Beyond the Moon
A Haunting Debut Novel of Time Travel and WW1
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Beyond the Moon
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Narrated by:
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Liz May Brice
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By:
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Catherine Taylor
About this listen
A strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in WWI in 1916 with a young woman living in modern-day England a century later, in this haunting best-selling literary time-travel novel.
Shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Love Story Prize
Longlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize
"Taylor’s accomplished, genre-bending book succeeds as a WWI historical novel and a beguiling time-travel love story" (Kirkus Reviews)
In 1916, First Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall Military Hospital in Sussex, England. A gifted artist, he’s been wounded fighting in WWI. Shell-shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness, he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless. A century later, in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother - her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs - only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear a suicide attempt, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall, now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place. Then one day, while secretly exploring the old hospital’s abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was he was hurt at the Somme, a WWI battle a century ago. And that his name is Lt Robert Lovett....
Two people, two battles: one against the invading Germans in 1916 France, the other against an uncaring mental health facility in 2017. Part war-story, part timeslip, part love-story - and at the same time a meditation on the themes of war, mental illness, identity, and art, Beyond the Moon is an intelligent, captivating debut novel, perfect for book clubs.
Contains graphic descriptions of war violence/injuries, profanity, and mild sex.
©2019 Catherine Taylor (P)2020 Catherine TaylorListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Beyond the Moon
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Phyllida Shrimpton
- 30-07-24
The quality of writing is brilliant
I loved the time-slip aspect to this novel and finding myself transported back to WW1 with such vivid detail that I could well have been there in real life with Louisa and Robert.
For me the grisly details and gory aspect of life for soldiers and medical staff brought a reality to the story often skipped over, or worse, romanticised by other authors.
The recent modern day psychiatric hospital scenes were very accurate and well researched depicting an environment which, again, was not romanticised.
My only comment is that some of the detail could have been held back and saved for another novel as it is very long for this genre.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Germaine
- 04-03-23
So authentic that I felt like I was back in time.
This is an amazing debut novel. The author's historical research was extremely detailed and impressive. Characters were well defined and you really did root for the main character and her mental health situation could happen to any of us. This isn't chick-lit but a historical novel I will be recommending to all my family and friends. Very impressed!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anjela
- 27-05-23
Amazing book
Story is original and spellbinding, and the research is exceptional. I hope she has written other books.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Monkeypuzzletree
- 18-12-23
a love story without being schmaltsy
Great and accurate description of a mental health unit,( I work in one!) evocative description of WW1 and the trenches, just a great story.I loved the romance without mush, and the general pace of the tale.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- A. Saunders
- 09-04-22
An addictive story
I thought this would be a predictable romance but it was so much more. The descriptions of first world war victims was graphic and visceral and totally convincing. The futility of war and the aftermath of ruined lives and tortured bodies was very powerful. I loved the time travel element too.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 10-12-24
Amazing Writing
I loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough. For me the writing style and descriptive writing was in another league. Loved the setting of the first world war. I did not want it to end.
More please!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mari Mitchell
- 12-10-21
An interesting story
I enjoyed the two different worlds and experiences brought together with mental health issues.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 28-11-23
Avid reader Jean
Perfection: a cross between the horrors of war and the description of beautiful nature Add an intriguing fairytale and you have a book by the very clever Catherine Taylor.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jeanette Lambert
- 09-04-24
Beautiful storyline
I was capitated from the very start of this wonderful novel. The characters were very relatable and the detail given from that bygone era was both educational and fascinating. You can see the author had really done her research. I loved the story line which switched from one decade to another effortlessly. A lovely first novel and I eagerly await her next one.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- 2teasplease
- 18-04-21
Slipping between WW1 and 2017
Beautifully written by Catherine Taylor and just as beautifully read by Liz May Brice.
Very well researched. I love Time travel books just like this one, and didn't want it to end.
A sign of a good book.
Louisa's slips through time between World War 1 and 2017. I could feel the vibrant atmosphere in all its glory or rather gory of the 1st world war hospital, in contrast to the sanitised modern world of an uncaring mental facility and medication.
There was the hope with an officer in the war for a touch of love and meaning for Louisa that gave her an escape from her real life.
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3 people found this helpful