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Charlotte Street

Danny Wallace,

Simona Viciani (Translator)

3.52 · Rating details · 4,103 ratings · 434 reviews

Jason Priestley (not that one) has just seen her. They shared an incredible, brief, fleeting moment of deep possibility, somewhere halfway down Charlotte Street.

And then, just like that, she was gone - accidentally leaving him holding her old-fashioned, disposable camera, chock full of undeveloped photos...

And now Jason - ex-teacher, ex-boyfriend, part-time writer and relu ...more

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Paperback, 416 pages

Published May 10th 2012 by Ebury Press (first published 2011)

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Average rating 3.52 ·

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· 4,103 ratings · 434 reviews

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Jan 15, 2015 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

Just your average story of boy stalks girl. Second time I have read this and I’m sure I’ll read it time and time again. I just love this book, it’s laugh out loud funny, there’s moments when your heart breaks and the cracks get filled with hope.

Until the next time Charlotte Street.....

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Dec 12, 2012 Alec rated it liked it · review of another edition

Charlotte Street, by Danny Wallace, was the next book in a couple of my ongoing literary themes. For one, it was the most recent of the "books I picked out randomly from a bookstore" subset -- my most cherished pastime. Second, as it turns out, this was but another in a long line of "angsty twentysomething male charmingly tries to put his life together" novels which I hold so dear. That series, of course, contains such gems as Twentysomething (creatively titled), Mammals: A Novel, The Beautiful Charlotte Street, by Danny Wallace, was the next book in a couple of my ongoing literary themes. For one, it was the most recent of the "books I picked out randomly from a bookstore" subset -- my most cherished pastime. Second, as it turns out, this was but another in a long line of "angsty twentysomething male charmingly tries to put his life together" novels which I hold so dear. That series, of course, contains such gems as Twentysomething (creatively titled), Mammals: A Novel, The Beautiful and Damned (possibly the least flattering list in which Fitzgerald has ever been included) and pretty much everything Nick Hornby has ever written. I have enjoyed them all, to varying degrees, and this was no exception. Actually, it was an exception. The protagonist in Charlotte Street was actually thirtysomething -- a fact that gave me great piece of mind. Perhaps the protagonists in these novels will simply age with me. How very comforting...yet also appalling. Get it together, fictional characters.

This book had a lot of attributes I really enjoyed. Danny Wallace writes with tremendous voice and, especially at the start of the book, is quite literally laugh-out-loud funny. There was one point on a United Flight from St. Louis where I had to put the book down and compose myself for fear my laughter convulsions would wake my sleeping wildebeast of a seat neighbor. Thankfully, the crisis was averted and the beast slept on. There were also many traits that kept Charlotte Street in the pedestrian world of three stars. After a very strong first half, the plot failed to keep my attention for the home stretch and throughout the book I had trouble understanding why many characters behaved the way they did (perhaps it's an English thing). But my main complaint about Charlotte street was this: I didn't like the main character, Jason Priestly.

Apart from the "shares a name with a celebrity" gimmick, something about this guy just rubbed me the wrong way. Sure, objectively he made a lot of mistakes and hurt people along the way but I'm someone who actively roots for the murderous Walter White in Breaking Bad. Clearly, moral transgressions are not a deal breaker for me in the protagonist department. I think my main irritation was that Jason Priestly is just such a whiny, pansy of a man. Now listen, I am not claiming to be a shining example of modern masculinity. I ask my landlord to change light bulbs, I'd call my abilities to drive a stick shift "non-existent" and I have been told by more than one female that I have "really soft hands." John Wayne, I am not. But come on, Jason Priestly! I can't respect a man in his 30s who constantly whines about how bad his luck is and what a depressing situation he's in. Want to know a great way to have bad luck with women? Complain about your life all the time! Alright...I'm not sure I'm getting through to him. I tried.

Since I did actually enjoy the book on the whole, I'd like to point out one other aspect which I thought was a tremendous positive. As the cover of the book says, Charlotte Street is "A heartwarming everyday tale of boy stalks girl." Basically, Jason has a chance encounter with this mystery woman and spends most of the book trying to track her down. As a plot device, I loved it. I thought the author did a fantastic job of showcasing how such a random crush on what's essentially a stranger can totally brighten your life. We've all been there. The cute girl on the elevator, the new co-worker you haven't met yet, a random McDon...err, Starbucks barista: for that brief window they can put a bounce in your step and make waking up in the morning the easiest thing in the world. Even when you're Jason "I'm an annoying, aging hipster" Priestly.

Overall, I'd call Charlotte Street an enjoyable, if flawed, example of easy-to-read fiction. I think this is appropriate given my next book will likely be A Man Called Intrepid, which promises to be an enjoyable example of exhausting-to-read nonfiction. ...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Vikki VanSickle rated it liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction

This book was a novel version of a romantic comedy, but one of the good British ones, with a dry-witted, sheepish, bumbling narrator and an awesome ensemble cast (think Notting Hill). Danny Wallace is a funny writer, and though Jason (the narrator) makes oafish mistakes and can be a bit of a drunken lout, he is never mean-spirited and ultimately his desire to reinvent himself and do right is quite winning. Think of him as a male version of Bridget Jones as played by Mark Ruffalo with a British a ...more

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May 15, 2012 Reader, I Read It rated it it was amazing

Sometimes a book comes along where a reviewer has little else to say apart from those three magic words….just read it.

For Charlotte Street, Wallace’s debut novel, is one of those books which will hold universal appeal, cause enough embarrassment laughing out loud on your public transport of choice and will ultimately tug at the heart strings.

Jason Priestley accidentally is left holding a disposable camera belonging to a girl he helps, with bags as she clambers into a taxi, on Charlotte Street. W ...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Donna rated it it was ok

Disclaimer: I read this book when the Melbourne winter decided to grace us with two windless and sunshiney days, all synched up with the weekend. Meanwhile I was lying in bed with a head cold.

I discovered this book on the 'Highly Recommended' shelf at my library and who doesn't like 'a heartwarming everyday tale of boy stalks girl'?

A few chapters in, I was reminded of Nick Horby's High Fidelity, but with fewer insights. I really couldn't get into this book. Blame my grumpiness or the fact that J ...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Aimee rated it it was amazing

I am an anglophile at heart so I jumped at the chance to read this book and I am so glad that I did. Danny Wallace has written a book that is filled with British humor, quirky characters, and an interesting story that kept me reading.

There were so many things I loved about this book. The idea of Jason helping this stranger, being attracted to her, and then finding he still has a connection to her through a disposable camera was brilliant. It was a great fun to read about Jason and his best frie ...more

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May 13, 2013 Hester Robinson-spoon rated it did not like it

Disappointingly boring

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Oct 23, 2012 Ryan Sweeney rated it it was amazing

Danny Wallace, is better known for his non-fiction books. In fact, Danny Wallace wrote one of my favorite books of all time... actually... that's not quite right, Danny Wallace wrote half of one of my favorite books of all time with his then-flatmate Dave Gorman. In case you're interested that book was called 'Are You Dave Gorman' and it chronicled a drunken bet between Dave and Danny which stated that Dave would never be able to find 54 people called Dave Gorman. Possibly the funniest book I've Danny Wallace, is better known for his non-fiction books. In fact, Danny Wallace wrote one of my favorite books of all time... actually... that's not quite right, Danny Wallace wrote half of one of my favorite books of all time with his then-flatmate Dave Gorman. In case you're interested that book was called 'Are You Dave Gorman' and it chronicled a drunken bet between Dave and Danny which stated that Dave would never be able to find 54 people called Dave Gorman. Possibly the funniest book I've ever read.

Since the release of 'Are You Dave Gorman?', both he and co-author Dave have become famous for their range of non-fiction 'wacky-adventure books' and sporadic television appearances. However, it was Danny who really hit the big time when one of his later books 'Yes man!' was adapted into a film starring Jim Carrey - which strangely had almost nothing to do with the book upon which it was based. Regardless, both are incredible writers and I'd highly recommend any of their books to anyone.

Where was I going with this?

Oh right, yeah. So, I am a fan of Danny Wallace, but his last book, "Friends like these" was slightly disappointing (read: not as good as his others) and I was worried how he would turn his hand at fiction. I saw the book on a shelf, decided it was worth the risk, and it paid off. Easily the best book I've read all year, and certainly one of the funniest.

'Charlotte Street' tells the story of a man named Jason Priestley (no, not the star of Beverly hills 90210) who has reached a bit of a slump in his life. One day he has a fleeting moment with a pretty young woman whilst helping her with her bags and into a taxi. By accident, he ends up with her disposable camera and no way to contact her to give it back. He becomes smitten, perhaps borderline obsessed with "The Girl", and thanks to the actions of his flatmate and good friend Dev, he embarks on a quest to return the pictures to their owner which lies somewhere between stalking and hopelessly romantic.

I don't want to reveal any more than that, so as not to spoil a fantastic read but I just could not put this book down, I think I managed a couple of short breaks while a made a cup of tea, but aside from that I was addicted. If you've read any of his previous books, you can really see their influence in this one, and it makes it all the better.

Head out and buy it now; you won't be disappointed.

'A magical slice of book heaven.' - Ryan Sweeney

...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Natalie E. Ramm rated it liked it

Jason Priestly (not the one from that sitcom that I’m too young to remember) is in a rough spot. He and his girlfriend have recently broken up for reasons unknown; he’s living with his socially challenged friend Dev in an apartment Dev’s dad owns; he has recently quit teaching to write mostly negative reviews for a free paper that no one reads; and has generally lost his luster. But when he sees this woman drop her bags on Charlotte Street he has an urge to help her. As he picks up her bags she ...more

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Jan 24, 2014 Laura Armstrong rated it liked it · review of another edition

I think if I hadn't been reading this for a book club I may have struggled to finish. Wallace took far to long to get things going, 'things' got going 250 or so pages in, - by this point I worry the author may have lost quite a few readers...There were some amusing touches along the way and I quite liked the premise but I'm not sure this is as top notch as the author would hope it to be. ...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Ellie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: general-fiction

There was a girl struggling with the door of a cab and her packages. And I don't know why, but I asked if I could help. And she smiled at me. This incredible smile. And suddenly I felt all manly and confident, like a handyman who knows just which nail to buy, and now I'm holding some of her bags, and she's saying "thank you" and then...there's that moment. And it felt like a beginning. But the cabbie was impatient and I suppose we were just too British to say anything else...

Jason Priestly (no,

There was a girl struggling with the door of a cab and her packages. And I don't know why, but I asked if I could help. And she smiled at me. This incredible smile. And suddenly I felt all manly and confident, like a handyman who knows just which nail to buy, and now I'm holding some of her bags, and she's saying "thank you" and then...there's that moment. And it felt like a beginning. But the cabbie was impatient and I suppose we were just too British to say anything else...

Jason Priestly (no, not that one) is left standing on the corner of Charlotte Street holding a disposable camera. The Girl has left it behind but it's too late to hand it back and he doesn't know who she is. His flatmate and best mate, Dev, thinks they should get the film developed and look for clues to her identity. Jason thinks they're bordering on stalking. Yet, there's a link, a tenuous one at best, and they team up with ex-pupil, Matt, to uncover the pattern in the photos.

Jason's had a rough time of things lately. The prologue is rather dark and may leave you feeling, just for a moment, that this isn't the humorous book you were expecting. Whilst it does have its serious side, it's full of Danny's trademark, charming humour. Just like the funny parts are funny because they are grounded in reality, the characters are incredibly real and that includes their faults. Humour can often be a mask to hide behind.

It's one of those books that captures the current day of normal people like you and me. They may get a bit drunk and say stupid things on Facebook when their ex is happy and engaged. They might create fantasies out of people they bump into on the street and may never see again. Yet there's that hope that they might. They might not be all that great at their jobs but muddle through anyway. There's a hint of recession but nothing overwhelming to the plot, just enough to place it in the now.

“You have twelve exposures,” he said. “Twelve moments to capture. It's finite. So every time you capture one in that little box, you've got one less to spare. By the time you get to that last one, you better be sure that moment is special, because what if the next one comes along and you've got to let it go?”

What a terrible thing, I thought, to let a moment go.

“With a disposable, you want to complete your little story. End of an ending. Or a new beginning. A dot-dot-dot to take you to the next roll.”

As a photographer who has moved from film to digital, I loved the little photography metaphors. Photographs have become so less special in the digital age, yet there are still thousands who love that finite quality of a roll of film. I also love how the story of The Girl unravels through the photographs.

Danny's first foray into fiction has been a huge success. I did at times picture Jason as Danny himself, which is difficult when a writer has done so much autobiographical writing, yet as the story develops Jason becomes his own person. The characterisation is spot on and I just wanted to keep reading about their lives, but alas, all good things must come to an end. ...more

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Jul 01, 2013 Spencer Bowden rated it liked it

First off, this is my first review on Goodreads. Hopefully the first of many. So, to the book.

I generally enjoy this type of easy read fiction. This book is ok. I wouldn't read it again, but it didn't feel like a chore to read.

The good points: pretty easy plot. A quick read. I genuinely laughed out loud about four times; there is some good humour in this book, in places.

The bad points: several typos (maybe expect one in 80,000+ words, but I found at least five). I didn't like all of the ongoing ...more

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Aug 19, 2015 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book!

The character is speaking to the reader, like he would a friend. He tells you the details of his story, but slowly and cautiously at first like you really would do with someone you were just getting to know. He wants you to like him but he also tells you the true story.

Jason's life is in a bit of a rut and he realizes that it's mostly his fault.
One day, just like any other, he is walking down the street and he shares a moment (really more like a few seconds) with a stranger. H ...more

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Apr 02, 2018 Kenny rated it liked it

Danny Wallace turns to fiction after a run of non-fiction featuring a 20/30 something man child embarking in some almost endearingly naive coming of age/getting it together japes. Yes man, Join Me, Friends like these - all were entertaining warm hearted and amusing. So a novel was likely to have fairly similar territory - and does. Naming the protagonist Jason Priestly (not that one) was, I think, to try to stop me calling him Danny throughout (not a total success) such was the familiarity with ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Thais Morimoto (tatakizi) rated it really liked it

Charlotte Street is very funny and cute at the same time.
As soon as you enter the story, the reading flows very well.
I thought the story could have been reduced a little. I loved the details that the author put in the book, but sometimes I felt I would never finish reading.
Jason is a realistic character. Everything that happened in his life, could be happening with the person next to you. Dev is my favorite character. He is a great friend and he is so funny!
I'd say to pick up this book you need ...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Angela rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I won a copy of this via Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!

I have tried and tried to make a dent in this book. Maybe I'm just too American because the "dry wit" is apparently too dry for me.

I kept wanting the story to change direction and just start following a different character altogether. The main character is boring. He's an observer, only he doesn't make very exciting observations.

It just wasn't for me. Despite my best efforts, I only made it about a quarter of the way into the book. ...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Margi rated it it was ok

This book started out great and I was really into the humor and the story. Then about halfway through I became bogged down by the story and the humor was gone as well. The characters were intriguing at first as well, and then I found that I just did not care about any of them and I did not care if Jason ever found "the girl" I am disappointed as I thought this was going to be a fun, light read, but that is not the case. ...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Andrea Ellis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comedy-drama

A best friend of mine bought this for me and I read it in two days!! As with Danny's comedy-docu bks this was funny and gripping n I could completely picture the characters and their habitats. Very David Nicholls esque of one day fame but just better and I can never run out out of great things to say about Mr Wallaces writing style-loved it. Charlotte st is right up my street!!! ...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Mugren Ohaly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012

I had lost hope in British writers. Danny Wallace is different though. I loved this book. I'm a hopeless romantic and a sucker for a good plot. This book had both. And the way he writes makes you want to keep reading. I never thought a cliffhanger would be possible in the middle of a story, but Wallace does it time and time again. Brilliant. ...more

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May 27, 2013 Nicky Robinson rated it really liked it

I love Danny Wallace, and I love this book! It differs from his other books that I've read as it is fiction and not a true account of something that's happened to him. But as always, he drew me in to the story line, intrigued me, made me laugh, and captured moments of late 20s/early 30s life in London perfectly. ...more

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Feb 14, 2014 Claire rated it liked it · review of another edition

I loved Yes Man. Then I started this and wanted to cry because it didn't have the same funny, easy, graceful style. If it hadn't been a book club book I would have given up; but I'm so glad I didn't. Half way through it slipped back into the funny, laugh out loud style I had expected and I really enjoyed it. Heartwarming and lovely. ...more

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Jun 05, 2016 Jolien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, 2016

I mostly read YA so I was a bit hesitant to read it but I got it for cheap and the cover makes me so happy!
As this has a 30-something protagonist I wasn't really sure I would connect to him but I in a way I did. I really felt for him.
I'm too lazy to write a coherent review all I need to say is that I was pleasantly surprised and it was a great read! ...more

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Aug 26, 2015 Andi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-with-a-book-buddy

I'm always fascinated when men write love stories.
This was sweet, at times a little annoying, the ending was satisfying, funny, but not a core shaker. Would read his other novels though when I want something light. ...more

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May 18, 2012 Lucy Gibson rated it it was amazing

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish - really funny, well written and brilliantly observed.

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Jan 24, 2019 Ivan Magnus rated it liked it · review of another edition

Every once in a while I pick up a book that I haven't heard of and Charlotte Street is one of them. I found the plot pretty interesting, it reminded me of one of those British rom-com movies (i.e. Notting Hill minus the Hollywood celeb character). The book started good, it was pretty funny, I got hooked on the characters easily and was having a good time reading BUT it's 400 pages long, there were times it felt draggy, annoying and I just wanted it to be over. I think there were parts that weren ...more

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May 21, 2020 Dane Cobain rated it really liked it

This is pretty much the closest I ever come to reading a contemporary novel, but I’ve got to say I was pretty happy with it. I’ve actually had this one lying around for quite a while now, in part because I was a pretty big Danny Wallace fan back in the day and I’ve read all of his non-fiction. This is his first novel and so I guess that’s why I was putting it off.

But it turns out to be pretty fun and quite quirky, as well as a super easy read. In other words, it was just what I needed at the tim This is pretty much the closest I ever come to reading a contemporary novel, but I’ve got to say I was pretty happy with it. I’ve actually had this one lying around for quite a while now, in part because I was a pretty big Danny Wallace fan back in the day and I’ve read all of his non-fiction. This is his first novel and so I guess that’s why I was putting it off.

But it turns out to be pretty fun and quite quirky, as well as a super easy read. In other words, it was just what I needed at the time when I picked it up. As for the story line, I think there was potentially a worry that it would come across as kind of stalkery, because it is. But Wallace knows that, and so too does his main character.

Basically, he’s fascinated by this woman and ends up accidentally in possession of a disposable camera that belonged to her. He could just do nothing of course, but where’s the fun in that? And so instead, he decides to try to track the woman down instead. And that’s pretty much as much of the novel’s plot as you need to know before you go ahead and pick it up.

Because it’s Danny Wallace, it’s also pretty funny, and indeed it’s one of those where the journey itself is more fun than the destination. With that said, it still does a pretty good job of building a little bit of tension and a lot of intrigue, and the result is a pretty strange book that feels familiar and yet unique at the same time. I’m impressed, even though at times, the writing doesn’t quite come across like a true pro.

So would I recommend this? Yeah, of course I would, and I’m particularly pleased because finishing this one off takes me down to 33 unread books and I’m really starting to scrape the barrel. I’ve not been expecting much from each of the books I’ve got to recently, especially from ones like these which have been on my to be read pile for so long.

Yeah, I’m happy with this one, and I’m pretty sure Wallace has a newer novel out too. I think maybe Cats and Camera read it. I shall have to do a little research. ...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Kimmy rated it really liked it

Review copy provided by the publisher in conjunction with TLC Book Tours
Publication date: October 23, 2012

Here is the summary from the back of the book:

Jason Priestley is in something of a rut. And no, that that Jason Priestley. This is the 32-year-old Jason Priestley who gave up his job as a teacher to pursue his journalistic dreams – writing snarky reviews of cheap restaurants for a free newspaper that they give you on the train. He’s living above a videogames shop, between a Polish newsagen ...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Leah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, favorites, ebooks, books-read-2012

When I heard about Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace, I was intrigued. I love the idea of a girl chasing a boy even though they don’t know who they are, but they felt that they felt something in that brief second when they met. Or, a boy chasing a girl, as this one is. Even the tagline drew me in: “A heartwarming every day tale of boy stalks girl.” Which is sort of true, really, isn’t it? If a girl chases a boy and develops her photos it’s most likely cute and romantic and warm and fuzzy. But if When I heard about Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace, I was intrigued. I love the idea of a girl chasing a boy even though they don’t know who they are, but they felt that they felt something in that brief second when they met. Or, a boy chasing a girl, as this one is. Even the tagline drew me in: “A heartwarming every day tale of boy stalks girl.” Which is sort of true, really, isn’t it? If a girl chases a boy and develops her photos it’s most likely cute and romantic and warm and fuzzy. But if a BOY does that. Well, us girls are going to think it’s stalking, right? It’s wrong, but it’s actually very true.

But, I must admit, although I did feel Jason was stalking, it was actually fun. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t weird-stalking. It was more of a treasure hunt, that time and time again didn’t lead Jason where he wanted to be lead. That added more questions than answers. It’s the best kind of stalking, really, because he wasn’t really stalking the girl per se. More stalkings her photos and the places she’d visited. I loved that Jason was helped in his quest by his best mate and flat mate Dev. That thanks to his job as a reviewer for the free paper London Now, he met the bright and sparkly Abbey. That because of his previous job (in his different life; his life that included a plan, a girlfriend, and a steady job, until it all suddenly disappeared) as a teacher, he became sorta-friends with the brilliant Matthew Fowler, an ex-student of his. Charlotte Street had some of the best characters I’ve read in so long. I felt that if I really did hop on a plane to London and went to Charlotte Street, I would find Jason, Dev, Abbey and Matt having a beer at Postman’s Park. It all felt so real.

Charlotte Street was a genuinely funny novel. There’s a bit where Jason wakes up one morning thinking Dev’s Nissan Cherry is being stolen and, obviously, because that’s the kind of weapon you choose when confronting a burglar, Jason opts for a hairbrush and his inner and outer monologue as he nears the burglar is just bloomin’ hilarious. I was laughing away because it was just so absurd but just so right. Jason’s the kind of person you just root for. No, he isn’t perfect, but it’s his way whether it’s right or wrong. I love someone that will try and track down some random stranger even if it’s not entirely kosher. I’d loooooooooove to do that. It was just like a madcap adventure, that started as a bit of fun, but ended up being something massive. There was even a trip to Whitby thrown in, and I just loved the sort of symmetry to it. I loved that Jason went where this girl had went and even took the time to record his own moments on his own disposable camera.

I absolutely loved Charlotte Street. Danny Wallace is quite clearly a very talented writer and I’m a little bit disappointed this is his debut novel because it means I have to wait to read more from him (I very much hope a second novel is on its way ASAP). It really blew me away. It made me want to visit Charlotte Street. It REALLY made me want to visit Postman’s Park (which I really hope is real, because it sounds like an inspiring idea — it’s where people who have done heroic things (died in a fire saving someone’s life, as an example) are all up on a wall (I think it’s a wall, of some sort) in memorium. It’s quite an amazing and special thing and it featured so frequently in Charlotte Street that if I ever go to London again, I will definitely be visiting.) I wholeheartedly recommend the book. I really, truly loved it. It totally blew me away and Jason Priestly’s story is a story you want to read, believe me. ...more

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Dec 31, 2014 Soho_Black rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, used-to-own

In his early books, Danny Wallace was the new Tony Hawks, taking on silly challenges and recounting them in amusing ways. With "Charlotte Street", his first entirely fictional work, he seems to be moving into territory inhabited by Mike Gayle, that of bloke-lit. It seems a decent fit, as his book "Yes Man" had elements of bloke-lit, despite being based on actual events. It may have suffered from a twee ending, but it offered enough to suggest that this is a field Danny Wallace could work well in In his early books, Danny Wallace was the new Tony Hawks, taking on silly challenges and recounting them in amusing ways. With "Charlotte Street", his first entirely fictional work, he seems to be moving into territory inhabited by Mike Gayle, that of bloke-lit. It seems a decent fit, as his book "Yes Man" had elements of bloke-lit, despite being based on actual events. It may have suffered from a twee ending, but it offered enough to suggest that this is a field Danny Wallace could work well in.

Jason Priestley's life isn't going quite the way he'd planned. Apart from sharing a name with a famous actor which results in comment everywhere he goes, he's also suffering from a nasty break up with an ex-girlfriend who, according to her Facebook status 'is having the time of her life' with her new boyfriend. He may be doing the job he always wanted to, as a journalist, but he's only doing that on a small free London paper which seems to have no long term future.

Then one evening, he bumps into The Girl on Charlotte Street. Helping her with her bags, he finds he has a disposable camera in his hand. Not knowing how to find her again, he develops the camera encouraged by his friend Dev and sets about tracking her down. Discovering that he is in the background of one of the photos, Jason's need to find The Girl again becomes paramount, as he feels they may have a natural connection.

Whilst the set up and some of the specific events might stretch credulity a little, Danny Wallace here does what Mike Gayle also does so well, in making the story seem very realistic. Jason has found that his dream job isn't as wonderful as he thought, his best friend is running a failing business and The Girl has had an affair with a married man. Many of us will know the feeling of seeing your former partner move on with their lives whilst you remain stuck and leaving drunken and insulting messages for them on Facebook isn’t unusual. Danny Wallace slips his story in amongst events that are well known enough to many of us to make it feel a lot more real.

I liked the writing style he uses, too. Again, like Mike Gayle, this is a gentle read that doesn't always move in a forwards direction, with the asides and events that make up real life. There may be a few overly flowery or profound statements that you wouldn't usually hear real life people saying, but for the most part he writes the dialogue in the way a lot of people would talk. This is a book that takes you away from real life by giving you real life, just a different version.

If there was one minor disappointment, it was in the ending. Although the book was set up to end the way it ultimately did, it just seemed a little too pat and contrived to fit in with the rest of the story. It wasn't unrealistic as such, just a little too neat. In real life, sometimes we don't get to see the end of the story, but with books you do and I've often found that this can be where stories like this can fall down slightly.

However, everything that leads up to that ending is a delight. Danny Wallace writes with a lightness of touch that is enjoyable and with a sense of reality that is often refreshing. Mike Gayle has been at the head of the bloke-lit genre for some time, helped by there not being any decent challengers. If Danny Wallace keeps writing like this, Gayle will be looking over his shoulder any day now, especially when you can buy Wallace's first effort to try.

This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk ...more

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Apr 28, 2018 Vicki Littler rated it really liked it

Funny and readable. Holiday reading if holiday reading wasn't pejorative. ...more

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About Danny Wallace

Danny Wallace

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Daniel Frederick Wallace is a British filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television. His notable works include the books Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. As an author, Wallace's bestselling books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work exper Daniel Frederick Wallace is a British filmmaker, comedian, writer, actor, and presenter of radio and television. His notable works include the books Join Me, Yes Man, and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. As an author, Wallace's bestselling books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

He began writing reviews for video game magazines at the age of 13 for school work experience: a reviewer had become ill and so Wallace was given the opportunity to review a game. At 18 he started writing comedy, mainly through the magazine Comedy Review. He specialised in radio production at the University of Westminster.

At 22, he became a BBC producer. He was part of the production team behind British Comedy Award-winning Dead Ringers, the original producer of the critically acclaimed cult hit The Mighty Boosh, and the creator and producer of Ross Noble Goes Global. As a journalist, Wallace has worked for The Scotsman, The Guardian, The Independent, Elle, Cosmo, The Times and other publications.

In 1999, Wallace challenged comedian Dave Gorman, who at the time was his flatmate, to find 54 other people called Dave Gorman ("one for every card in the deck, including the Jokers"). Wallace accompanied Gorman on his quest and the men created Are You Dave Gorman?, an award-winning comedy stage show about what happened during their journey. A BBC series, also co-written and co-produced by Wallace, followed, as did a book, written by both men.

In 2003, Wallace's book Join Me was published. The book explains how he "accidentally started a 'cult'" called Join Me. The movement would go global, with each member committing to undertaking one random act of kindness for a stranger every Friday ("Good Fridays"). Tens of thousands joined. Join Me celebrates "Karmageddon 10" in December 2011. Traditionally, hundreds of members travel to London for the meet-up and undertake good deeds for strangers, with Wallace present. The movement is now generally referred to as the "Karma Army", although members are still typically "Joinees". He became a minor celebrity in Belgium whilst on his quest for Joinees. While on a book tour through America, Wallace was dubbed a "Generation X legend" by the Wisconsin State Journal.

Wallace next wrote a short book called Random Acts of Kindness: 365 Ways To Make the World A Better Place, with the help of submissions from Joinees. It includes many humorous Random Acts of Kindness (RAoK) ideas, such as "Contradict Demeaning Graffiti", and "Make An Old Man Very Happy."

Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass.

Danny Wallace and the Centre of the Universe was published in 2006. It is linked with World Book Day which in 2006 was on Thursday 2 March. It tells the story of Wallace's trip to Idaho, to visit a manhole cover in a small town, whose residents have proclaimed it the centre of the universe. The cover identifies it as a "Quick Read"; the price and length of the book have been curbed in order to encourage people who may not often read books to purchase it.

Wallace's book, Friends Like These, was released on the 3 July 2008, and tells the story of how he spent a summer trying to track down his old school friends from his days in Dundee, ...more