Reviews

Tady, teď a tehdy by Mike Chen

ryner's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Years ago, while on a top secret mission time traveling from the year 2142 into the past, Kin became stranded in 1996. Though he waited and waited for rescue, apparently none was forthcoming, so he resigned himself to his situation and attempted to live as normal a life as he could, establishing for himself a career, marrying, and having a child. Now, eighteen years later, someone finally arrives to retrieve him, but his heart breaks as he must leave his family behind against his will.

This story was immediately riveting, and the writing was excellent. There are a lot of things for the reader to ponder — philosophical, moral, existential, and otherwise. Not sure why this book isn't more popular. I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it to my 14yo daughter as well.

lou_christie's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer

natalya_c14's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

barkshark's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

dennistraub's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, just wow! I picked this book up last night and read it in two long sittings with just a break for a little sleep and a few hours of work in between. I'm completely blown away. I literally could not stop reading and on the final pages I had tears running down my face. The last book that touched me this much was Replay by Ken Grimwood.

sevaspeto's review against another edition

5.0

For as wonky as time travel has the potential to be, Here And Now And Then has a really fresh and interesting perspective on the nature of relationships and some practical considerations that are often untouched. It's written pragmatically, but with heart, and tells an incredibly compelling story of loss, love, and what we're really willing to put on the line for the people we care about. Absolutely loved it =0)

aeviternus's review against another edition

5.0

Every once in a while there’s the rare book that skillfully blends science fiction with complex emotional dilemmas that engage the reader intensely with the characters presented on the page. Rather than using sci fi as an allegory or overt social commentary, Chen uses it to dive into deep human emotions that left me uncertain about how the protagonist should feel and what he should value above all else.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a new father myself, but this book struck parts of my heartstrings as it revealed and artfully explored the depth of love that a father has for his daughter. No matter the distractions, impediments, or personal sacrifice, Kin was bound by a love more powerful than trivial obstacles like time. This was a book that was so good it hurt to put down.

humanignorance's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars. The plot was acceptable and moved along relatively briskly, but that’s about all that this book had going for it. The emotional buildup the author was aiming for didn’t feel effective, there was too much internal thinking about possibilities that never came to pass, and the issues with paradoxes and timelines that make time travel novels interesting were criminally underexplored.

jelliclecax's review against another edition

Library loan was over and other books were more interesting. Might enjoy better as a physical copy? Didn’t love the narrator. 

arielsage's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0