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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read for 52 Book Club Challenge 2024 #50 A musical instrument on the cover (if you look very carefully there is a tiny grand piano on the cover)
About halfway through this novel about the curse of immortality, I realised I had read it before - in 2018. And it felt like it was treading on familiar ground to other books I have read exploring immortality/reincarnation - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, The first fifteen lives of Harry August by Claire North etc etc. So a lot of deja vu going on. Which is ironic.
I found the main character, Tom, hard to engage with, probably because he had stopped engaging in life, despite having met Shakespeare and been involved in many key moments in history. Haig's message is that the only way to stop time is to live fully in the present, and who can argue with that?
About halfway through this novel about the curse of immortality, I realised I had read it before - in 2018. And it felt like it was treading on familiar ground to other books I have read exploring immortality/reincarnation - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, The first fifteen lives of Harry August by Claire North etc etc. So a lot of deja vu going on. Which is ironic.
I found the main character, Tom, hard to engage with, probably because he had stopped engaging in life, despite having met Shakespeare and been involved in many key moments in history. Haig's message is that the only way to stop time is to live fully in the present, and who can argue with that?
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My favorite character by far was the surfer friend. When they met up is when I finally started feeling like something good was happening. His perspective was a breath of fresh air. My main issue with this book is that for most of it, it felt as though no happiness was going to happen because everything was inevitably doomed.
It also felt weird that his daughter is so full of hate and anger that she shoots someone and it’s just not commented on. I mean she didn’t kill him, but still.
read this for a second time for book club. Still found it wanting. Still a rating of 3 for me.
Really enjoyed it. Was an interesting story, had some exciting historical references and was all in all a good read by Matt Haig!
Hmm I typed a review on the phone on instagram before writing a completely different review on goodreads, which I normally do the other way round. Times are changing alright. If anyone's curious here it is! https://www.instagram.com/p/CeO__HUrW3D/
Time seemed to stop as I read this. Finished this in 2 days, which is a surprise for me. Judging from the first page it's intriguing alright, but I had the feeling it would be a slow-burner. Imagine my amazement when I flipped past the final page this evening and realised it's not as slow paced as I think.
The encounters Tom had with famous historical people are interesting. The thing that kept me reading is his purpose of finding Marion, revealing his experience through flashbacks through the course of the novel. Quite masterful storytelling, and each sentence is quotable. Personally I would rather have read this later in life, because sometimes I feel a bit young to understand. Wouldn't recommend to early and mid teens.
If I had such a long life like Tom Hazard what would I do? Read, I guess. Literal centuries and unlimited time to read all I can. How nice.
Time seemed to stop as I read this. Finished this in 2 days, which is a surprise for me. Judging from the first page it's intriguing alright, but I had the feeling it would be a slow-burner. Imagine my amazement when I flipped past the final page this evening and realised it's not as slow paced as I think.
The encounters Tom had with famous historical people are interesting. The thing that kept me reading is his purpose of finding Marion, revealing his experience through flashbacks through the course of the novel. Quite masterful storytelling, and each sentence is quotable. Personally I would rather have read this later in life, because sometimes I feel a bit young to understand. Wouldn't recommend to early and mid teens.
If I had such a long life like Tom Hazard what would I do? Read, I guess. Literal centuries and unlimited time to read all I can. How nice.