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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
This book is the fourth book I have read/listened to by Matt haig, the first one being reasons to stay alive.I have absolutely loved all four books and how to stop time is probably joint favorite with reasons to stay alive.I feel that Matt haig has an amazing ability to understand people and I feel that his stories and themes and his way of writing just show so much understanding and empathy, it is so easy to identify what what he says.I would recommend his books to anyone who is fascinated by people and the way in which the human mind works.

love it

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I became rather impatient of the drawn out agonizing and therefore slowed pace, which I feel detracts from the story. Also, the mastermind reasons for secrecy and the drastic and violent way of dealing with detractors is a tad incomprehensible. Otherwise an enjoyable story.

Rather drawn out

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An enjoyable book that combines an interesting philosophical situation of living far longer than normal, history as a first person narrative and bitter-sweet humour. In a time when some are hoping to extend life-expectancy well beyond the current maximum it’s salutary to be reminded that immortality isn’t such a great idea quite apart from the selfishness of occupying the planet for far more than ones fair share.

The story is carried along by exploits of the main character, Tom Hazard, who has to keep moving from place to place as people begin to notice that he isn’t ageing as normal. The knock-on effects of this ruin his love life and, in superstitious times, leads to violence and death. The narrative switches back and forth across the centuries but is well-signposted and often involves famous historical characters such as Captain Cook and Shakespeare to help one know in which time the story is taking place.

The reader is excellent.

Intriguing and entertaining

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Haig once again transforms the greys of life into technicolour. Bittersweet, honest and beautifully written.

A comprehensive narrative of the human condition.

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An average book I’d say. Top marks for different story but not sure I was ever hooked enough to find out about the ending.

Different kind of story but not fully gripping

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