How to Stop TIme, by Matt Haig, 3.5 stars

[NancyJ]

How to Stop Time is an entertaining book about a man who ages very slowly. He has to move every 8 years to avoid disturbing neighbors and coworkers who may fear what they don't understand. His mother was accused of being a witch when people noticed her teenager wasn't aging, so he knows the danger. While he has lived in many places, he frequently returns to London and nearby areas. There are others like him around the world, and much of the drama involves those characters. At various times the book feels like a thriller, a romance, or a mystery, with a bit of historical fiction. I like historical fiction, so I might have liked a few more interesting historical touches. I might have been more excited by the creativity of the story if I hadn't seen similar plots in other books and television. Still, I enjoyed the author's work and will look for more from him in the future.

Note to mods - I wrote a review on this book a couple weeks ago but I can't find it. It's possible that I posted it in the wrong thread.

[Jen]

NancyJ wrote: "How to Stop Time is an entertaining book about a man who ages very slowly. He has to move every 8 years to avoid disturbing neighbors and coworkers who may fear what they don't unde..."

Interesting to see what your thought. This is the monthly read for my FTF book (wine drinking out of odd shaped vessels) club. Bit behind so hopefully I get to it.

[KateNZ]

I liked this one a lot! It was a bit uneven in places but I do like his writing style

[Joi]

I don't think I've ever watched a movie/show about the slow-aging concept, so this felt new to me :)

Is Benjamin Button about this?

Anyways, I really enjoyed this, loved the references to old timers with modern age.

[NancyJ]

Joi wrote: "I don't think I've ever watched a movie/show about the slow-aging concept, so this felt new to me :)

Is Benjamin Button about this?

Anyways, I really enjoyed this, loved the references to old ti..."

I loved Benjamin Button - he aged backward. He was born as a helpless old man, grew younger, and eventually died as a helpless baby.

In my foggy memory, I might be including a children's book about a fountain of youth, and some stories about immortals or even vampires (that didn't look or act like vampires). There was another cool one about a man who couldn't die. If he was mortally wounded, he would always wake up a short time later in the East River in NY city each time. All had similar problems when someone discovered a picture of them from long ago.

[Joanne]

NancyJ wrote: There was another cool one about a man who couldn't die.

I just read a blurb about a book like that....now I ca n't find it-of course!

[NancyJ]

Joanne wrote: "NancyJ wrote: There was another cool one about a man who couldn't die.

I just read a blurb about a book like that....now I ca n't find it-of course!"

If you find it let me now. I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining that it's not 100% creative, because I am somehow always drawn to the stories. I really loved Groundhog Day; he did something new everyday to try to make the day (and himself) more perfect.

Duh, I just realized that my current book is related too. In Life After Life, every time the woman dies, she starts over at her birth. She doesn't remember those lives, but through randomness or her emotions (e.g. fear of going out in the water after drowning in her previous life), things change each time. I wonder if there is a catchall name for all these stories.