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29th out of 637 books
—
2,167 voters
The Mirror
Our all-time best-selling book isn't even a vintage mystery but it is perhaps one of the most beloved novels of all time. A 20-year-old Boulder girl stares into her grandmother's Chinese mirror on her wedding day in 1978, faints and comes to in her grandmother's body--in 1900--about to be married to a miner. As she moves through life, even giving birth to her own mother, s...more
Paperback, 303 pages
Published
November 1st 1997
by Rue Morgue Press
(first published 1978)
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Nov 09, 2011
John
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
general-fiction,
favorites
This is perhaps my favorite book of all time. I discovered it through rather unusual circumstances. While working for an eye doctor in Boulder, Colorado, I met the author who was a patient of ours. When I learned that she was a published author, I started searching used book stores for some of her works and came across a first edition paperback of this book. I finished it in just a few days and was fortunate enough to have the author sign it for me during a follow-up visit to our office. I have...more
First, I am not going to describe the plot of this book. Others have and they have done a fine job. What I am going to tell you is why I encourage you to read this wonderful time-travel romance.
I read THE MIRROR when it first came out in the late 1970s. I took it out from our local public library as a new release. Back then I was too young to appreciate regencies but I read a few crime/thrillers. Most of what I enjoyed was bodice rippers or gothic romances from Victoria Holt or Velda Johnstone....more
I read THE MIRROR when it first came out in the late 1970s. I took it out from our local public library as a new release. Back then I was too young to appreciate regencies but I read a few crime/thrillers. Most of what I enjoyed was bodice rippers or gothic romances from Victoria Holt or Velda Johnstone....more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. Ive read at at least a dozen times over the years. I borrowed it from the lirary one day(long ago :) and was about a dozen pages in when the author had me hooked. I rushed right out and bought the book, knowing nothing about the rest of the book. I hardly EVER do that! The book is definitely different, but unique enough to stand on its own. I finished this book in one day and while I give it 5 stars and stand behind it, I feel as if the ending could...more
I first read this book many, many years ago, probably sometime in the 80's. It's one of those stories that I loved and it has always stayed with me, with a couple of scenes from the book still vivid in my mind. Only a couple though, as I realized upon rereading that the vast majority of the book did not jar any memories. Which was nice though, as it was like reading it for the for the first time. Anyway, when I saw it on the sale shelf at the library back in April 2006, I snatched it up. So now...more
I really enjoyed this book, but had alittle trouble at first keeping the characters straight: its a story of time travel, and jumps back and forth from 1900's to 1978. All in all, I really liked the story, lots of detail from both era's. This excerpt from the back of the book explains more about it, better than I can.
A classic tale of two women lost in time in the tradition of Jack Finney's Time and Again. On the eve of her wedding in 1978, Shay Garrett peers into an antique mirror in her family...more
A classic tale of two women lost in time in the tradition of Jack Finney's Time and Again. On the eve of her wedding in 1978, Shay Garrett peers into an antique mirror in her family...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a solid 3, which means nothing earth shattering but I read it through with a great deal of enjoyment, and even *gasp* some thought! The writing itself is a far cry from "litrature" but the characters were interesting and likable. And I don't know about you, but I've always been suspicious about mirrors, especially when I was a kid - there's definitely a Twilight Zone mystique about them. Ya know, the whole "into another world" possibility. And scary thoughts, what if I don't see my refle...more
I've had this on my wishlist for years, and my husband was kind enough to give it to me for my birthday. I've spent the past 2 days completely lost in it. I'm surprised it's not more popular, but maybe it was when it was first printed in 1978.
The story is basically about a grandmother and granddaughter who switch places in body and time when they look into a mirror that each of them received on their wedding days in different times. At this point, the story moves chronologically from past to pre...more
The story is basically about a grandmother and granddaughter who switch places in body and time when they look into a mirror that each of them received on their wedding days in different times. At this point, the story moves chronologically from past to pre...more
I read this when I was a freshman, and I'm rereading it as a senior. (...Time sure flies!!!)
I'm catching a lot more than when I read it the first time, and I'm also contemplating what I would do if I was in the situation! I really don't know, is the answer. I have just finished the first third (Shay) and I'm going to read the first chapter of Rachael tonight. I remember liking Shay's story the most. I know (well, I think at least,) that I would "enjoy" her situation more than Brandy's. I think...more
I'm catching a lot more than when I read it the first time, and I'm also contemplating what I would do if I was in the situation! I really don't know, is the answer. I have just finished the first third (Shay) and I'm going to read the first chapter of Rachael tonight. I remember liking Shay's story the most. I know (well, I think at least,) that I would "enjoy" her situation more than Brandy's. I think...more
Tea: Why yes, please!
Overall this is another really great story, totally unappreciated. For me, it's a book I've reread again and again because it is a wonderfully written story.
The story follows two relatives, a grandmother and granddaughter who end up switching places in time. The start of the book is a little odd at first but you end up going with the flow, and soon you're even enjoying the ride. The granddaughter goes to the past to be thrust into a plain time period filled with rough hard m...more
Overall this is another really great story, totally unappreciated. For me, it's a book I've reread again and again because it is a wonderfully written story.
The story follows two relatives, a grandmother and granddaughter who end up switching places in time. The start of the book is a little odd at first but you end up going with the flow, and soon you're even enjoying the ride. The granddaughter goes to the past to be thrust into a plain time period filled with rough hard m...more
This is a book I remember reading when I was a young girl. I loved the book then and just recently wanted to get it for my children to read. It's one you can't put down, I'm not much for fantasy books but this one was a wonderful one. I think everyone needs to read this, I know I'm going to go out and get it tomorrow......
This was primarily of interest to me as a citizen of Boulder Colorado and the environs. The historic part of the book (i.e., the first two-thirds) was by far the more interesting, and I read the first two sections fairly rapidly and enjoyed them. The question raised was intriguing: how would you adjust to living 100 years in the past? (Although, sleeping with your grandfather -- ew! And mothering your mother, well, that's all kindsa Freudian payback.) The part that took place in 1978 was odd and...more
There have been many body exchange stories over the years, but this one is unique, creative, and haunting. I read it many years ago and then lost track of it. I found it on Alibris and when I re-read it, I found a lot more to it than I'd recalled.
The emphasis is more on the woman in the past (inhabited by the woman who used to be in the future).
It has all sorts of interesting twists and turns. The girl who went back's mother is her daughter now and she knows all about her...which was very confus...more
The emphasis is more on the woman in the past (inhabited by the woman who used to be in the future).
It has all sorts of interesting twists and turns. The girl who went back's mother is her daughter now and she knows all about her...which was very confus...more
This is a time-travel romance that I read as a teenager that I re-read every chance I get. The story revolves around the granddaughter switching places with her grandmother on the eve on her wedding...
Oct 17, 2009
Marnie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in time travel and love story
Recommended to Marnie by:
mother
This is actually the second time I read this book. I read it 15 years ago at least. I was not as impressed with it the second time around. I now have the maturity to grasp time travel and understand logic better at an older age. This book is about the story of Shay and her grandmother Brandy. At the age of twenty and on the eve of their wedding nights, Shay and her grandmother switch places in time. Shay lives out her life as her grandmother from the age of twenty on to ninety. It doesn't quite...more
On the eve of her wedding in 1978, Shay Garrett peers into the antique mirror in her family's longtime home, the famous Victorian Gingerbread house on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado, and falls unconscious only to wake in the body of her own grandmother Brandy on the eve of "her" wedding in 1900. The virginal Brandy, in turn, awakes in Shay's body to discover herself pregnant. What follows is a fascinating look at how two women - and their families - cope with this strange situation. This was...more
I really loved this book. Whoopie-twang! Recommended by both my mother and Alison Thurman. I can't recommend this book enough!
2 likes · like · see review
It's full of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff. Well, not really.
It was good enough at first but lost steam in the latter part of the story. I think part of the problem is that Ms. Millhiser solely concentrated on Shay's new life for the first half of the book. By the time where we finally got to read (the real) Brandy's point of view, it felt like you were once again rereading Shay's version of the story.
I didn't buy Brandy running away and meeting new people; it seems like a lame attempt to spi...more
It was good enough at first but lost steam in the latter part of the story. I think part of the problem is that Ms. Millhiser solely concentrated on Shay's new life for the first half of the book. By the time where we finally got to read (the real) Brandy's point of view, it felt like you were once again rereading Shay's version of the story.
I didn't buy Brandy running away and meeting new people; it seems like a lame attempt to spi...more
I read this book back in the 80's and never forgot it. My soft cover book is battered and has a different cover. It has a picture of the mirror and all the hands surrounding it and looking into the mirror was Brandy.... or Shay.
I loved this book and have recommended it to friends when talking about the "Mother - Daughter" relationship.
Reciently reading a topic of discussuion surrounding women today and the "Lady-Like" skills women are losing. I am going to mention this book again and will leave...more
I loved this book and have recommended it to friends when talking about the "Mother - Daughter" relationship.
Reciently reading a topic of discussuion surrounding women today and the "Lady-Like" skills women are losing. I am going to mention this book again and will leave...more
Nov 04, 2009
Roxy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Roxy by:
Holli
Shelves:
general-fiction,
chick-chain
I throughly enjoyed this book. It was not your average time travel or transportation book in my opinion. I enjoyed the way it was broken in to sections to see things from a different characters point of view.
I was, however, throughly disappointed by the end of the book. About half way through the last section it began to read like the author ran out of steam. She could have done so much more in this section and even had the details to do but opted to keep it boring. The last section of the book...more
I was, however, throughly disappointed by the end of the book. About half way through the last section it began to read like the author ran out of steam. She could have done so much more in this section and even had the details to do but opted to keep it boring. The last section of the book...more
Past, present and future ~ co-exist.
This is a time travel story about 2 women, one was from 1978 and the other was from 1900, grand daughter, Shay and grandmother, Brandy switched places and time when they both peered at the antique mirror. However, it was a different time travel story because Shay woke up in colorado in 1900 in the body of her own grandmother. It was quite interesting how the 2 women coped with different times and their affections to other people.
I've always liked how differen...more
This is a time travel story about 2 women, one was from 1978 and the other was from 1900, grand daughter, Shay and grandmother, Brandy switched places and time when they both peered at the antique mirror. However, it was a different time travel story because Shay woke up in colorado in 1900 in the body of her own grandmother. It was quite interesting how the 2 women coped with different times and their affections to other people.
I've always liked how differen...more
I read (or at least have memory of partially reading) this when I was young. The book stuck with me for more than 20 years, and last week, I broke down and ordered it off of Amazon. I read it in three days, and it was even better than I remembered.
This story resonates with me in a way no other has. Marlys Millhiser wrote in such a way that I was emotionally invested in all of the characters, even the minor ones. She's an incredible writer, and I'm very grateful to have found The Mirror (and to...more
This story resonates with me in a way no other has. Marlys Millhiser wrote in such a way that I was emotionally invested in all of the characters, even the minor ones. She's an incredible writer, and I'm very grateful to have found The Mirror (and to...more
The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser tells the strange but original tale of four generations of woman from 1900 to 1978-79 and how their lives are interwoven and complicated by the machinations of an evil mirror. Shay Garrett and her grandmother Brandy McCabe are switched, mentally and physically on the eve of their respective wedding day, though the ceremonies are separated by over seven decades. Far from being a comedy spun and packaged by Disney producers (although there are some humorous scenes) t...more
There are a lot of time-travel books of varying types, but this was one of the earliest and it has a fantastic premise: a young woman looks into an antique mirror, and her soul swaps places with the soul of her grandmother, decades earlier. Brandy, the grandmother, finds herself in serious trouble in the modern world. She's pregnant, unmarried, and her erratic behavior causes her concerned parents to push for an abortion. Her body's mother is Brandy's daughter...undreamed of, since Brandy was on...more
Jacket blurb implies this is horror. Seems more like a romance so far, but not harlequin style, more classical style, with a time-travel gimmick.... ETA: Gimmick is not the right word though - it implies the TT element is light and minor but it's not; it is key to the story's premise and to the characters' development.
Ok done. Not horror, not sci-fi or fantasy, just a neat story about a couple of different young women who have an amazing adventure. I liked the descriptions of how each reacted to...more
Ok done. Not horror, not sci-fi or fantasy, just a neat story about a couple of different young women who have an amazing adventure. I liked the descriptions of how each reacted to...more
1 like · like · see review
I wasn't sure at the onset that I would be as crazy about this book as so many female readers before me have been, but this book really quite surprised me.
Two women on the cusp of their pending nuptials, both 20 years old, find themselves looking into an old wedding mirror that has been handed down in their family through many generations. Suddenly Brandy McCabe finds herself trapped in the pregnant body of her granddaughter Shay Garret and Shay finds herself, likewise, trapped in the body of he...more
Two women on the cusp of their pending nuptials, both 20 years old, find themselves looking into an old wedding mirror that has been handed down in their family through many generations. Suddenly Brandy McCabe finds herself trapped in the pregnant body of her granddaughter Shay Garret and Shay finds herself, likewise, trapped in the body of he...more
Feels great to have a book off of my TBR shelf! Especially one that has been on there for a very long time. I liked this book, but didn't love it. According to the reviews, many people read it as teenagers or young adults when it was first published in 1978 and so remember it as a favorite, loved book. Reading it for the first time in 2012, unfortunately, I don't think it aged well.
The book was divided roughly into three sections (although not necessarily equal in size)-- Shay living in the past...more
The book was divided roughly into three sections (although not necessarily equal in size)-- Shay living in the past...more
I first read this book around 1990 and I loved it, decided to re-read it for my book club reading challenge.
Although some parts of the book are now a bit dated since it was written in 1978 and there aren't cell phones, PCs, and some of the cultural references made me smile, like when the couple go to a disco, but the basic story still draws me in.
IT's a story or time travel but the two people who travel exchange not only time but bodies, leaving the modern girl in the body of her grandmother and...more
Although some parts of the book are now a bit dated since it was written in 1978 and there aren't cell phones, PCs, and some of the cultural references made me smile, like when the couple go to a disco, but the basic story still draws me in.
IT's a story or time travel but the two people who travel exchange not only time but bodies, leaving the modern girl in the body of her grandmother and...more
Mar 06, 2009
Elaine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Elaine by:
The Literary Guild
This was one of my favorite books in the late 1970s. I have marveled at the author's ability to create a seamless and fascinating storyline. Perhaps part of the appeal is the age of the protagonist. Shay Garrett was 20 in the 1978, the year of the book's publication. That was my age...
The bizarre intertwining of the two women's lives, and the reactions of those around them, provide a moving "what-if" story, full of suspense and opportunities for emotional identification with the characters.
The bizarre intertwining of the two women's lives, and the reactions of those around them, provide a moving "what-if" story, full of suspense and opportunities for emotional identification with the characters.
Shay Garrett receives a mirror from her mother, Rachael, as a wedding present. It's a hideous thing with a crack in it and awful hands on top and bottom to hold it in place. It's sits in Shay's room the night before her wedding as Shay wonders if she's doing the right thing for the right reasons.
Shay gets the shock of her life when the mirror transports her 78 years into the past. Suddenly she is in the body of her 20 year old grandmother Brandy McCabe - on the eve of HER wedding. Shay struggles...more
Shay gets the shock of her life when the mirror transports her 78 years into the past. Suddenly she is in the body of her 20 year old grandmother Brandy McCabe - on the eve of HER wedding. Shay struggles...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mirror | 15 | 52 | Apr 09, 2013 09:12am | |
| Time Travel: THE MIRROR: General Discussion (*spoilers*) | 26 | 40 | Nov 18, 2011 02:10pm |
Sep 07, 2011 06:34pm
Sep 07, 2011 06:59pm