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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Creo que es uno de los pocos libros que realmente me emocionó y dejó pensando
Love the idea of the stories, but the ending was a bit disappointing. For me, i didnt get satisfying answer why the main character's life was repeated over n over again.
This book must absolutely be recommended as the go-to book for all who enjoy 'time travel, time loop, stuck in time' stories. I remember not being allowed to read it by my cousin who owned a copy in Turkish when I was younger because of the too much r-rated content. Being finally able to read and this time in its original language feels very rewarding :) I really really enjoyed it, it is just that I didn't love it to rate it 5 stars. That's all. Maybe because sometimes it got too romantic and maybe also that there were a lot more to be discovered and experiment with the whole idea and the premise that I could think of that the book didn't. Still, again, you must read it if you are into the concept of "reliving your life" and "knowing what is going to happen in the future". No doubt it is one of the best in this sub-genre.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't stop listening to this! It gave Quantum Leap vibes the whole time! Loved it!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s human nature to wonder whether our lives would have turned out differently if we had made different choices. What if you had stayed together with that old flame? What if you’d chosen a different career path? Children? No Children? Grimwood’s novel takes such questions to a new level with its central premise, following a man who dies and “replays” his life from a single moment twenty-five years earlier, over and over again. A few thoughts:
- In any novel built on a single core premise, the execution of that premise has to be thoughtful and thorough. Grimwood accomplishes both masterfully. The elements of the world necessary to make his replay possible play out perfectly, the explanations appear when they need to, are found by the characters when they must, and are left at times tantalizingly unresolved.
- Grimwood also balances the narrative with new elements, keeping the reader involved by adding new aspects to the story just when the reader starts to feel like they understand it all. Another novel based on a premise that adds twists at just the right moment is The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas.
- I think the novel tackles the question of age-fatigue very well. Of course, when someone lives dozens or hundreds of years longer than everyone else, they will develop a different view of the world, both more weary and more wise. Winston finds a kind of truth in his search for meaning over several lives, and as we go along with him, we develop a similar wisdom. I’m reminded of the sanguine long-lived characters in several SF novels like Accelerando, Schismatrix, and the debauched villains in Altered Carbon.
- The biggest flaw I noticed is the lack of uncontrolled negative experiences. Sure, Winston endures his share of heartache and bad choices, but the novel never burdens him with the random tragedies that many people experience and one would expect to emerge eventually in the experience of multiple lifetimes.
- Like Groundhog Day, the solitude of repeating leads Winston to develop an internal peace, a sense of purpose we all hope for (at least, those of us who encourage and believe in liberal arts education), and wisdom. With decades to relive instead of just a day, Grimwood’s protagonist gets to make choices with consequences, a far different experience than Phil in Groundhog Day, a man trapped in a single small town for a single day.
Last, the novel adopts a view of time-travel that’s too narrow for my taste. Throughout his lives, Winston makes choices that would have ripple effects on those around them, but in Grimwood’s story, those ripples dampen pretty fast. Only the biggest of moves have long-term consequences for people outside Winston’s immediate circle. I suppose it feels realistic, but it’s disappointing. I guess I like to imagine that we have more effect on outcomes than Grimwood thinks we do.
- In any novel built on a single core premise, the execution of that premise has to be thoughtful and thorough. Grimwood accomplishes both masterfully. The elements of the world necessary to make his replay possible play out perfectly, the explanations appear when they need to, are found by the characters when they must, and are left at times tantalizingly unresolved.
- Grimwood also balances the narrative with new elements, keeping the reader involved by adding new aspects to the story just when the reader starts to feel like they understand it all. Another novel based on a premise that adds twists at just the right moment is The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas.
- I think the novel tackles the question of age-fatigue very well. Of course, when someone lives dozens or hundreds of years longer than everyone else, they will develop a different view of the world, both more weary and more wise. Winston finds a kind of truth in his search for meaning over several lives, and as we go along with him, we develop a similar wisdom. I’m reminded of the sanguine long-lived characters in several SF novels like Accelerando, Schismatrix, and the debauched villains in Altered Carbon.
- The biggest flaw I noticed is the lack of uncontrolled negative experiences. Sure, Winston endures his share of heartache and bad choices, but the novel never burdens him with the random tragedies that many people experience and one would expect to emerge eventually in the experience of multiple lifetimes.
- Like Groundhog Day, the solitude of repeating leads Winston to develop an internal peace, a sense of purpose we all hope for (at least, those of us who encourage and believe in liberal arts education), and wisdom. With decades to relive instead of just a day, Grimwood’s protagonist gets to make choices with consequences, a far different experience than Phil in Groundhog Day, a man trapped in a single small town for a single day.
Last, the novel adopts a view of time-travel that’s too narrow for my taste. Throughout his lives, Winston makes choices that would have ripple effects on those around them, but in Grimwood’s story, those ripples dampen pretty fast. Only the biggest of moves have long-term consequences for people outside Winston’s immediate circle. I suppose it feels realistic, but it’s disappointing. I guess I like to imagine that we have more effect on outcomes than Grimwood thinks we do.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Grimwood's 'Replay' was surprising. I started expecting a little crunchier of a scifi book. It quickly became 'obvious' that I was instead reading a 90s/early aughts "Sliding Doors"-esque 'how would my life be different if I chose x instead of y' story. If Replay had followed that formula, it still would have been a fine novel, but it continued to evolve and change as I went, continuing to surprise me. Ultimately, its an introspective, thoughtful, and reflective character study that feels like its first person without being first person...a meditation on life and meaning both individually and collectively, framed within a vaguely science fiction narrative.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes