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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.