Thursday, February 28, 2019

How To Stop Time by Matt Haig

"I am old. That is the first thing to tell you. The thing you are least likely to believe. If you saw me you would probably think I was about forty, but you would be very wrong. I am old--old in the way that a tree, or a quahog clam, or a Renaissance painting is old .... You see, I have a condition."


Tom Hazard isn't immortal, he just doesn't age at the same rate as normal humans. He's lived through four centuries already and seen the world change. He's also lived through the deaths of the two people he loved most, making him wonder if his condition isn't a blessing, but a curse.
"It made me lonely. And when I say lonely, I mean the kind of loneliness that howls through you like a desert wind. It wasn't just the loss of people I had known but also the loss of myself. The loss of who I had been when I had been with them."
Then the Albatross Society finds him, a society made up of people just like him. And they offer the promise of safety, companionship, and purpose. There are just a few rules he as to follow:  never fall in love, never tell anyone about their secret, and never stay in one place longer than eight years. Oh, and he has to do something for them every eight years in return. And everything seems fine ... until he meets her.

My thoughts:  I love Matt Haig's novels. There's something about the way he writes, the lyricism of his prose, that makes me smile. His stories are always unexpected and quirky. And How To Stop Time is no exception. I liked Tom Hazard immediately, and I love how Haig wove together the pieces of his past and present. It makes for a poignant and thought-provoking novel. This was a 5-star read for me, and one that will for sure make my favorites list at the end of the year.

Happy Reading!

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30 comments:

  1. I like the sounds of this one and I have been curious. Think I'm going to have to pick it up now.

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    1. Like I said, he's one of my favorite authors. I loved his books Human and The Radleys, too. :)

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  2. This sounds great! I'll have to check it out.

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  3. I haven't read anything by Matt Haig, but this sounds fascinating!

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  4. I've not read any Matt Haig yet either, but people rave about his books. This one sounds good! Immortality (or close to it) is not all it is cracked up to be!

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  5. Thanks for the review. I think I'd like this, so I will give it a go some time!

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  6. I have not read any Matt Haig, but I know the name, as I saw only positive reviews on his books. Hope one day our paths will cross. Glad you found another great read.

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    1. I've really enjoyed the three books of his that I've read. I hope you get a chance to give him a try. :)

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  7. I haven't read anything by Matt Haig yet, but I'm adding this book to my wishlist. It sounds so good. :)

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    1. He's a unique author and definitely worth checking out. :)

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  8. For some reason I find that cover interesting. It is pretty simple but something about it is appealing!

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    1. I like it, too. Maybe because of the clock hands. :)

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  9. This sounds fabulous, I love the concept. The albatross Society sounds intriguing too, and of course he meets someone to love again- I can see that conflict coming! Sounds awesome.

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  10. How could they ask someone not to fall in love? Of course love is going to come into play. :) Glad to hear you loved it, Lark!

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  11. This one sounds good! Onto the wishlist it goes. :)

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    1. The ever-expanding, never-ending wishlist? I have one of those. ;D

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  12. This sounds so good! I've made a note in my library list to check this one out.

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  13. I love the excerpt you shared, Lark. I can see why you enjoy Haig's work. I think I would like this too. And what a gorgeous cover!

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    1. There's something about the way he writes that I just love.

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  14. I haven't heard of this author, but this sound really fun!

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    1. I ran across his book The Humans a few years ago and ended up really liking it. I've looked for his books ever since.

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  15. I've never read anything by Haig, but you're definitely tempting me with this review!

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    1. He's definitely a unique author, and his stories are always a bit quirky. But I think that's what I like about him.

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