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How to Stop Time

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How to Stop Time

By: Matt Haig
Narrated by: Mark Meadows
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About this listen

The Sunday Times top 10 best seller from the author of The Midnight Library and The Humans

HOW MANY LIFETIMES DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE?

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher, but he’s been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz-Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen it all. As long as he keeps changing his identity, he can stay one step ahead of his past – and stay alive. The only thing he must not do is fall in love.

But what if the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him?

©2017 Matt Haig (P)2017 Canongate Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Fiction Thought-Provoking Funny Inspiring

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Critic reviews

"A rollicking time-hopping fantasy... How to Stop Time will provoke wonder and delight." (Observer)
"Hugely entertaining." (John Boyne, Irish Times)
"Outlandish...heartwarming, perceptive prose." (Anita Sethi, Daily Telegraph)
"A rollicking time-hopping fantasy... How to Stop Time will provoke wonder and delight." (Observer)
"Hugely entertaining." (John Boyne, Irish Times)
"Outlandish...heartwarming, perceptive prose." (Anita Sethi, Daily Telegraph)
All stars
Most relevant  

Would you try another book written by Matt Haig or narrated by Mark Meadows?

No

What will your next listen be?

A fast moving exciting adventure with humor and hopefully some uplifting pieces within the story

Any additional comments?

I have just been reading the reviews for “How to Stop Time” and wonder why I feel so out of step with the majority of the comments. A literary critic would, no doubt, rave about this book, but for me the overuse of similes and metaphors turned this book into a turgid navel gazing collection of time jumping vignettes, so much thinking and remembering, not a lot of doing i.e. finding his daughter.

I found Tom to be a pathetic character who had never grown up, for a man that has lived for over 400 years he appears to have stopped thinking for himself and learnt nothing from his experiences – every small bit of happiness overshadowed by grief/despair and “woe is me”. I would have expected an individual over this length of time to have grown and matured learning from the different experiences and people met over the years and yet he hasn’t - 400 years living in fear – what a waste of time!

I have come to the possible conclusion that this book should be read rather than listened to and would probably appeal to those who enjoy reading Non Fiction or Mindfulness and Wellness books; discovering the hidden meaning within! As you can no doubt ascertain from my comments, I didn’t empathise with Tom, I found the book to be self-indulgent and depressing and spent a lot of time shouting “Get on with it”.

Loquacious

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Matt Haig has created a new mythology, one that explores what it means to live in this world, yet still feel slightly apart from it.
Mark Meadows is as ever the perfect purveyor of Matt Haig's gentle wit.
Just sorry I couldn't listen to it in one sitting.

A new mythology is born

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I enjoyed this so much, I have sent a copy if the physical book to my daughter and would recommend it to all! Read it or listen to it, it will make you think and remind you to appreciate the joy of life! Enjoy the moments and stop worrying about how many you're going to have!

Uplifting, philosophical and hugely entertaining!

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It was not bad but not one for me a bit boring at times. Sorry.

enjoyable but not estatic

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I bought this in the £3 birthday sale and I am so glad I did. I would have not found it searching my usual genres which is why daily deals and promotions are so great. I just adored this from the very first. A story I wanted to know the outcome of but also didn't want to end at the same time. The narrator is just absolutely superb. I was genuinely hooked. I laughed, had the odd tear and spoke aloud to my phone on a few occasions (always a good sign of engagement) Thank you audible, Matt Haig and Mark Meadows. These few hours listening took me elsewhere and were absolutely delightful.

A punt I adored

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This is my second book by Matt Haig after 'The Humans' which I absolutely loved. Matt fills his books with such insightful wisdom through characters that are outside looking in. These characters are slightly alien to us and therefore have a unique perspective of the peculiarities of human nature. Through them, we learn about who we are so that we can embrace all the best parts of our shared human experience.
(and if that wasn't enough, Mark Meadow's is a brilliantly talented narrator who really captures the soul of these unique characters)

Another deeply insightful book about 'us'

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I feel like just shared a positive experience with a new friend. I went into this book blind and leave if feeling contented, thoughtfilled and happy.

Time....

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I enjoyed it and wanted to get to the end. It didn't hook me like the midnight library though. I felt it was a little waffely of some of the same themes

how to stop time

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As a fan of Matt Haig, I picked this book up in the store confident of a great read. I have read The Humans and The Radleys, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. However this one, in my opinion, blows them both out the water.
An engrossing story throughout and unlike most stories, where you read on desperate to see what happens next or to see how it ends. With this book, I just didn't want it to end. A great insight into life's ups and downs and also our perspectives of them. It isn't the first time that Haig has wrote a narrative from a neutral viewpoint outside of normal folk, but it's refreshing and it points out things that we take for granted, but should cherish more than we probably do.
Also, to add to this, the narration is the best I have heard on audiobook. Credit where credit is due, Mark Meadows brings the story alive and really helps the world manifest in your imagination as a vivid story. Both the book and the narration get a 10/10 from me.
I have just finished listening to it, partially saddened that I will not be able to experience it for the first time again.

A masterclass in writing and narration

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A well written and thought provoking read, not only did I thoroughly enjoy listening to this story, I felt like I learned a little history too, but the history that you aren’t taught in school.

Overall a great read 5stars

Thought provoking

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