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63 pages 2 hours read

How to Stop Time

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

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Book Brief

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Matt Haig

How to Stop Time

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Various Locations • Multiple Eras

Theme
Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Matt Haig’s novel, How to Stop Time, Tom Hazard, who ages extraordinarily slowly and has lived for centuries, navigates a contemporary existence in London while reflecting on his storied past, which includes encounters with historical figures and a tragic separation from his family. He seeks to reunite with his daughter, Marion, and contemplates the inevitability of change and the pursuit of happiness amidst constant danger.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Emotional

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.1

218,901 ratings

68%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Matt Haig's How to Stop Time offers a poignant exploration of immortality, blending historical fiction with a contemporary love story. Readers appreciate its imaginative premise and Haig's engaging prose. However, some critics find the plot predictable and the protagonist underdeveloped. Overall, it resonates well for its emotional depth and thought-provoking themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How to Stop Time?

Readers who enjoy Matt Haig's How to Stop Time are often fans of historical fiction with a twist of magical realism. This book appeals to those intrigued by time travel and emotional, philosophical narratives, much like readers of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

4.1

218,901 ratings

68%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Character List

Tom Hazard

A man with a rare slow-aging condition, living for over 400 years, who continuously changes identities in his quest for self-discovery, guided by promises made to his mother and wife.

The head of the Albatross Society, who provides Tom with new identities and missions but also manipulates and controls him for selfish reasons.

Tom's first love, whose relationship with him provides a deep sense of purpose and whose memory continues to influence him throughout his life.

Tom and Rose's daughter, who shares Tom's slow-aging condition and is a significant motive for Tom's actions, affecting his choices and survival.

A friend of Tom with the same condition, who offers a perspective of living without fear and finding happiness through love and acceptance.

Tom's second love interest, who symbolizes the potential for new beginnings and acceptance, offering Tom a renewed chance at happiness and family.

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Various Locations • Multiple Eras

Theme
Publication Year

2017

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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