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ajb24's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars??
This book was cool in the beginning, a really cool utopia concept. Then it gets really weird. It does well at covering all the paradoxical possibilities that the idea of time travel presents. That doesn’t make it any less confusing though. Especially when all his alternate selves converge into Tom I got really lost then. I was mostly impressed that someone could even come up with this story and keep all the threads straight. I liked the book, but there’s just something...annoying about how it ends that I can’t quite articulate.
This book was cool in the beginning, a really cool utopia concept. Then it gets really weird. It does well at covering all the paradoxical possibilities that the idea of time travel presents. That doesn’t make it any less confusing though. Especially when all his alternate selves converge into Tom I got really lost then. I was mostly impressed that someone could even come up with this story and keep all the threads straight. I liked the book, but there’s just something...annoying about how it ends that I can’t quite articulate.
squirrelsohno's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Ending was meh. Should have ended 3 or 4 chapters before it actually ended.
Ending was meh. Should have ended 3 or 4 chapters before it actually ended.
aylastahg57's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jesslynh's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I liked the intimacy in which it was written and I especially liked the theory about time travel. It blew my mind (I'd never before heard that theory) and I have been geekily repeating its premise to quite a few friends.
The story didn't go where I ultimately expected which surprised me--it just seemed too obvious not to. Good on Elan.
I plan on doing a reread of this on audio. It totally deserves it.
The story didn't go where I ultimately expected which surprised me--it just seemed too obvious not to. Good on Elan.
I plan on doing a reread of this on audio. It totally deserves it.
montigneyrules's review against another edition
4.0
#readingchallenge2017 (AUDIO BOOK> my book that made me cry)
Enjoyed as an audio book, the author really added to the story by reading his own novel. The passion for his story came out, as the inflections were all on the right points, the pauses were perfect, and the side thoughts of the characters felt as if he added them in. He created this break-taking, gripping experience of sci-fi beauty.
Admittedly, I felt the beginning was a bit repetitive, with overdone added explanations, however when it ties together later in the novel it was a bit genius. Granted I could have done without the overly descriptive strange sexual scenes. While important to storyline, the descriptions were a bit intense and didn’t fit with the rest of the style. It could have been glossed over and gotten at the same time.
The time travel goes beyond the normal, ‘poof we went back’, and instead details paradoxes and theoretical concepts that captivated me. I felt it was part fiction novel, part science lesson with moral and ethical struggles that portrayed intriguing, complex questions. For example, the basic stay or go? Who do you owe what to: yourself? humanity? The individual people you love? All added to the development of the character. Sure he was whiny and lazy in the beginning, but it takes the journey for him to develop into a version of himself he needs to be.
Lastly, I have to nod to the last portion of John/Tom’s time travel. The moment he takes the long journey back painful moment by painful moment, self-realizations, struggles, and epiphanies was breath-taking. The moment I too, as the reader, realized with him what the journey would take, I felt my heart break. I felt as if I had to pause the novel, take a moment to internally struggle with the idea of a slow life moment like that, and push on. It was this pure emotion, listening as Elan so perfectly slowly read though this moment. It was one of the few times I can recall a book causing a reaction like this.
Enjoyed as an audio book, the author really added to the story by reading his own novel. The passion for his story came out, as the inflections were all on the right points, the pauses were perfect, and the side thoughts of the characters felt as if he added them in. He created this break-taking, gripping experience of sci-fi beauty.
Admittedly, I felt the beginning was a bit repetitive, with overdone added explanations, however when it ties together later in the novel it was a bit genius. Granted I could have done without the overly descriptive strange sexual scenes. While important to storyline, the descriptions were a bit intense and didn’t fit with the rest of the style. It could have been glossed over and gotten at the same time.
The time travel goes beyond the normal, ‘poof we went back’, and instead details paradoxes and theoretical concepts that captivated me. I felt it was part fiction novel, part science lesson with moral and ethical struggles that portrayed intriguing, complex questions. For example, the basic stay or go? Who do you owe what to: yourself? humanity? The individual people you love? All added to the development of the character. Sure he was whiny and lazy in the beginning, but it takes the journey for him to develop into a version of himself he needs to be.
Lastly, I have to nod to the last portion of John/Tom’s time travel. The moment he takes the long journey back painful moment by painful moment, self-realizations, struggles, and epiphanies was breath-taking. The moment I too, as the reader, realized with him what the journey would take, I felt my heart break. I felt as if I had to pause the novel, take a moment to internally struggle with the idea of a slow life moment like that, and push on. It was this pure emotion, listening as Elan so perfectly slowly read though this moment. It was one of the few times I can recall a book causing a reaction like this.
lindseyslittlelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a huge science fiction fan but I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. This centers around time travel and the effects of messing with the past. There were a few parts that I was a bit lost but overall it was easy to follow. Definitely worth the read!
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars.
I received a digital preview of this title from NetGalley.
Scoring this one proved difficult for me. If I like a title more than 4 stars, I'll give it 5 stars and then note in the review, as I've done here, that it's 4.5 stars. But was it 4 stars for me, or 4.5?
Stuff I liked:
* The time travel theme. I'm a sucker for a good time travel book, especially one with some love/sex involved (as long as that part doesn't get gaggy).
* The writing. Mastai nailed the first person narration! I also enjoyed the self-aware parts when Tom would reference 'his' book and speak directly to the reader.
* The characters. Memorable, intriguing characters only exist when the writing brings them to life. So, we're back to the writing. I spent some time describing the first 60% of the book to a couple of friends. While I spoke, I thought 'man, does this ever sound hokey!'. But when I was reading it, I completely missed the cheese/hokey/whacked factor. It flows and feels natural, and I got fully into it.
* The descriptions of the cool gadgets in the alternate 2016.
Stuff I didn't care for:
* The long descriptions of sciency stuff. I get it, though. They are necessary to help set the story and to explain certain things. If the writing sucked, I wouldn't have read past them. Bonus points for Tom noting that yeah, none of this makes any sense to him either.
* The multiple personalities (souls? minds?) in one body got confusing, and the various realities and timeline jumping did as well. Again, a crappy writer would've utterly failed here.
* The ending.
In the end, the things I liked moved me positively more than the things I didn't moved me in the other direction. Also, it's been a long time since I highlighted more than one quote from a book in my Kindle, and I think I've got at least five from this one saved. Well done!
I received a digital preview of this title from NetGalley.
Scoring this one proved difficult for me. If I like a title more than 4 stars, I'll give it 5 stars and then note in the review, as I've done here, that it's 4.5 stars. But was it 4 stars for me, or 4.5?
Stuff I liked:
* The time travel theme. I'm a sucker for a good time travel book, especially one with some love/sex involved (as long as that part doesn't get gaggy).
* The writing. Mastai nailed the first person narration! I also enjoyed the self-aware parts when Tom would reference 'his' book and speak directly to the reader.
* The characters. Memorable, intriguing characters only exist when the writing brings them to life. So, we're back to the writing. I spent some time describing the first 60% of the book to a couple of friends. While I spoke, I thought 'man, does this ever sound hokey!'. But when I was reading it, I completely missed the cheese/hokey/whacked factor. It flows and feels natural, and I got fully into it.
* The descriptions of the cool gadgets in the alternate 2016.
Stuff I didn't care for:
* The long descriptions of sciency stuff. I get it, though. They are necessary to help set the story and to explain certain things. If the writing sucked, I wouldn't have read past them. Bonus points for Tom noting that yeah, none of this makes any sense to him either.
* The multiple personalities (souls? minds?) in one body got confusing, and the various realities and timeline jumping did as well. Again, a crappy writer would've utterly failed here.
* The ending.
Spoiler
I'm okay with a happy ending. That's fine, really. But how we got there felt a bit rushed and weirdly thrown together. Also, and I suspect this is just me missing something obvious, but when I first saw that the kid was named Tom, I got super confused. Is THAT the Tom Barren we've been reading about, and his father wrote this book? Is Penny his mother? Then I figured nah, that's just Tom junior, though there is some mention of the son understanding now why they named him that. Maybe I'm looking into too much? Meh.In the end, the things I liked moved me positively more than the things I didn't moved me in the other direction. Also, it's been a long time since I highlighted more than one quote from a book in my Kindle, and I think I've got at least five from this one saved. Well done!
jodibee's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jen_is_booked's review against another edition
3.0
I think I'm still processing this one. Part of me really liked it, part of me really didn't. On the whole I think there were some really great parts and some parts that seem unnecessary in hindsight. I know that's a terrible review. I loved the concept of this book, I liked the way it kept me interested and curious. The main character was quite hard to like at first, but have hope, he pulls through and you actually do root for him. The contrast between now and their now was very interesting to me and I sort of wish there was a bit more of that, but it's not necessary to the story so I get not drawing that out. I do recommend this book, and I will look for more by this author, I like his voice and want more of what he has to say.
heathernicole20's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5