Book Review: Replay

In my humble opinion, if Ken Grimwood or the publisher would have changed the title to something more prolific then this book would have been considered a great American novel. It is the classic story of what would you do if you had to live your life over again, and again, and again, etc. This novel was published in 1987 and was an obvious influence on Harold Ramis’ comedy-drama Groundhog Day (1993) with one important difference, the main character relives entire chunks of his life (around 25 years) before replaying.

At age 59, Ken Grimwood died of a heart attack in his home and at the time of his death, he was writing a sequel to Replay. It is a real shame, it would have been a great story.

Dust Jacket Summary: Jeff Winston, forty-three, didn’t know he was a replayer until he died and woke up twenty-five years younger in his college dorm room; he lived another life. And died again. And lived again and died again — in a continuous twenty-five-year cycle — each time starting from scratch at the age of eighteen to reclaim lost loves, remedy past mistakes, or make a fortune in the stock market. A novel of gripping adventure, romance, and fascinating speculation on the nature of time, Replay asks the question: “What if you could live your life over again?”

What I liked: This story will draw you in slowly and by end you will be brought to tears. I like the fact that Ken Grimwood took some chances, such as, having his characters attempt to change history (instead of debating the space-time continuum ad nauseam). For example, Jeff Winston attempts to stop JFK’s assassination but the results aren’t quite what he expects. The story really takes off when he discovers other characters and then they begin to “team” up. Ken Grimwood plots his story with intelligence by having his characters use their knowledge of future events to their full advantage, just as anybody would. By the last act of the book the reader is captivated by “what happens next?” and that is a sign of a great book. In the end, Jeff Winston finds a deep appreciation of life itself and the choices he made.

What I didn’t like: The title is horrible.

Last word: This is a great book and easily fits in “The best book nobody has heard about” category. Read it, you will not be sorry.

Book Review: The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book is Neil Gaiman’s second entry into the young adult arena. The first novel was Coraline and that is being made into an upcoming movie. The book follows the adventures of Nobody Owens also known as Bod (think I would have stayed with Nobody). His parents meet an unfortunate fate that forces Nobody to live the neighborhood graveyard. Nobody is raised by ghosts, Mr. & Mrs. Owens, and a caretaker, Silas.

Dust Jacket Summary: Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.

He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.

There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.

But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack-who has already killed Bod’s family. . . .

Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

What I liked: Easy answer, everything. This is a book that will sneak up on you. It will start out simple in the beginning but by the end you are deeply involved with the characters. Neil Gaiman also accomplishes what few authors can. His young Nobody acts and sounds like kid and as he grows, the character changes to match his maturity. The side characters are also well thought out and add much to the story.

What I didn’t like: I wish the book was longer. Some of the side characters, like Silas, have an interesting back story that is never fully explored. One can always hope for a sequel.

Last word: Don’t be put off by the Young Adult tag. Go buy it now, you will not be sorry.