TIME AND AGAIN

Rating:
Summary: A Depressingly Pessimistic Novel
Review: Having read so many positive reviews about this book, I went out of my way to obtain it. The story moved smoothly, having its exciting moments, and the time travel method was unique and imaginative. What turned me off to the book was its underlying theme that the quality of life in modern times is inferior in almost every way to that of the late 1800s (the "good old days"). Obviously this was because the book was written in 1970, when the Vietnam War was turning hopeless, the Cold War was at its height, environmental regulations hadn't been enacted, race relations hadn't stabilized from the upheavals of the 1960s, advances in medical science hadn't become practical, and the information age was still in the future. I had forgotten how difficult that time was! In Finney's view the world could never hope for more and he escapes to what he views as the better times of yesteryear(ignoring child labor, "Jim Crow", etc.). Ironically, Finney's pessimistic philosophy tells me more about the world of 1970, when the book was written, than about the late 1880s. I had forgotten how difficult the late 1960s & early 1970s were! Had he written this in 1999, I believe it would have drastically changed the philosophy of this book. I can only worry about those people who loved this book with such a passion. They must be extreemly depressed!

Rating:
Summary: This book sucks!
Review: This book is terrible... not only is it really written badly, but the details get way out of hand: for some reason the author thinks that we are interested in every single action of this Simon Morley guy, from reading the newspaper to taking a walk in the park. This book's only good point is that some of the historical stuff is cool.

Rating:
Summary: Gives you a feel for "old Manahattan"
Review: I almost always like time travel books & this was no exception. I think readers who are familiar with modern day Manhattan will find it particularly enticing, as the author has a gift for showing us how it all used to be.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story but disappointing
Review: Having read Finney's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I expected the best. And this book presented an unexpected twist on time travel. (No, I won't reveal it.) But, just before the end, in chapter 21, the plot takes a disappointing turn, as protagonist Si gets preachy and politically correct. (Maybe because it was written in 1970?) It was downhill from there, except for an unexpected O.Henry-type ending. But I'm still a Jack Finney fan! (I read a trade paperback edition.)

Rating:
Summary: THE MOST FUN YOU'LL HAVE READING A BOOK!
Review: This is a time-travel tale about going back to 1880's old New York, the nostalgia for a better time, the magic of romance, the intrigue of mystery. Reading it was the most fun I've had reading a book. The reader is really pulled into the past. Look for the Robert Redford film and the Broadway musical coming soon!!!

Rating:
Summary: Pass it on to all reader-friends, including young ones!
Review: I live in Mexico & good books are extra hard to get ahold of: still, this is the first novel for which I've ever found myself meting out the last few pages over the course of a day, so it wouldn't quite end. As a regional historian (of Long Island) and teacher, I really think it should be in U.S. history curricula all over the country -- because it's authentic, and authentic FUN! Also have at least two teenaged relatives fascinated by the Dakota, and several others fascinated by the process of installing the Statue of Liberty, and can't wait to hear all their delighted comments after THEY've read it. A truly lovable book, great gift!

Rating:
Summary: Quite interesting descriptions of life then and now
Review: This formed the basis of the movie 'Somewhere in Time'. Although this is very different from the film I would encourage others to read it. The 'you are there' descriptions lend an air of graphic credibility to the tale. One of the factors presented is the monetary- the change of the ecomic basis between today and yesteryear.

Rating:
Summary: A great, great read
Review: I adore this book by Jack Finney, the brilliant author who also wrote "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers". The technique for travelling to the past is fascinating, and gives rise to some of the most interesting elements of the story. Far superior to "The Alienist", which is obviously influenced by it.

Rating:
Summary: The grand-daddy of time travel as cultural exploration
Review: One of the first to employ time travel not merely as ascience-fictional trope, but a means to explore a time and place inthe past. The time travel element itself is kind of weak; you essentially "think" yourself there.

Rating:
Summary: Well, I'll never look at the Dakota the same way again!
Review: In case you haven't guessed by now, we love this book! You don't have to be a fan of science fiction, or even a history buff, to get into this story. I've never forgotten the hero's trying to fit into the 19th century (Finney does a remarkable job of showing us things from the 19th century folks' point of view: not understanding his drawing, their views on hanging, etc.). And then the hero has to decide what to do about bringing Julia into his violent modern world. And the Statue of Liberty's arm! And the woman with the smallpox scars. And the childhood friend who vanishes. And the whole business about making sure somebody's grandparents never meet: a real hold-your-breath episode--wow! I have to confess I didn't buy this book from Amazon. I read it fifteen years ago, and these are the memories I have of this wonderful book. Buy it now!