Elton, Ben ; Time and Time Again; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 6 January 2016

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

What is a Buddy Read?

This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.


Book Synopsis:
It’s the 1st of June 1914 and Hugh Stanton, ex-soldier and celebrated adventurer is quite literally the loneliest man on earth. No one he has ever known or loved has been born yet. Perhaps now they never will be.

Stanton knows that a great and terrible war is coming. A collective suicidal madness that will destroy European civilization and bring misery to millions in the century to come. He knows this because, for him, that century is already history.

Somehow he must change that history. He must prevent the war. A war that will begin with a single bullet. But can a single bullet truly corrupt an entire century?

And, if so, could another single bullet save it?

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Jen]

I'll be in for this buddy read just as soon as my library branch gets one of the copies they have on order. This will hopefully be in late December or early January. :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I will be listening to the audio from my library :D

[Margaret]

I was hoping that my on-line library has it but I'll find it somewhere, I do have four library cards not counting my e-card :D lol

[Jen]

Margaret wrote: "I was hoping that my on-line library has it but I'll find it somewhere, I do have four library cards not counting my e-card :D lol"

Wow, four?! I used to have three, but when I officially moved to Arizona I lost both of my Washington ones. I'm still sad about this almost three years later. ;-)

[Margaret]

Only readers and library hounds would understand your sadness :D lol funny to say but three of my cards are all from three different counties. Oh and my e-card is from yet another county. What can I say...I get around!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Lol Margaret! I have 3 different library cards and at one of them my husband gets access to more ebooks/audiobooks than I can as you only get full access if you work/live in their area and he works nearby so I use his too! So I guess technically I have 4 ;)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Lol Margaret! I have 3 different library cards and at one of them my husband gets access to more ebooks/audiobooks than I can as you only get full access if you work/live in their area and he works..."

Oh! I forgot that I "have" three cards, too, even in Arizona! I use mine, my mother's, and my father's. :-) This triples the amount of holds I can place and the number of books I can check out. :-)

(Though I've been pretty good this year at limiting check-outs to my own card. But it's nice to have the room to place holds on theirs, as I have so many "on order" books on my own account's hold list.)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Handy! :D

[Margaret]

we are nothing but a group of book and library mongers :D and proud of it! work that system! lol

[Jen]

Margaret wrote: "we are nothing but a group of book and library mongers :D and proud of it! work that system! lol"

lol Margaret, but very true! :-D

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Great, welcome!

[Marie (UK)]

going to try and get this from library

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

:)
I have the audio ready on my phone. Just need to get through another book first.

[Jen]

I have my current read and then a buddy read to finish and then I can start this book. I was able to get it from the library yesterday. :-)

Hopefully I'll be free to start it Wednesday.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

:D

I have started the audio and picking up the paperback later today

[Jen]

Jen wrote: "I have my current read and then a buddy read to finish and then I can start this book. I was able to get it from the library yesterday. :-)

Hopefully I'll be free to start it Wednesday."

I'm free to start this book now! But first, I need some sleep. It's after midnight. I'll start it once I wake up later today. But I'm happy that my plan to start it on Wednesday will be successful! :-)

How are you liking it, Karen?

[Jen]

I've read through ten chapters so far. I'm intrigued, but something about the way the story is being told - its voice, as it were - is off-putting for me. I almost set the book aside after reading just the first page. But as this is a buddy read, I stuck it out. And now I'm invested and intrigued. ;-)

So I'll read on. :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm only up to chapter 8 and it is a teeny bit confusing on audio, so I'm not sure how I feel yet either Jen. It is just getting to the point that I think I know what is going on! haha

I do like the use of the 'alternative history' for Isaac Newton ; in terms of an explanation for what happened to him. It reminds me of the theories that abound for Agatha Christie's lost days (my favourite being the Doctor Who episode!)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "I do like the use of the 'alternative history' for Isaac Newton ; in terms of an explanation for what happened to him. It reminds me of the theories that abound for Agatha Christie's..."

I like when authors give us potential reasons for mysterious historical facts, too. :-)

I can't imagine doing this as an audiobook. Every chapter just about is a different time period. It's not too hard to be aware of "when" we are in the story when reading it. But to listen to it? Kudos to you for following along!

How are you liking the story, apart from your confusion? Enjoying it?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes the flipping has been a bit difficult and I haven't had a chance to pick up the paperback (hopefully tomorrow). I am liking the story, but Idon't feel completely engaged with it yet - I think because I'm still trying to work it all out.!

[Jen]

Well, I just finished Chapter 14. Professor McCluskey (view spoiler)[went with Stanton to the past! (hide spoiler)] I wasn't expecting that. I wonder why (view spoiler)[she wasn't with him in the opening chapters with Hugh in 1914? (hide spoiler)] I guess I'll just have to read more to find out...later. It's nearly 3:00 in the morning and I need sleep.

I guess I've adapted to the voice of the story now, as I find myself enjoying it. I'm looking forward to reading more when I'm again awake. :-)

[Margaret]

I have been holding back joining in because my Overdrive library didn't have the book and now I might be going into town and my local library has the book! I have been a bit moody with my choices lately and the book sounds a bit hard to get into? Am I correct? I can't guarantee that I'll stick it out but I do want to give it a try. :D

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I think the key is to read a few chapters in one go Margaret as the book just kind of throws you right in and also switches time periods each chapter.
See how you go ;)

[Jen]

Margaret wrote: "I have been holding back joining in because my Overdrive library didn't have the book and now I might be going into town and my local library has the book! I have been a bit moody with my choices l..."

I didn't find it hard to get into. I just didn't like "the voice" of the story. But reading a few chapters settled me into it and now I'm reading with interest. :-)

I just started Chapter 18 and (view spoiler)[McCluskey's presence in 1914 (and absence from Hugh's morning) were explained. Then Hugh tossed her out of the train. (hide spoiler)] ... Uhm. ... What?! (view spoiler)[McCluskey was responsible for the murder of Hugh's family?! (hide spoiler)] It makes total sense, and the clues were there for us - the readers - as well as for Hugh. But I did not see it coming. Wow.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Jen wrote: "Well, I just finished Chapter 14. Professor McCluskey [spoilers removed] I wasn't expecting that. I wonder why [spoilers removed] I guess I'll just have to read more to find out...later. It's nearl..."

I just finished chapter 15.(view spoiler)[ I am totally with you, I did NOT expect that at all, and I was actually quite angry with her. (hide spoiler)]

It must be very hard to know that if they succeed with Hugh going back to 1914 that they, and their family, just cease to exist. I'm not sure how I would feel about that. I think everything happens for a reason, and to try and change history doesn't seem right. Who's to say there isn't another dictator just waiting to take power? I liked how King explored that in 11/22/63 and I'm interested to see how Elton does it this time.

Margaret ; I'm totally into the story now, and so far I think it is worth reading. Not just for the "oh I wonder what will happen next", but also the ethical questions of changing history.

There are a fair few f-bombs thrown around I think it adds to McCluskey's character though and is not really bothering me

[Jen]

I agree with you, Karen. I am expecting the future they're trying to prevent/change to happen anyway. I think things happen by design and changing the design won't necessarily change the outcome. But I don't know if this is how Elton is going to have his story go. I'm just reading with a huge knot of worry and apprehension in my being.

And I'm with you on your anger at (view spoiler)[McCluskey for stowing away on Hugh's trip to the past. (hide spoiler)] But just wait... Let me know how you think/feel after you finish Chapter 17.

I haven't read 11/22/63, yet. I've had it on hold ever since the buddy read was set for November, but my turn with it still hasn't come. I think I'm now #5 in line on just 4 copies. :-(

[Jen]

Well.

I'm finished. My reaction? "It's over?! It can't be over! But it is." :'(

At the end of Chapter 48, (view spoiler)[Hugh was killed by another Chronation. (hide spoiler)] :'(

Then Chapter 49 (view spoiler)[shared another vignette from Newton's time: he was going to return to Cambridge and demand his box back...only he died in his sleep after making this decision. (hide spoiler)]

So we readers (view spoiler)[are left to imagine endless loops of the 20th century. Or possibly a last run that could be better or - more likely - somehow worse. I HATE when authors leave it for us readers to imagine the ending! :'( (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Oh....I am getting it today! It does sound interesting and I can't wait. I just started another book last night but I am always juggling books around and reading bits here and there.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Jen wrote: "Let me know how you think/feel after you finish Chapter 17...."

Well by jingo!

(view spoiler)[ What an absolutely HORRID woman. I am so disgusted. Especially as she decided to go back to that time anyway, and then was happy to just let the world turn so that she could go to the ballet! Unbelievable. I don't like condoning murder, but I'm not sure what choice Hugh had there.
A small part of me wonders if she survived somehow. I really hope not, but it seems all a bit early in the story for her to be a big part of it and then just disappear. usually that kind of scene would happen towards the end of the book if she really was dead. (hide spoiler)]
Ok, off to start chapter 19

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Margaret wrote: "Oh....I am getting it today! It does sound interesting and I can't wait. I just started another book last night but I am always juggling books around and reading bits here and there."

same here. I am reading three at the moment. I'm a bit behind on the BOM and I need to finish Career of Evil as it is due back at the library with lots of reserves (I always feel bad borrowing books for too long when they are popular!)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Jen wrote: "Let me know how you think/feel after you finish Chapter 17...."

Well by jingo!..."

I agree with you on the horrid bit. That's an excellent way to describe her. :-( I wondered too if she (view spoiler)[was really dead and gone (hide spoiler)] I won't tell you if she is or not, though. Don't want to spoil anything for you.

[Jen]

I wrote my review. I decided that, for me, this was a three-star read. A good book somewhat ruined by (view spoiler)[a rocky-for-me beginning and a totally-unsatisfactory-for-me ending (hide spoiler)]. :-(

I'm glad I read this, though. It was interesting to see how messing about with time could possibly play out.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Just finished Chapter 27

I was so surprised (view spoiler)[ that Hugh spent so much time with Bernadette. And I was actually getting a bit frustrated with him for continuing to use 21st century language.
She seems a bit too observant and I kept wondering if she was from a rival 'cronos team'! So now I just wonder if she is going to end up being McKluskey's great grandmother or something (imagine if he did impregnate her and McKluskey was the descendent?!).
Wild theories, but I just can't help but assume that something bad will happen from that encounter (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Just finished Chapter 27..."

I too was rather surprised that he wasn't more careful of what he said -- and how he said it. That's an interesting wild theory, though. I hadn't thought about that, though I was aware that (view spoiler)[he ran the risk of meeting his or -- I thought, more likely -- Cassie's parents or grandparents. THAT's who I thought Bernadette would turn out to be... Cassie's grandmother. (hide spoiler)] lol ;-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Oh! I hadn't thought of that. Totally could see that happening too

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Oh! I hadn't thought of that. Totally could see that happening too"

I know, right?! I pretty much read the whole book with a knot of worry in my being.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I still have a knot in my stomach! I'm in chapter 41

(view spoiler)[
I really want to know who KT503b678 (interestingly on audio this is said as "Katie 503b678" ; I would never have picked that up if just reading the paperback) is ; and does that mean that we keep continuing to change history through these time loops. Is she the one with the extra pair of footprints in the cellar that Hugh found? Seems probable as she is a killer.
So sad about Bernadette and Hugh. But, seriously, what was the guy thinking? Of course she wouldn't believe him!! (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "I still have a knot in my stomach! I'm in chapter 41..."

Interesting how the audio jumped right in on calling her Katie503b678. When I was reading it, like you (sounds like) I read it as K-T-503b678. lol ;-)

And yes, sad is right. Poor Hugh. Just goes to show the evils of drinking, I guess. (Though drinking has never loosened my tongue. I'm still careful of what I say even if I am more open about some things.)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Jen wrote: "Well.

I'm finished. My reaction? "It's over?! It can't be over! But it is." :'(

At the end of Chapter 48, [spoilers removed] :'(

Then Chapter 49 [spoilers removed]

So we readers [spoilers r..."

lol
I actually don't mind books that end with questions.
With this book, I thought it was quite fitting as the idea of 'multiple possibilities' is exactly what this book is about.

I finished this with goosebumps and so many theories running through my mind.
(view spoiler)[
I would like to think that after Hugh is shot, the time traveller AFTER that one, reboots the world back to the one that is ours. Who knows, maybe in 10 years we shall cease to exist as someone else goes and reboots?.....
;)

I like the theme that nothing is perfect though. You can't change something terrible just because you want to, there is always someone else ; or something else that may be worse. Therefore you need to look for the good in what has happened.
For example, our World Wars are awful, but they enabled the emancipation of women and massive technological leaps.
I'm not saying it is 'right' that so many people died, but let their deaths not be in vain.
(hide spoiler)]