How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
5/5 Stars
Overview
How to Stop Time is about how Tom, the main character, is caught up in a society which makes him scared. It makes him believe that he is at risk if he doesn’t follow the rules, because bad things happen.
He has a condition which means he ages at a slower rate to the average human being, but only physically. His mental state is still intact, and seems to be younger than what he really is, only due to his appearance. He is of course, a very wise man, who knows a hell of a lot, he even met Shakespeare!
Not aging as fast as everyone else causes a lot of talk and trouble.Suspicions are dangerous for himself, people like him, and those he loves.
That is one of his main rules. Not to fall in love.
It would be too hard, and only causes tragedy to the people he does love. So he is told by the man who runs the organisation that looks after those with the same condition.
Tom has to change where he lives every eight years, meaning he never feels normal, he is just living.
But he is living for one reason.
To find his daughter, who seems to have the same aging condition, and she is also in hiding.
He struggles with headaches, knowing too much about the past, and trying to adapt to the present. He becomes a history teacher in a school in London, he has to make sure he doesnt give away who he is or arouse any suspicions.
I really don’t want to give away any spoilers here because this is honestly the best book i have read this year… I really want you to read it too! It’s basically just a great book about a super old man who relives history throughout the novel, tries to find his daughter, and so badly wants to feel normal and fall in love, again!
What I liked
I loved reading about the history in this book. So much research must have gone into this novel, and its just so interesting.
It is really well structured, going back and forth from past to present so we get a greater understanding of the main character. This book has made me want to read more about history, and delve into reading more science fiction novels.
Overall, the thing I enjoyed the most was all the little stories about the main characters past life.
He has lived in so many different places from the 1500’s to now.
It’s just so interesting to read and I actually think I have learnt a lot whilst reading it (even if it is fiction).
What I Didn’t Like
I didn’t like that this book ended???
Honestly, I dont actually have anything bad to say about it.
I enjoyed it so much, some people have commented on the structure of this novel, but I personally liked going back and forth throughout Tom’s life.
***
Thank you for reading this book review of How To Stop Time.
Sorry if it doesn’t go into too much detail, I just dont want this one to contain too many spoilers!
Please comment below if you would like to talk about this book, I would be so so happy to see other peoples views! I want to know what you liked the best, and what you didn’t like!
Other posts you should read are;
Turtles All The Way Down Review
The Books That Made Me A Reader
5 Comments
Jass
22/02/2018 at 9:33 AMI’m so glad someone loved it as much as me! It’s such an awesome book!!
Charlotte Dawson
25/02/2018 at 1:15 PMYAY IM GLAD YOU LIKED IT TOO XX
Charlotte
23/02/2018 at 3:41 PMYesssss! I’m so glad you enjoyed this! How To Stop Time is honestly one of my favourite books I have ever read and I’m so happy you loved it as much as me. Tom is such a complex character with so many different layers, it’s fascinating watching him adapt to all the different time periods he has to live through. <3
Charlotte | https://charlotteidek.com
Charlotte Dawson
25/02/2018 at 1:14 PMHello! Thank your for your comment!
Yes i loved this book, i didn’t think i would as i dont usually read Sci-Fi. I’m so glad you agree and liked it too!
xx
Mini Book Review // Normal People by Sally Rooney
24/07/2019 at 7:07 PM[…] last book review was actually How To Stop Time by Matt Haig, (which is a great book, I 100% […]