy.
But while this is a story about a dog, it is more than that. Part of understanding the longevity enjoyed by Tomorrow and Valentyne is the fiction of ‘how’ but it is also about ‘why’. Is such longevity desirable? By whom? ‘Tomorrow’ is a quirky novel and Tomorrow is an unlikely, likeable narrator. If you are looking for historical fiction with a difference, you may enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Our narrator is a dog. A dog who has lived for longer than 200 years. A dog who has been searching for his lost master for over 100 years. While the dog searches for his master, and having new adventures of his own, he remembers some of their earlier adventures together. These adventures take us from 1602 until 1833. So, how did dog and master become separated? How is it that they’ve lived such long lives? Why is the dog so certain that his master is still alive?
‘If we lose one another, my champion, wait for me on the steps. Just here, by the door.’
The dog’s name is Tomorrow, his master’s name is Valentyne. Their adventures take them from 17th century London, through the court of King Charles I, through Versailles, Amsterdam and 19th century Venice. Tomorrow makes friends along the way, especially with Sporco an abandoned pup he finds in Venice.
I found this novel utterly engrossing. Tomorrow’s faith that he would find his master kept me turning the pages. Trying to understand the reason behind Tomorrow’s longevity was one of the hooks that kept me reading, as was trying to understand the relationship between Valentyne and Vilder. A dog’s perspective has me wondering even more about the passage of time (and what we learn during our existence) as well as humankind’s capacity for war. Tomorrow does not speak to people, we are in his head observing his thoughts. Occasionally this is tricky, but it worked for me. After all, if you can believe that a dog can live for longer than 200 hundred years then understanding his thoughts is comparatively easy.
But while this is a story about a dog, it is more than that. Part of understanding the longevity enjoyed by Tomorrow and Valentyne is the fiction of ‘how’ but it is also about ‘why’. Is such longevity desirable? By whom? ‘Tomorrow’ is a quirky novel and Tomorrow is an unlikely, likeable narrator. If you are looking for historical fiction with a difference, you may enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 25, 2024
"For what does life have if it is not an adventure?"
(p. 333)
I chose Tomorrow based on a brief synopsis I read somewhere but forget where exactly.
I would have picked up the book based on the cover alone.
I'm not a cover snob but I am a dog lover!
The premise is fascinating and part of a rising trend: immortality but this time the immortal one is man's best friend.
** The best parts and spoilers ahead **
Tomorrow is immortal, thanks to a special elixir honed and refined by his master.
He is also a dog with a mission; he's spent over 130 years searching for his beloved human when they were separated at a Venice cathedral.
He has returned to this cathedral every day in the hopes they will be reunited.
Instead, after many years, he meets an old nemesis and Tomorrow embarks on a journey with an eager canine friend named Sporco, to finally discover the fate of his master.
Believe me when I say I wanted to love this book.
Alas, I did not.
The writing is great, no complaints there but the story...oh! it dragged!
It was too slow, tedious, and frankly, too wordy from a dog's perspective.
At times, I had to remind myself that the narrator is a DOG and not a professor.
Writing from an animal's perspective (whether it be a minotaur, dinosaur or Labrador) is not easy.
But it was difficult to be drawn into the story when the narrative was bogged down with:
1. Long, unbroken paragraphs with no breaks because apparently, Tomorrow doesn't think in short paragraphs or the author and editor doesn't like them. You be the judge.
2. Little to no dialogue
3. Hard to sympathize with Tomorrow when he is so JUDGMENTAL for a dog
He gets all existential over the futility of mortality, the meaningless of war, he's a philosophical vegetarian because he doesn't want to eat any of his fellow brethren.
Animals are better than people but Tomorrow sounded too human for me to like or sympathize with and diminished my enjoyment of the story.
4. Tomorrow falls into despair and becomes suicidal after the unexpected death of his friend, Sporco.
Sigh. This was so...melodramatic.
After 130 years, after all that heartache and waiting patiently, Tomorrow is going to throw away all that hard work and effort searching for his master just because a friend of his died at the Battle of Waterloo?
Yes, war is terrible but war affects everyone.
You would think such a wordy and judge-y dog would get this?
5. The anti-climatic ending when Tomorrow and his master have their long awaited reunion and the nemesis' identity is revealed. It's a family affair!
Basically, the nemesis, Vilder, is a bratty whiner of an older brother who kept his younger brother, Valentyne, prisoner for 130 years.
Damn, talking about screwing up your relationship forever, you wacko creep.
I only have one question: How did Valentyne escape?
I don't think this was ever explained.
As penance for this egregious act, Vilder offers his immortality in exchange for his brother's life to make amends.
Thankfully, Valentyne forgives him but does not forget. My man!
Then there's the corny, trite speech Vilders offers about living life to the fullest...blah blah blah and finding a woman to share your life with, followed by more blah blah blah about not traveling to more exotic lands (of course you might still be alive if you did not blame your brother for the death of your lover boy and had him locked up like a princess out of a fairytale).
This book was disappointing, not good, not terrible, but it could have been great, or better than it ended up.
Still, tomorrow is another day and there are many more books to read.
(p. 333)
I chose Tomorrow based on a brief synopsis I read somewhere but forget where exactly.
I would have picked up the book based on the cover alone.
I'm not a cover snob but I am a dog lover!
The premise is fascinating and part of a rising trend: immortality but this time the immortal one is man's best friend.
** The best parts and spoilers ahead **
Tomorrow is immortal, thanks to a special elixir honed and refined by his master.
He is also a dog with a mission; he's spent over 130 years searching for his beloved human when they were separated at a Venice cathedral.
He has returned to this cathedral every day in the hopes they will be reunited.
Instead, after many years, he meets an old nemesis and Tomorrow embarks on a journey with an eager canine friend named Sporco, to finally discover the fate of his master.
Believe me when I say I wanted to love this book.
Alas, I did not.
The writing is great, no complaints there but the story...oh! it dragged!
It was too slow, tedious, and frankly, too wordy from a dog's perspective.
At times, I had to remind myself that the narrator is a DOG and not a professor.
Writing from an animal's perspective (whether it be a minotaur, dinosaur or Labrador) is not easy.
But it was difficult to be drawn into the story when the narrative was bogged down with:
1. Long, unbroken paragraphs with no breaks because apparently, Tomorrow doesn't think in short paragraphs or the author and editor doesn't like them. You be the judge.
2. Little to no dialogue
3. Hard to sympathize with Tomorrow when he is so JUDGMENTAL for a dog
He gets all existential over the futility of mortality, the meaningless of war, he's a philosophical vegetarian because he doesn't want to eat any of his fellow brethren.
Animals are better than people but Tomorrow sounded too human for me to like or sympathize with and diminished my enjoyment of the story.
4. Tomorrow falls into despair and becomes suicidal after the unexpected death of his friend, Sporco.
Sigh. This was so...melodramatic.
After 130 years, after all that heartache and waiting patiently, Tomorrow is going to throw away all that hard work and effort searching for his master just because a friend of his died at the Battle of Waterloo?
Yes, war is terrible but war affects everyone.
You would think such a wordy and judge-y dog would get this?
5. The anti-climatic ending when Tomorrow and his master have their long awaited reunion and the nemesis' identity is revealed. It's a family affair!
Basically, the nemesis, Vilder, is a bratty whiner of an older brother who kept his younger brother, Valentyne, prisoner for 130 years.
Damn, talking about screwing up your relationship forever, you wacko creep.
I only have one question: How did Valentyne escape?
I don't think this was ever explained.
As penance for this egregious act, Vilder offers his immortality in exchange for his brother's life to make amends.
Thankfully, Valentyne forgives him but does not forget. My man!
Then there's the corny, trite speech Vilders offers about living life to the fullest...blah blah blah and finding a woman to share your life with, followed by more blah blah blah about not traveling to more exotic lands (of course you might still be alive if you did not blame your brother for the death of your lover boy and had him locked up like a princess out of a fairytale).
This book was disappointing, not good, not terrible, but it could have been great, or better than it ended up.
Still, tomorrow is another day and there are many more books to read.
March 15, 2018
A truly original concept!
Tomorrow, the dog who narrates this fine novel, is more than a century old. He travels Europe searching for his master.
Damian Dibben mixes a tear-jerking dog story with an equally tear-jerking people story with a lot of history in the mix. I loved it!
Tomorrow, the dog who narrates this fine novel, is more than a century old. He travels Europe searching for his master.
Damian Dibben mixes a tear-jerking dog story with an equally tear-jerking people story with a lot of history in the mix. I loved it!
April 2, 2018
What a magical couple of days I've had reading my now favorite book. This book was written for every person who has ever loved their dog, their best friend, their champion. "Tomorrow" will make you smile and make you cry, it will remind you on every page why dogs are the purest souls, and why they make us be better people.
I will read this book over and over again. I will treasure it.
Now excuse me while I go find my dog so I can whisper to her that I love her, then smother her with hugs and kisses.
I will read this book over and over again. I will treasure it.
Now excuse me while I go find my dog so I can whisper to her that I love her, then smother her with hugs and kisses.
November 26, 2022
Może to dlatego, że nie lubię psów, może dlatego, że nie lubię upersonifikowanych zwierząt. Nic mnie nie zachwyciło.
November 13, 2018
Niet een boek dat mijn leven veranderd heeft, maar wel het boek dat ik precies op dit moment nodig had, over een andere plaats en een andere tijd en vriendschap en vooral honden.
January 11, 2023
MAM NA IMIĘ JUTRO
Seria butikowa i jej piękne okładki zawsze mnie do siebie przyciągają. Tak było i tym razem. Nie zawsze, jak się okazało, będzie cudownie. Za każdym razem zadowolenie z czytania, zachwyty nad okładką, piękna tasiemka i przede wszystkim wciągająca opowieść. Kilka z książek z tej serii znalazło się nawet w moim podsumowaniu roku. MAM NA IMIĘ JUTRO zdecydowanie wpada do tak zwanych rozczarowań. O okładce mówić nie będę. Każdy lubi inne. Ta mi do serii nie pasuje. A historia? No cóż... obdarzony przez swojego pana wiecznym życiem pies podróżuje przez wieki by odszukać ukochanego człowieka. Właściciel jego zniknął, a szuka go nie tylko wierny przyjaciel, ale i tajemniczy Vilder, czarny charakter, który jest... to się dopiero okaże. Tak więc podążamy przez historię i piękne miejsca na świecie by odszukać odkrywcę eliksiru długowieczności. Mnie wcale a wcale szukać się go nie chciało. Czekać, w przeciwieństwie do naszego bohatera JUTRO, nie znoszę. Nużyły mnie spacery w poszukiwaniu pana życia. Niestety, spacerowałam podczas czytania gdzieś obok bohaterów i wyczekiwałam końca tych poszukiwań. Wiele osób poleca tę książkę, zatem nie odradzam. Dla mnie była to najgorsza książka z serii butikowej i na pewno nie sięgnę już po inne książki autora. Została mi jeszcze do przeczytania SYRENA I PANI HANCOCK i czuje pod skórą, że to będzie dużo lepsze od przygód Jutra...
Seria butikowa i jej piękne okładki zawsze mnie do siebie przyciągają. Tak było i tym razem. Nie zawsze, jak się okazało, będzie cudownie. Za każdym razem zadowolenie z czytania, zachwyty nad okładką, piękna tasiemka i przede wszystkim wciągająca opowieść. Kilka z książek z tej serii znalazło się nawet w moim podsumowaniu roku. MAM NA IMIĘ JUTRO zdecydowanie wpada do tak zwanych rozczarowań. O okładce mówić nie będę. Każdy lubi inne. Ta mi do serii nie pasuje. A historia? No cóż... obdarzony przez swojego pana wiecznym życiem pies podróżuje przez wieki by odszukać ukochanego człowieka. Właściciel jego zniknął, a szuka go nie tylko wierny przyjaciel, ale i tajemniczy Vilder, czarny charakter, który jest... to się dopiero okaże. Tak więc podążamy przez historię i piękne miejsca na świecie by odszukać odkrywcę eliksiru długowieczności. Mnie wcale a wcale szukać się go nie chciało. Czekać, w przeciwieństwie do naszego bohatera JUTRO, nie znoszę. Nużyły mnie spacery w poszukiwaniu pana życia. Niestety, spacerowałam podczas czytania gdzieś obok bohaterów i wyczekiwałam końca tych poszukiwań. Wiele osób poleca tę książkę, zatem nie odradzam. Dla mnie była to najgorsza książka z serii butikowej i na pewno nie sięgnę już po inne książki autora. Została mi jeszcze do przeczytania SYRENA I PANI HANCOCK i czuje pod skórą, że to będzie dużo lepsze od przygód Jutra...
December 8, 2020
Immortality. Is it worth it? That's a question that frequently comes up. If you had a chance to live forever, would you? When I close this book, it is definitely the question that lingers on my mind.
The story is narrated by an immortal dog, a loyal companion to an alchemist that made him that way. They find themselves in Venice and go inside a fabulous cathedral with masses of people. His Master's last words to him are: "if we get separated, wait for me on the cathedral steps." And sure enough it happens and so the dog waits....and waits and waits....finally living out on the streets in view of the cathedral for 127 years. The story meanders from his present day in the early 17thC in Venice and a search farther flung but also goes back and forth through the life he had with his Master and their nemesis. " Tomorrow, we begin again." You may be surprised when you discover the intent of this phrase.
It was fairly easy reading and although I wanted to know what happened to his Master and why; it wasn't enough to bring my rating up. This was a debut novel.
The story is narrated by an immortal dog, a loyal companion to an alchemist that made him that way. They find themselves in Venice and go inside a fabulous cathedral with masses of people. His Master's last words to him are: "if we get separated, wait for me on the cathedral steps." And sure enough it happens and so the dog waits....and waits and waits....finally living out on the streets in view of the cathedral for 127 years. The story meanders from his present day in the early 17thC in Venice and a search farther flung but also goes back and forth through the life he had with his Master and their nemesis. " Tomorrow, we begin again." You may be surprised when you discover the intent of this phrase.
It was fairly easy reading and although I wanted to know what happened to his Master and why; it wasn't enough to bring my rating up. This was a debut novel.
October 29, 2019
4.5 stars! Just awwwww. Such a delightful and very heartwarming novel that I tragically (!) (unfairly, stupidly) underestimated before reading. I did not expect this to turn out to be so good and captivating! Because once again I, in all my intelligence, only decided to skim over the first two sentences of the blurb, I anticipated a decent enough story about the various adventures of a forever-living dog, typical three star-material so to say, but it is actually so much more than that! And I could hit myself for once again not being able to put into words why that is the case, but the book was such an emotional rollercoaster journey that it almost made me cry at work (which finally gave me a different reason to cry, yay!) I don't even care about the illogical mistakes (like a dog being able to see all the colours instead of only black and white, and how dogs can have long conversations with each other without having it sound like intermittent growling), because, let's face it, the premise is about a dog and its owner who can't die, so why not throw some other facts to the wind as well. You just accept this as some part of normality and move on! First and foremost, and quite to be expected in a story about dogs, the central theme is that of loyalty to a fault (quite literally, because not always to one's benefit…on the contrary!). The three (maybe four) central characters are incredibly multi-faceted and complicated, and especially Vilder impresses with unexpected and yet so very understandable behaviour. And the latter means a lot coming from me, given what happens in this book. They characters just feel incredibly vivid and real, and at the end of the book you get to know each and every one of them on a multitude of different levels. It truly is an impressive feat, given how much is happening in the novel over the course of only 300 pages without it ever feeling too packed or overly convoluted. I really like the author's choice of narration in that regard; the switching between both narratives before Tomorrow loses his master and after, as it really layers and explains their relationship as well as their personal motives for doing the things they do and won’t do (and a lot is done/not done in this novel – but all for very good reasons!). I can't say I really cared for the famous people they've met throughout their journey, though I don't think that was ever the point of the novel, given that those only felt like "side" plot lines anyway; rather than being about historical events or the ambition to include as much attention to the detail as possible (while attention of detail was definitely there, it never felt like it undertook the novel) the book is definitely mainly about the love between a dog and its owner and about the (sometimes very problematic) lengths they go to because of this love. Other messages are addressed in this process, and all of them very thoughtful ones, but none of them have anything much to do with history. Yes, the change of scenery and time are a nice background to all of this, but are still only that: a pleasant hum to the main plot of the book about how both dog and owner cannot die and the ways they both experience and cope with their immortality: adventures. A bit like an unpretentious and way cuter Dorian Gray! Since Tomorrow never had any choice in the matter of immortality (something that is revealed at the beginning of the book) it makes the whole relationship dynamics between the both main characters even more complicated, especially because the question of "playing god" is arised quite often throughout the book. How is it any more ethically acceptable to transform a dog (who cannot even say "NO" for lack of a voice) instead of a human person? Especially for someone who considers humans and dog of equal worth and quality? I love how every character is clouded in shades of gray like that; not even Tomorrow (who is a dog after all!) being spared here, given his treatment of his fellow companion Scorpo (probably the only pure character in this novel); his loyalty to his master ultimately harming others and I would argue even himself, given that Tomorrow never had any choice but that of following his owner Valentyne on his various whims and journeys, even though you could argue that never having a real home is not exactly a desirable life for a dog on the long run (it is even mentioned that Tomorrow never wanted any of this when he notices how his owner is about to embark on yet another adventure: "I wish, more than ever in my life, for human speech. I would say, 'Enough.' I would shout, 'No more. I will go no more!'"). Poor Tomorrow, it really is as he says himself about Sporco: "The finest quality of our species is its greatest failing: trust, over sense, over logic, trust over everything" So when at the end Tomorrow fantasizes about going back to adventures after all, it does feel a bit like some toned-down bittersweet Stockholm Syndrome on his part. It's really incredible how much potential for discussion this book presents! And I'm not even talking about the countless other messages in the novel. As for the writing style, that was just extremely sublime. Absolutely no complaints there! It was just very pleasantly simple and cohesive, and wonderfully beautiful! The way the author describes the atmosphere in his scenes is so stunning: "The snow fell so delicately, it looked as if the stars themselves were dropping from their places to our Earth" Just how pretty does this sound? <3 Such a simple quote, and yet such a gorgeous one! Really, his writing feels very unique in its beauty, and I cherish every book that doesn't need to adhere to overly-complicated and pretentious-feeling descriptions but rather tells you the world and its places as you would do to a child: as something magical and dreamy, in a straight to the point-manner without holding up on unnecessary and distracting details. I love how everything went full-circle towards the end and how every scene had its reason for existence; the book isn't overly long, but still so very strong in conveying its messages and portraying its characters that it feels like you hold a perfect piece of writing in your hand. Nothing is out of place, and everything makes for a delightful (and incredibly emotional) reading experience. If it weren't for the...somehow too intense and good-to-be-true character transformation of a certain someone towards the end, it'd have gotten the full 5 stars. While I understand why the author went this route, I think toning down that part would've still made for a bittersweet ending and layered the characters even more. Still, I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone!!! EVERYONE. Even if the blurb sounds a bit...uneventful and weird, not really like something that could actually work or even be taken seriously, the absolute contrary is the case! It's pure magic, both in content and writing. Despite being really sad at times, still a very happy and hopeful read! As for a reread, I feel like quoting Valentyne here: "Tomorrow, we begin again" (sadly, I can hear my other books object)
PS: Big kudos to the author for never making the premise of immortality for a dog feel like some ludicrous notion. I never for a moment doubted it, because the book manages to draw you in so quickly that you rather long to unravel its secrets and spend time with the characters instead of unnecessarily holding up yourself on the realism of the plot idea itself; which is obviously fantasy, but feels incredibly believable!
PS2: I'll keep an eye on Damian Dibben from now on, no matter what he writes. If he made a story about an immortal dog turn out so brilliantly, he can do everything!
PS: Big kudos to the author for never making the premise of immortality for a dog feel like some ludicrous notion. I never for a moment doubted it, because the book manages to draw you in so quickly that you rather long to unravel its secrets and spend time with the characters instead of unnecessarily holding up yourself on the realism of the plot idea itself; which is obviously fantasy, but feels incredibly believable!
PS2: I'll keep an eye on Damian Dibben from now on, no matter what he writes. If he made a story about an immortal dog turn out so brilliantly, he can do everything!
March 3, 2025
¿Puede el amor sobrevivir al tiempo? ¿Y la lealtad? "Mañana será otro día" es una de esas novelas que no solo cuentan una historia, sino que crean una atmósfera que se queda contigo mucho después de haberla terminado. En este caso, el relato nos llega desde una voz poco convencional: la de un perro inmortal que, a lo largo de los siglos, persigue el rastro de su amo perdido.
Lo primero que me sorprendió fue el tono casi poético con el que está escrita. No es solo una historia de aventuras o de ficción histórica; es una reflexión sobre el amor, la espera y la lealtad llevada al extremo. Su protagonista, un perro cuya vida parece no tener fin, nos guía por la Europa del siglo XVII y más allá, mientras seguimos su incansable búsqueda. Y ahí está el corazón de la novela: esa conexión entre un ser y otro, ese vínculo irrompible que trasciende el tiempo y la distancia.
La prosa de Dibben es rica en detalles, envolvente y profundamente visual. Cada escena está descrita con una precisión casi cinematográfica, como si el autor no solo contara la historia, sino que la pintara ante nuestros ojos. Hay momentos en los que el ritmo se ralentiza, donde la narración se detiene más de lo esperado, pero lejos de restarle valor, creo que esto forma parte de la experiencia. "Mañana será otro día" no es un libro para leer con prisa, sino para disfrutar poco a poco, dejándose llevar por su cadencia melancólica y su aire contemplativo.
No había leído nada de este autor antes, así que no sabía qué esperar, pero me ha dejado con ganas de más. Es una novela especial, diferente, de esas que resuenan mucho después de haberlas terminado. Una historia que habla de amor y de pérdida, de fidelidad y de esperanza, con una voz narrativa tan inusual como conmovedora.
Lo primero que me sorprendió fue el tono casi poético con el que está escrita. No es solo una historia de aventuras o de ficción histórica; es una reflexión sobre el amor, la espera y la lealtad llevada al extremo. Su protagonista, un perro cuya vida parece no tener fin, nos guía por la Europa del siglo XVII y más allá, mientras seguimos su incansable búsqueda. Y ahí está el corazón de la novela: esa conexión entre un ser y otro, ese vínculo irrompible que trasciende el tiempo y la distancia.
La prosa de Dibben es rica en detalles, envolvente y profundamente visual. Cada escena está descrita con una precisión casi cinematográfica, como si el autor no solo contara la historia, sino que la pintara ante nuestros ojos. Hay momentos en los que el ritmo se ralentiza, donde la narración se detiene más de lo esperado, pero lejos de restarle valor, creo que esto forma parte de la experiencia. "Mañana será otro día" no es un libro para leer con prisa, sino para disfrutar poco a poco, dejándose llevar por su cadencia melancólica y su aire contemplativo.
No había leído nada de este autor antes, así que no sabía qué esperar, pero me ha dejado con ganas de más. Es una novela especial, diferente, de esas que resuenan mucho después de haberlas terminado. Una historia que habla de amor y de pérdida, de fidelidad y de esperanza, con una voz narrativa tan inusual como conmovedora.
January 31, 2025
No sabía nada de este libro, pero la portada y su sinopsis me llamaron mucho la atención. Y tanto por una como por otra, pensaba que me iba a hacer sentir muchas cosas durante la lectura. Y quizá ese ha sido mi pero con esta historia, que ni lo ha conseguido y tampoco ha ido por donde yo esperaba. En general me ha servido para entretenerme y el narrador me ha gustado mucho, de hecho ha sido mi personaje favorito, pero me quedo con la espinita de que no me haya emocionado en ningún momento.
November 28, 2022
Ugh, I really, really wanted to like this book, but it was (almost) entirely unenjoyable for me.
First, and probably one of the biggest things I just could not get past, the dog on the cover (both the hardcover and the softcover) is not Tomorrow, the main character!!! I have no idea why a chocolate lab was chosen to be represented on the cover, there are no labradors in this story (because I was so off-put, I even did some research, the labrador breed was not even "invented" during the time this story took place). I kept trying to get a visual in my head of what Tomorrow the dog looked like and I kept picturing the lab on the cover, a completely inaccurate depiction.
Which brings me to another major issue I had... what did Tomorrow look like?? There was no real description of what the main character(s) looked like. The best we get (towards the end of the book!) is that he had a black back and light-colored stomach... A couple descriptions of his "ears standing up"... Same really for Valentyne, we know he has thick curly hair... that's about it for physical appearance. I felt like I could not really "bond' with these characters, they felt like strangers to me.
We do get spoon-fed over and over how virtuous they are though. Ad nauseam. Tomorrow the dog is so good, honorable and noble that he is a vegetarian. The smell of meat repulses him... This was almost too much for me and really felt like flat-out virtue signaling from the author. Valentyne and Tomorrow can do no wrong, they seem too perfect, too saintly, and this makes it quite impossible to identify with either of them, or like them very much.
For a story that spans centuries, numerous continents, wars, varied monarchies, it was BORING. On more than one occasion I was ready to call it quits. Every single time I'd settle in to read before bed, I'd find myself dozing off within minutes. I'd struggle to get through chapters where, even though our protagonists are traipsing through war-torn countries trying to find each other, nothing of significance really happens. Four centuries of events gets stripped down and condensed into a boring couple of hundred pages.
The one angel-baby that made struggling through the book worthwhile was dear, sweet Sporco. The author actually did an excellent job at portraying this sweet baby in a way that will pull the heartstrings. He wasn't perfect like Tomorrow, he was flawed, and that's why readers will ADORE him. To me, his story was the truer portrayal of loyalty and unfaltering love.
Because our main protagonist is a dog, we see the story unfolding from his point of view, so of course heavy anthropomorphism comes into play. This wasn't a huge turnoff for me as it was for some other reviewers. There's just no other way to get a coherent story out of a dog without giving him human characteristics and attributes. When you rationalize that you're reading a book in which an immortal dog is telling the story, you begrudgingly accept as fact that said dog can organize and stack piles of papers, can enter numerous churches, theaters and castles unhindered, can reminisce on doggy sex with a true love (strange and awkward to say the least...).
The writing style wasn't horrible, but certain narratives and scenarios were basic and unoriginal. The ending was as predictable and clichéd as they get. I'm disappointed that I was so disappointed, the premise of this story is so good, just didn't have the execution that I had hoped for.
First, and probably one of the biggest things I just could not get past, the dog on the cover (both the hardcover and the softcover) is not Tomorrow, the main character!!! I have no idea why a chocolate lab was chosen to be represented on the cover, there are no labradors in this story (because I was so off-put, I even did some research, the labrador breed was not even "invented" during the time this story took place). I kept trying to get a visual in my head of what Tomorrow the dog looked like and I kept picturing the lab on the cover, a completely inaccurate depiction.
Which brings me to another major issue I had... what did Tomorrow look like?? There was no real description of what the main character(s) looked like. The best we get (towards the end of the book!) is that he had a black back and light-colored stomach... A couple descriptions of his "ears standing up"... Same really for Valentyne, we know he has thick curly hair... that's about it for physical appearance. I felt like I could not really "bond' with these characters, they felt like strangers to me.
We do get spoon-fed over and over how virtuous they are though. Ad nauseam. Tomorrow the dog is so good, honorable and noble that he is a vegetarian. The smell of meat repulses him... This was almost too much for me and really felt like flat-out virtue signaling from the author. Valentyne and Tomorrow can do no wrong, they seem too perfect, too saintly, and this makes it quite impossible to identify with either of them, or like them very much.
For a story that spans centuries, numerous continents, wars, varied monarchies, it was BORING. On more than one occasion I was ready to call it quits. Every single time I'd settle in to read before bed, I'd find myself dozing off within minutes. I'd struggle to get through chapters where, even though our protagonists are traipsing through war-torn countries trying to find each other, nothing of significance really happens. Four centuries of events gets stripped down and condensed into a boring couple of hundred pages.
The one angel-baby that made struggling through the book worthwhile was dear, sweet Sporco. The author actually did an excellent job at portraying this sweet baby in a way that will pull the heartstrings. He wasn't perfect like Tomorrow, he was flawed, and that's why readers will ADORE him. To me, his story was the truer portrayal of loyalty and unfaltering love.
Because our main protagonist is a dog, we see the story unfolding from his point of view, so of course heavy anthropomorphism comes into play. This wasn't a huge turnoff for me as it was for some other reviewers. There's just no other way to get a coherent story out of a dog without giving him human characteristics and attributes. When you rationalize that you're reading a book in which an immortal dog is telling the story, you begrudgingly accept as fact that said dog can organize and stack piles of papers, can enter numerous churches, theaters and castles unhindered, can reminisce on doggy sex with a true love (strange and awkward to say the least...).
The writing style wasn't horrible, but certain narratives and scenarios were basic and unoriginal. The ending was as predictable and clichéd as they get. I'm disappointed that I was so disappointed, the premise of this story is so good, just didn't have the execution that I had hoped for.
March 9, 2018
Tomorrow is a 217 year old dog that has spent over 100 years searching for his master, Valentyne. It is a sad story in some ways as you feel the despair of Tomorrow, but he never gives up and hopes to find him soon. How does a dog live to be 217 years old? Valentyne has concocted a secret potion that he uses on himself as well as Tomorrow, allowing them to live indefinately.
The story takes place in the 1600s to the 1800s, which makes it a very interesting historical read; particularly as it takes place in several European cities. The details and descriptions will captivate you and bring you to another day and time and also into the mind of a wise, street smart dog.
All dog and animal lovers will enjoy this read! The pace really picks up during the last 100 pages and the story becomes impossible to put down.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Goodreads for giving me an ARC of this most interesting story! I loved it!
The story takes place in the 1600s to the 1800s, which makes it a very interesting historical read; particularly as it takes place in several European cities. The details and descriptions will captivate you and bring you to another day and time and also into the mind of a wise, street smart dog.
All dog and animal lovers will enjoy this read! The pace really picks up during the last 100 pages and the story becomes impossible to put down.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Goodreads for giving me an ARC of this most interesting story! I loved it!
March 11, 2018
A loyal, loving and intelligent dog travels many miles and hundreds of years searching for his lost owner. Both man and the dog are immortal following his master's discovery of a 'fountain of youth' type substance. The story explores not only the changes wrought in society by time, but also the pleasures and perils of immortality.
The historical aspects of the book were interesting, as man and dog experience the Renaissance and the Enlightenment as well as the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars. I loved the intelligent warmth of the dog, Tomorrow, and the playful curiosity of his master Valentyne. However, I found the story far too long and while I enjoyed its resolution, it was a a bit of a slog to make it that far. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
The historical aspects of the book were interesting, as man and dog experience the Renaissance and the Enlightenment as well as the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars. I loved the intelligent warmth of the dog, Tomorrow, and the playful curiosity of his master Valentyne. However, I found the story far too long and while I enjoyed its resolution, it was a a bit of a slog to make it that far. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
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