How to Stop Time
7 journalers for this copy...
There have been a few books recently about immortal people or people with multiple lives. It's a great premise though so I don't really mind that I've been there before. This book isn't as clever or dark as The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August but it has heart, like Haig's other books, which that (otherwise superior novel) lacks. Worth a read!
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2 by
silverbirch7 at
Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, March 17, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (3/18/2018 UTC) at Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Released at old gang meet up
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3 by
Cassandra2020 at
Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, March 19, 2018
Picked up at meetup - thank you for saving this for me
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4 by
Cassandra2020 at
Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, June 29, 2018
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig - Very Good
Initially, this put me in mind of The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, but only slightly.
Tom is old. Very old. Born in Tudor times, he has a condition where, once reaching puberty, he ages one year for about 15 normal years. (That's the principal that reminded me of The Bone Clocks). Unsurprisingly, this has caused him untold problems. Whilst in early years it was easy to disappear from one place and reinvent himself somewhere else, people were a lot quicker to accuse and persecute.
At some point he is recognised by a group called The Albatrosses who search out those similarly 'afflicted' and have banded together for safety. Every 10 years or so, these Albas, as they call themselves, move, change identity, and begin building another new life, supported by the mysterious Hendrich: the leader of The Albas. Obviously this means they never really call anywhere home, never build relationships, families etc.
As Tom embarks on his latest persona - a 41 year old history teacher in London - it brings him back to where he first recognised his condition and began his adult 'life' and so we get flashbacks to Tudor times. Various events occur in the present to bring his past to mind and we see Jazz age Paris, Victorian England and New York etc. etc. That in itself is fascinating, but his lonely life, his introspection and his search for one person in his life that he lost.... that's what makes the book. Additionally, throughout, there is humour and perception woven in. A really nice read.
One para stayed with me:
"Many of us have every material thing we need, so the job of marketing is now to tie the economy to our emotions. To make us feel like we need more by making us want things we never needed before. We are made to feel poor on thirty thousand pounds a year. To feel poorly travelled if we have been to only ten other countries. To feel too old if we have a wrinkle. to feel ugly if we aren't photoshopped and filtered.
No one I knew in the 1600s wanted to find their inner billionaire. They just wanted to live to see adolescence and avoid body lice."
Oh and if you are a twitter user, give @matthaig1 a follow. Well worth it
Journal Entry
5 by
Cassandra2020 at
The Glencorse Centre ✔️ in Auchendinny, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, July 8, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (7/6/2018 UTC) at The Glencorse Centre ✔️ in Auchendinny, Scotland United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Released to obcz
Although this book is registered at www.bookcrossing.com, you don't have to be a member. It's perfectly OK to just take the book and enjoy it. Of course, if you can visit the website and let us know that you've picked it up, that would be even better - you don't even have to join, you can add your comments anonymously - you can also post your review when you've read it, then return it or pass it on to someone else.
If you do join Bookcrossing, you'll be able to see what happens to it afterwards - for ever!
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6 by
Cassandra2020 at
Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, September 13, 2018
Retrieved from obcz
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7 by
Cassandra2020 at
Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, December 8, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (12/9/2018 UTC) at Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Bringing to the Old Gang meetup as I suspect there are a couple of people that would like this book....if not will leave on the obcz shelf. It's on the right hand side of the Café Bar on a window sill.
Although this book is registered at www.bookcrossing.com, you don't have to be a member. It's perfectly OK to just take the book and enjoy it. Of course, if you can visit the website and let us know that you've picked it up, that would be even better - you don't even have to join, you can add your comments anonymously - you can also post your review when you've read it, then return it or pass it on to someone else.
If you do join Bookcrossing, you'll be able to see what happens to it afterwards - for ever!
Journal Entry
8 by
earthcaroleanne at
Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, December 9, 2018
Picked up at the Old Gang Meet Up.
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9 by
earthcaroleanne at
Roslin, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, September 6, 2020
I was surprised to read silverbirch7 say “This book isn't as clever or dark as The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August” because I tried to read that book a couple of months ago and gave up on it. And then Cassandra2020 said “Initially, this put me in mind of The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell”, well I haven’t tried that one but I’ve never finished any one of his books either. So if I had read these reviews first, I might not even have started this.
However I did enjoy it. I think it might have been the interwoven stories of people from the past that kept me most interested. What a life to have memories of meeting Shakespeare, Captain Cook and Josephine Baker among others.
The comment I liked most during his modern life was when he was debating whether change was for better or not:-
• flush toilets – a change for the better
• self-service check-outs – definitely not
• the internet – better and worse at the same time
Journal Entry
10 by
earthcaroleanne at
Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, October 8, 2020
Released 3 yrs ago (10/9/2020 UTC) at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Adding this to Poodlesister's uncon/birthday package.
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11 by
Poodlesister at
Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Thanks for the books, the artisan chocolate from Falkirk, the lovely cat greetings cards and the Charles Mackesy Books are my Bag Tote which you went to so much trouble to find for me.
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12 by
Poodlesister at
Walthamstow, Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, January 30, 2021
I love the way Matt Haig writes. A great story.
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13 by
Poodlesister at
Wings or Wishlist Sweepstakes , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, January 30, 2021
Released 3 yrs ago (2/2/2021 UTC) at Wings or Wishlist Sweepstakes , -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Going to the winner of the Wishlist or Wings Sweeps, when I next visit the Post Office.
Join UK Bookcrossers at the Newcastle Unconvention from 1st-3rd October 2021
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14 by
Paulanni at
Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Wednesday, February 24, 2021
The book has arrived. Thank you for a wishlist book, Poodlesister, I very much look forward to reading it.
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15 by
Paulanni at
Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Sunday, February 13, 2022
This was the first of Matt Haig's books I have read and I liked it a lot. The time travel between present-day London and previous centuries and in different countries was fascinating, as were glimpses of Tom's life in places and ages. At the same time Tom's personal life and dilemma was ultimately lonely and sort of sad, but he came to a conclusion about what is important in life. A warm and sympathetic book.
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16 by
Paulanni at
Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Monday, February 14, 2022
Released 2 yrs ago (2/14/2022 UTC) at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Goes with happy birthday wishes to the next reader.
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17 by
Chania at
Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Thursday, February 17, 2022
Thank you, I am sure I will like this!!!
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18 by
Chania at
Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten Finland on Monday, June 6, 2022
A really fascinating story, warm, funny and even exciting!
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19 by
Chania at
Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Monday, July 4, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (7/4/2022 UTC) at Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Happy Birthday!
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20 by
Paulanni at
Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Monday, August 1, 2022
Thank you for the book! I liked it a lot, so it came back to me! No worries, I'll pass it on to a new reader.
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21 by
Paulanni at
Kulma in Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Friday, August 26, 2022
Released 1 yr ago (8/28/2022 UTC) at Kulma in Riihimäki, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Available at the Riihimäki meet-up.
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22 by
Mecu at
Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Sunday, August 28, 2022
I think this was the first book I snatched from the meeting table. Thanks Paulanni!