I am sorry but i cannot get on with this book. Narrated by a dog and moving time and place without any real sense of a storyline. I don't know who compared it to "the night circus" but honestly they are two entirely different species in my mind. I have tried but i am afraid i won't be finishing it

Historical novels I love! Historical novels written from the viewpoint of a dog that encompasses two centuries - well that was a first, and one I have to admit I was uncertain about. The tale of Tomorrow and his wait/search for his master Valentyne, is skillfully told and because the reader sees Europe through the eyes of a dog (and his dog companion) it puts a different perspective on the novel. I found the book to be captivating and in a way, whimsical. I recommend it.

I loved this book so much!

It has everything I like, and more - history, a touch of fantasy, beautiful descriptions and a great deal of humanity, which is funny to say when you know the tale is narrated by a dog.

I grew fond of this old and wise dog quite easily (and he's a vegetarian too!) and was thrilled to witness his adventures either to find his master or the ones he had with him in the past.
The historical painting of the centuries through which the characters live is stunning and enthralling, the plot itself is quite original and well though-of and I loved the whole atmosphere of the book - mysterious, almost gothic at times, but usually warm and authentic. (Those are personal feelings, I guess...)

If you like historical fictions, with a touch of fantasy, this book is for you. It reminds me a little of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (more for the historic settings than for the magic) and also a tiny bit of the Night Circus.

I had the pleasure to get a free copy of the book, but I'll be sure to buy myself a copy to have it in my collection!

A sweet and tender tale about the relationship between a dog and its owner. The story is told from the dog, Tomorrow’s perspective and details the loyalty between the two.

Tomorrow’s owner and he have been alive for hundreds of years after the owner discovered a way of becoming immortal.

This is a beautifully written piece and I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, certainly the best book I have read in 2018. It had me in tears in parts it was so moving and I truly became engrossed in it. Although thankfully the ending was not as sad as I originally anticipated.

I could see this book becoming a feature film such depth that the story had and it would be loved by all. Overall a wonderfully moving well written story, I would highly recommend but grab some tissues as you will need them.

Any story with a dog as the main character is going to attract my attention! When I read about this one I was really excited- an immortal dog searching throughout the ages for his 'person' sounded great. It was but what I wasn't expecting was how this book is so beautifully written . The description of places is mesmerising and the whole book is a real swirl of beauty, grief, love and devotion.

It will be a long time before I forget this one! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this. I wish I could give it more than five stars it's worth it!

I never thought that I would read a book with an animal narrator -I just have and I loved it. How to stop time meets Lady and the Tramp but somehow it works. There is such a richness to the writing that although I started hesitantly, I was very quickly drawn into the tale and totally accepted that a dog and two men could have made themselves immortal. I loved the sweeping panorama of the book, the encounters with writers, poets, statesmen, the descriptions of historical events, the drams. I also loved the relationship between Tomorrow and his canine friend, totally doggy despite the narration. This book is a joy, don't miss out.

Tomorrow

I chose this book because of the unusual premise; it's written from the dog's perspective and as a dog lover, I was intrigued.

In essence, it's part fantasy and part fact. An historical romp through the ages with exceptional period detail and a real feel for the events. It's more like a series of connected short stories. It's very well written and there's a narrative thread that binds them together and very much driven by character and events rather than plot. It certainly explores friendship and the ties between humans and canines in an imaginative and very different way. I love the cover.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

Tomorrow is an unusual book as the story is written through the eyes of a dog, who along with his master and one other man is immortal. The historical descriptions are beautifully written. Unfortunately, the plot relies on the historical description without much plot.

An extraordinary story about a dog's unending devotion to his owner. Though this is a historical fiction story, mostly telling of wars and various royalty through the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, it is more about the endurance of love and friendship against the odds.

A wonderfully touching, dog lover's delight.

This is a tricky book for me to review. On the one hand, it made me cry. I wasn’t expecting it. It came out of nowhere. Perhaps it was hormone related. Whatever - I was moved to the point of tears.

That was only one part though. Overall, this isn’t a sad book. It’s a tale, a fantasy. And I imagine the vast majority will be put off given its written from a dog’s point of view. A dog with human level consciousness. Who sometimes it seems, has opposable thumbs... Theres also eternal life because of a stone, or a liquid... It matters little, the details of how it works are kinda skipped over.

It was enjoyable enough, but I was never super eager to get back to book. It felt like a short story that had been stretched a bit thin at times.

That sad, I liked the authors style. I’d read more by this author. I cried for goodness sakes! I loved the scenes in Venice. And it goes without saying, I loved Sporco!

There are two things which make the narrator of Tomorrow one of the most unusual I have ever encountered. One is that he is over two hundred years old. The other is that he is a dog. We all know how loyal dogs can be, but this dog takes his loyalty to exceptional levels. Having been separated from his master, the chemist Valentyne, in 1688, our narrator has spent two centuries sitting patiently outside the church in Venice where they parted.

“If we lose one another,” Valentyne had told him, “wait for me on the steps. Just here, by the door.” The dog has no doubt that he and Valentyne will be reunited one day and so he sits obediently by the door and waits. Then, one day in 1815, he catches a glimpse of Vilder, a man whose path has crossed many times with Valentyne’s…and he sets off in pursuit, sure that this is the clue which will lead him to his master.

Tomorrow is a book that raises questions immediately. What has happened to Valentyne? How have he and his dog lived for so many years? Who is Vilder and what is his connection with Valentyne? All of these questions are answered eventually, as the story moves backwards and forwards in time, alternating between the dog’s search for his master in 19th century Venice and his memories of their early days travelling Europe together.

Their adventures take them from 17th century London to the court of Versailles and the battlefield of Waterloo and along the way they meet kings and queens, famous poets and musicians and great military leaders. Valentyne falls in love and the dog forms some special relationships too – with Sporco, a puppy he finds abandoned in Venice, and with a female dog called Blaise. However, this is where they discover that living forever is not much fun when it means having to watch your loved ones grow old and die.

I do like the idea of writing from the point of view of a canine narrator and I can appreciate both the opportunities this must give an author and also the restrictions. The dog in Tomorrow is a real dog, despite his apparent immortality – he is not a magical, talking dog and although he listens and reports on the human conversations around him he cannot take part himself. On the other hand, he is so intelligent and his internal thought processes and logic feel so human that there were times when I could almost forget that he was a dog. I’m not sure that I found all of this entirely successful, but it was certainly imaginative and different.

Tomorrow is a sweet, touching tale of devotion between a man and his dog. Or, rather, the devotion of a dog to his master as Tomorrow spends more than 125 years awaiting his master’s return. Yes, both the master and his dog have extended life, which is explained. It’s an thought provoking concept that may seem curious but fits neatly in this yarn. Written from the dog’s perspective, this novel is fresh and inventive by giving language to our canine friends and bringing us closer still as Tomorrow waits patiently and shares his thoughts and observations.

A great romp through history, Tomorrow is not the novel you expect but delivers so much more. I was happy with the conclusion as it was heartwarming and deeply satisfying. A brilliant book for dog lovers.

When a dog is left by his master in Venice and told to wait for him he didn't think it would be for 200 years, but the dog is loyal to the end and does as he is told never stopping the search for his master. This makes for a great historical book as he searches through time and great events. Definitely not my normal sort of book but being a dog lover I was tempted by the dog being the story teller and I am definitely glad that I did!

A different way of looking at history. History told by a time travelling dog was a fun way to find out about historic events. This has obviously been a well researched and well thought out book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I am not usually a fan of fantasy books, but was drawn to this because the narrator is a dog. I am so glad I read it; it moved me to tears several times and is the sort of book that lingers with you long after you have finished it. The best passages are those between dogs or dogs and humans, but the descriptions of battles and wars are wonderfully vivid. This is an excellent book, perfect for anyone who is a dog lover.

The plot (in a spoiler-free nutshell): A very, very old dog is searching for his master, waiting more than a hundred years for him at the very location that he lost him, and recalls the events of their life together that led to that moment.

The author: Damian Dibben, author of a children's trilogy, The History Keepers (swiftly being inserted into my oh so long TBR list). Also a big dog lover, I presume.

It's a bit like...'midnight in a tall forest, stiff parchment paper, a whisper of pine sap'. That.

What? A dog is the narrator? That's ridiculous! Well, yes it is, but reading this book will make you question why every novel doesn't have a dog as its narrator.

You should read it if...you want to be led on an epic adventure through several of the most remarkable periods in our history across some of the greatest European cities - London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, and the very greatest of them all...Portsmouth!

You shouldn't read it if...you like your historical fiction to be full of raunchy sex scenes. There's the odd bit of butt sniffing, though.

The best bit: The Battle of Waterloo as told through a dog's eyes, having no particular allegiance to either side, and despairing at the waste of both human and animal lives, is some of the most heart wrenching prose on the topic of war. Not an easy read by any means, but important all the same.

Book hangover severity: The novel ends with a life affirming page that is impossible not to be permanently moved by. He's a wise old dog, is our champion.

Sounds like a truly epic tail then? Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!

Rating 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶/🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

Final thoughts: At once both poignant and touching, and exhilarating and thrilling, this is a remarkable story about loyalty, the brutalities of the human race, redemption, and most of all the preciousness of life. By the end I was reaching for the tissues (for heaven's sake, who do men always make me cry?)

Tomorrow was published on 3rd May 2018 by Penguin UK - Michael Joseph. Thank you to Damian Dibben, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the ARC

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this. What a fabulous book. Was hooked from beginning to end. I enjoyed it, as it was so different to what i usually read. I am a dog owner, which attracted me to reading this title in the first place and just reiterates that our four legged friends are the most wonderful, loving creations ever made. Strongly recommend this historical charming novel ❤

I found this book fascinating, entertaining and moving. It's like living in different places and ages and see thing by the point of view of a dog.
All places, events and characters are well researched and the style of writing is great.
A very good book, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Penguin UK and Netgalley

‘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

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.