Scan barcode
lifeanista's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the writer's prose and description - I felt like I was really there. Very different material than anything I've ever read before, and I really enjoyed it.
heathermollauthor's review against another edition
3.0
-captivating like his later books
-character development almost as good as Honolulu, not as good as Molokai
-an earlier work, more like a twilight zone episode than historical fiction
-character development almost as good as Honolulu, not as good as Molokai
-an earlier work, more like a twilight zone episode than historical fiction
verkisto's review against another edition
5.0
The first thing I ever read by Alan Brennert was "The Third Sex", from The Best of Pulphouse. It was about just that, a person who was neither male nor female. It was a story about love, identity, and relationships, and it lingered with me long after I finished the story. I had actually been exposed to Brennert before then through Weird Romance, which featured another of his stories, but this was the first fiction of his I read, and from that moment forward, I knew he was a writer to read.
Fast forward a few years, when I chance upon a historical novel he wrote about a leper colony on Hawaii called Moloka'i. I took a chance on it, since I knew Brennert could evoke complex emotion in a short story, even though it didn't sound like my kind of story. It's still one of only two books that made me cry (the other being The Book Thief), and if I hadn't already made a mental note to read everything this author writes, Moloka'i would have done it.
Time and Chance is an earlier novel of Brennert's, though it still has that emotional resonance I've associated with his previous works. It's about a man named Richard Cochrane who, thirteen years ago, made a decision to give up the woman he loved in order to go to New York to become an actor. It's also about a man named Richard Cochrane who, thirteen years ago, made a decision to give up on his dreams to become an actor in order to stay with the woman he loved to raise a family. Neither Richard is entirely happy with his decision and the life he's led since then, but time and chance have somehow conspired to allow them to swap places. The story is how they adapt to their new, alternate lives.
What I really liked about this novel is how Brennert took one character and made two characters out of him. Each have the same backstory, the same histories. Their divergence allowed him to examine their lives in different ways, and see how it affected them in their later years. He doesn't make it easy for either Richard to step into the other's life, which is as it should be. Thirteen years after making a difficult decision affects one's personality. The bitter, angry man who resents having given up a chance to become an actor isn't the same person as the melancholy, morose man who regrets having given up a chance at a family. Each character has a challenge stepping into the other's shoes, but Brennert does make it easier for one than the other.
Brennert's talent is in his people, and their relationships. I've noticed also that in many of his stories -- "The Third Sex", Her Pilgrim Soul (as much as I know about it from Weird Romance, at least), and Time and Chance, at least -- he features a troubled relationship, and the ways that those relationships can mend. They're very hopeful affairs, which is a nice antidote to the other kinds of fiction I often read.
Alan Brennert is a treat, and a gem. I haven't read anything of his that I wouldn't recommend without hesitation.
Fast forward a few years, when I chance upon a historical novel he wrote about a leper colony on Hawaii called Moloka'i. I took a chance on it, since I knew Brennert could evoke complex emotion in a short story, even though it didn't sound like my kind of story. It's still one of only two books that made me cry (the other being The Book Thief), and if I hadn't already made a mental note to read everything this author writes, Moloka'i would have done it.
Time and Chance is an earlier novel of Brennert's, though it still has that emotional resonance I've associated with his previous works. It's about a man named Richard Cochrane who, thirteen years ago, made a decision to give up the woman he loved in order to go to New York to become an actor. It's also about a man named Richard Cochrane who, thirteen years ago, made a decision to give up on his dreams to become an actor in order to stay with the woman he loved to raise a family. Neither Richard is entirely happy with his decision and the life he's led since then, but time and chance have somehow conspired to allow them to swap places. The story is how they adapt to their new, alternate lives.
What I really liked about this novel is how Brennert took one character and made two characters out of him. Each have the same backstory, the same histories. Their divergence allowed him to examine their lives in different ways, and see how it affected them in their later years. He doesn't make it easy for either Richard to step into the other's life, which is as it should be. Thirteen years after making a difficult decision affects one's personality. The bitter, angry man who resents having given up a chance to become an actor isn't the same person as the melancholy, morose man who regrets having given up a chance at a family. Each character has a challenge stepping into the other's shoes, but Brennert does make it easier for one than the other.
Brennert's talent is in his people, and their relationships. I've noticed also that in many of his stories -- "The Third Sex", Her Pilgrim Soul (as much as I know about it from Weird Romance, at least), and Time and Chance, at least -- he features a troubled relationship, and the ways that those relationships can mend. They're very hopeful affairs, which is a nice antidote to the other kinds of fiction I often read.
Alan Brennert is a treat, and a gem. I haven't read anything of his that I wouldn't recommend without hesitation.
majaingrid's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I didn't give this book the attention it deserved. Because of that I may have missed some deeper messages and was instead bit bored.
I bought this book at the annual book sale maybe seven years ago. I bought it because the synopsis at the back compared it with [b:The Time Traveler's Wife|18619684|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380660571l/18619684._SX50_.jpg|2153746], a book I at the time had not read nor watched the movie adaption of. Still haven't read the book but have seen the movie a couple of times.
This book is about a man, or two versions of the same man, who at one point in his life took different directions. In one life he's Richard, a very talented actor but not much going on other aspect in his life. Some friends and failed romantic relationships. In another life he's Rick, married with kids and stuck with a job he hates (something boring with insurance I think). Both versions are very unhappy, and Rick letting it go over his family. He's got so much pent up anger and frustration he's taking it out on his family: his marriage is failing to the point where divorce is around the corner and he can't even keep his jealousy of his daughter for going for an acting career hidden. His frustration and anger also boils over in physical violence.
Both men meet and decide upon changing life. What if Richard could see what his life would have been if he had stayed with Debra, and what if Rick had pursued his acting dream? The book pretty much explore that, and what challenges each of the man meet in their new lifestyle, and about self discovery. Not going to discuss what they face and how they deal with it because I think it's better to discover for yourself if you decide to read this book.
I bought this book at the annual book sale maybe seven years ago. I bought it because the synopsis at the back compared it with [b:The Time Traveler's Wife|18619684|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380660571l/18619684._SX50_.jpg|2153746], a book I at the time had not read nor watched the movie adaption of. Still haven't read the book but have seen the movie a couple of times.
This book is about a man, or two versions of the same man, who at one point in his life took different directions. In one life he's Richard, a very talented actor but not much going on other aspect in his life. Some friends and failed romantic relationships. In another life he's Rick, married with kids and stuck with a job he hates (something boring with insurance I think). Both versions are very unhappy, and Rick letting it go over his family. He's got so much pent up anger and frustration he's taking it out on his family: his marriage is failing to the point where divorce is around the corner and he can't even keep his jealousy of his daughter for going for an acting career hidden. His frustration and anger also boils over in physical violence.
Both men meet and decide upon changing life. What if Richard could see what his life would have been if he had stayed with Debra, and what if Rick had pursued his acting dream? The book pretty much explore that, and what challenges each of the man meet in their new lifestyle, and about self discovery. Not going to discuss what they face and how they deal with it because I think it's better to discover for yourself if you decide to read this book.
zelma's review against another edition
5.0
Really great book on second chances and dealing with your life choices. Loved the writing and how each plot line was explored. Both protagonists were complex, interesting characters, and I loved how there were just enough similarities to them believable as the "same" person who took different paths. This book won't necessarily change my life but it was really stayed with me after I finished.
tien's review
2.0
Richard has made a considerably good name of himself on Broadway and yet, he is alone with a string of failed relationships behind him. When his mum died, he felt more alone than ever and regrets of not being there with him took him on a path he never knew existed...
Rick chose to stay with Debra and now works at a job he disliked but needed for his family's sake. He loves his family but his anger at all the past what-ifs are driving him out of his mind...
These alternate selves swapped lives to see their own what-ifs realised only to find that no matter what, they are still the same person though it took some hard lessons for them to learn.
A fascinating read even if not a unique trope though I realised this was published in 1990 and wondered if it was a first then? While I mostly enjoyed the story and the lesson they learnt, there was one thing I found crucial for which I found no answer...
One character's reflection found that he would never have hit a particular female character and that's fine and good. BUT what about the other female character he actually hit?!
Rick chose to stay with Debra and now works at a job he disliked but needed for his family's sake. He loves his family but his anger at all the past what-ifs are driving him out of his mind...
These alternate selves swapped lives to see their own what-ifs realised only to find that no matter what, they are still the same person though it took some hard lessons for them to learn.
A fascinating read even if not a unique trope though I realised this was published in 1990 and wondered if it was a first then? While I mostly enjoyed the story and the lesson they learnt, there was one thing I found crucial for which I found no answer...
One character's reflection found that he would never have hit a particular female character and that's fine and good. BUT what about the other female character he actually hit?!
maylingkuo's review
3.0
i had to buckle down to finish this one - partially due to the very dated font and older style of the book. how things have changed!
the narration feels decidedly male. my takeaways were mostly around learning and thinking about acting as a craft. i know just about nothing on the subject, and felt enlightened about it.
is this a sci-fi book? maybe. it felt more like a drama and wrapped up the plot in a hot second, so it didn't offer a lot of reflection, which is what i'm seeking in sci-fi. maybe pick it up if you're interested in thinking about what a life in theater feels like or want to ponder what would happen if you took another path in life.
the narration feels decidedly male. my takeaways were mostly around learning and thinking about acting as a craft. i know just about nothing on the subject, and felt enlightened about it.
is this a sci-fi book? maybe. it felt more like a drama and wrapped up the plot in a hot second, so it didn't offer a lot of reflection, which is what i'm seeking in sci-fi. maybe pick it up if you're interested in thinking about what a life in theater feels like or want to ponder what would happen if you took another path in life.
More...