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Somewhere In Time
Like What Dreams May Come, which inspired the movie starring Robin Williams, Somewhere in Time is the powerful story of a love that transcends time and space, written by one of the Grand Masters of modern fantasy.
Matheson's classic novel tells the moving, romantic story of a modern man whose love for a woman he has never met draws him back in time to a luxury hotel in...more
Mass Market Paperback, 316 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by Tor Books
(first published 1974)
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Part fantasy novel, part romance novel, Richard Matheson's "Bid Time Return" finds dying writer Richard Collier falling in love with a photograph of a turn of the century actress Elise McKenna, becoming obsessed with her and then finding a way to travel back in time to meet her.
On the surface, the premise sounds absurd, but really no more so than your standard romance novel. It's the story of two people falling in love and overcoming obstancles to be together. In this cas...more
On the surface, the premise sounds absurd, but really no more so than your standard romance novel. It's the story of two people falling in love and overcoming obstancles to be together. In this cas...more
Sorry, no. I'm a Matheson fan, and I expected to be a fan of this. It's like a warmed over, less interesting version of Jack Finney's Time and Again. It would be fine if it just wasn't quite as good--because the Finney book is truly wonderful--but the fact is, I was alternately bored and uninterested for almost the entire book.
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The book and movie are both very good but to me reading the book is emotional draining. The book gives the reader a better understanding of Elise, what her beliefs and how much she had to struggle with herself and her feelings about Richard. It also seems she may have know that Richard would leave her in the end.
Richard seems unsure of himself most of the story but he was dealing with his imminent death, traveling in time and the unknowns of his realtionship with Elise plus her mothe...more
Richard seems unsure of himself most of the story but he was dealing with his imminent death, traveling in time and the unknowns of his realtionship with Elise plus her mothe...more
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5, 5, 5 stars. More if I could. I read another 5-star review that described the book as 'emotionally draining.' Yes, it is. It's also one of the only 'period novels' where I actually felt to be IN the time period itself. It's written in first-person narrative, reminiscent of the heightened awareness of environment and physical self of Kafka's Metamorphosis, and the dramatic inner dialogue of Camus' The Stranger. And it's romantic and touching and BELIEVABLE. Just a wonderful book.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I want to explain my rating. The first 1/3 of the book was worthy of 5 stars for me. The second 2/3, only worth 3 stars, but I can't justify an over all rating of 3. In addition to a foreword from the "author's" brother, there is an afterword that bumps up the quality of the story from those 3 stars.
As a teen, I must have seen this movie a hundred times, so I went into the book looking for those same feelings of love, romance, nostalgia and melancholy. They were all presen...more
As a teen, I must have seen this movie a hundred times, so I went into the book looking for those same feelings of love, romance, nostalgia and melancholy. They were all presen...more
This is one of those cases where I like the movie better than the book. The movie is pure time travel/romance. The book is much, much edgier. I like it, but it doesn't make me the same puddle of mush that the movie does. This is a book I read eons ago, and am due a re-read. Maybe I'll find that since I am in a different frame of mind than I was when I read it, way back when, I may like it more. It'll be interesting to see.
http://compbiblio.blogspot.com/2010/07/w...
"Basically its about this guy, Richard, who is leaving his life behind to get away from his family who are treating him as if he will die at any moment. Which apparently he might.
Richard ends up at this hotel and sees a picture of this woman, Elise, whom he is drawn to. He spends most of the beginning of the book finding out as much as he can about her and traveling in time to her.
He does go back in time, and th...more
"Basically its about this guy, Richard, who is leaving his life behind to get away from his family who are treating him as if he will die at any moment. Which apparently he might.
Richard ends up at this hotel and sees a picture of this woman, Elise, whom he is drawn to. He spends most of the beginning of the book finding out as much as he can about her and traveling in time to her.
He does go back in time, and th...more
What can I say? Many people know of this book because of the movie with this same title. The book was originally published under "Bid Time Return", which I like much more. Richard Collier falls in love with a photo of an actress from 1896, his year being 1971. He attempts time travel back, she falls in love with him, and then they live happily ever afer in 1896? That would only be too easy.
Richard Matheson is that type of author who grips me with such force that I can't fin...more
Richard Matheson is that type of author who grips me with such force that I can't fin...more
The original title of this book was actually "Bid Time Return." The film based on it, however, became so well-known that it began being published under the cinematic title instead. Reading this book after having been exposed to the film with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve was a bit backwards. Usually you read the book and then see the film only to be let down by the changes made to the original text and storyline. It was the exact opposite for me because the love story in the f...more
I read this under the original title "Bid Time Return", before the movie was released. I've re-read it several times since (and will read it again). I wish I could give it more stars. This is probably my all-time favorite book ever, and I read a LOT.
The book is a million times better than the movie, and I really like the movie. The book was written in such a believable style that honestly, I was looking for some proof after I finished it that it was, in fact, fiction. I wa...more
The book is a million times better than the movie, and I really like the movie. The book was written in such a believable style that honestly, I was looking for some proof after I finished it that it was, in fact, fiction. I wa...more
This is my second Richard Matheson and I must admit I was expecting the writting style in this to be similar to the other, Button, Button. I couldn't have been more wrong. For the majority of the book I couldn't even tell they were written by the same person except for maybe the opening and closing of the book. Otherwise where I expected a short narative and fantastic descriptions I got repetition and meticulous attention to detail and continuous explaination. I found reading the main bulk of th...more
The movie of the same name is one of my favorites, so I really wanted to like this book. The characters are more developed, and the story is more tragic than the movie, though it is the same imaginative premise of time travel to reach the one you love. The longing Richard feels for Elise is real and tangible. But I thought the obsession with which Richard pursues Elise was disturbing. He seems desperate, not devoted. I couldn't see how Elise could allow him in to her heart, the way he carried on...more
I've always been a big fan of Richard Matheson because of his work on my favorite TV series of all-time, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone. Matheson wrote some of the best episodes including Nightmare at 20,000 feet. He also wrote novels that have been made into motion pictures such as I am Legend (remade several times), Somewhere in Time, What Dreams May Come and others.
This novel was called BID TIME RETURN when I first read it but I guess they renamed it to match the title of the memorable...more
This novel was called BID TIME RETURN when I first read it but I guess they renamed it to match the title of the memorable...more
I saw the movie "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour and I really liked the movie but my goodness what a disappointment this horrible book is. The first 30 pages are filled with the main character driving around and tells us every song playing on the radio during the drive and other nonsense, we do not find out his name until page 30 and at that point we find out that the main character has a brain tumor. I think the author of this book had a bigger brain tum...more
It may be a minor book, but even a minor book by a great author is very worthwhile. My copy has the original title, "Bid Time Return," but movies rule, and the book now bears the title that the movie gave the book. Certainly not a classic, but a very quick and enjoyable read. Fans of the movie may be disconcerted to find the original is set in Coronado at the famous Hotel del Coronado rather than the Grand at Macinac Island. The change was made because the movie company couldn't avoid ...more
Okay, I admit that for someone who professes to adore time travel, it's weird that I am only just getting to this book. Every time I tried it, the narration of the first few pages threw me. Having soldiered through it, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I can see why it's one of the big influential stories in it's area, and it has all of the elements and structure that make it a classic. At the same time, the pacing seemed very off to me. There's all this build up, all of this preparation and l...more
This book explains some of the questions posed by the film Somewhere in Time, although if you think about the story too much it unravels.
Somewhere in Time by Richard Matheson has been long in my TBR pile but only now have I've got the urged to pick it up. After reading the last paragraph I cannot say that I regret reading it later rather than sooner. As a time travel story it kind of delivered, but as a love story it's incomplete. Matheson's other novel I am Legend also gave me the same feeling. Both ending left me hanging and wishing that the author could have spent longer on expanding the novel. The author aimed to write a dece...more
I first read this book almost twenty years ago and have re-read it many times since.
What an incredible journey Richard Matheson takes you on throughout this book. I could not separate myself, neither mentally or emotionally, from this beautiful love story. The story flows very smoothly, yet emotionally at times it can be very difficult to read. Even after so many re-reads, I sometimes have to pull over and wipe my eyes. The writing is spot on and the characters so real. It finishes wi...more
What an incredible journey Richard Matheson takes you on throughout this book. I could not separate myself, neither mentally or emotionally, from this beautiful love story. The story flows very smoothly, yet emotionally at times it can be very difficult to read. Even after so many re-reads, I sometimes have to pull over and wipe my eyes. The writing is spot on and the characters so real. It finishes wi...more
Love this book! I read it years after I had seen the movie. I had just read What Dreams May Come and I was on a Richard Matheison kick. Love Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour and I ever thought that that the book could ever be better, but it was. I read the other reviews about the confusions in the first few chapters but I thought that they helped explain a lot of the angst that Richard was going through. I loved the descriptions of the inn and how different things sounded and tasted like...more
This has been one of my favorite books since I was young. I think I read it first when I was 11 or 12. It is a romantic story...maybe not the most literary book in the world, but I love the story. There was a movie made in the 80's and I have seen that too, many times. (my husband likes to make fun of me for this since the movie is Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour and does not do the book justice). I have always wanted to visit the Hotel Del Coronado because of this book...I guess I am just a...more
This has been one of my favorite books since I was young. I think I read it first when I was 11 or 12. It is a romantic story...maybe not the most literary book in the world, but I love the story. There was a movie made in the 80's and I have seen that too, many times. (my husband likes to make fun of me for this since the movie is Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour and does not do the book justice). I have always wanted to visit the Hotel Del Coronado because of this book...I guess I am just a...more
I'm somewhat inclined to favor this book: the female love interest in the book is modeled after my near-ancestor, and it takes place in San Diego, a location close to my heart.
Richard Matheson is a very good writer, though, particularly when writing from the first person perspective. You can understand the protagonist's thoughts and actions, even when they are clearly making a mistake (this excellent first person perspective was also present in _I Am Legend_). This is mostly a love...more
Richard Matheson is a very good writer, though, particularly when writing from the first person perspective. You can understand the protagonist's thoughts and actions, even when they are clearly making a mistake (this excellent first person perspective was also present in _I Am Legend_). This is mostly a love...more
The movie of the same title has been a favorite of mine for years. The screenplay was largely based on the original novel. The story is bookended by narrative by Richard Collier's brother; a change from the movie treatment. The protagonist's brain tumor lends a slightly different spin on the story. The edition I read has book discussion notes at the end and this plot thread is one they highlight. Overall, a wonderful addition to my time travel genre top ten. Matheson's Twilight Zone work was...more
Remember "Somewhere In Time", the ultra-romantic movie from 1980 starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour? Until a couple of months ago, I had no idea that the movie was based on a book -- and a book by Richard Matheson, no less!
Matheson was really ahead of his time (ahem... pardon the pun), writing about time travel before time travel became such a common literary device. In SIT, Hollywood writer Richard Collier hits the road after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tu...more
Matheson was really ahead of his time (ahem... pardon the pun), writing about time travel before time travel became such a common literary device. In SIT, Hollywood writer Richard Collier hits the road after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tu...more
Fantasy romance novel, as other reviewers have noted. I like it, but I'm not sure how much I like it; and I find it hard to judge, because I've probably never read anything like it. Spoilers ahead.
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I can't believe I'm saying this but skip the book and see the movie instead! Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that instead of Hollywood screwing up a good book and getting it wrong that they could take a mediocre book and make something unforgettable. Originally published as Bid Time Return, the story starts in 1971 and written in a journal/diary format by Richard Collier, who suffers from a brain tumor. In an effort to escape his real life and career, Richard finds himself at San D...more
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Born in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of w...more
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