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Summary: Like history, scifi, fantasy, or romance? READ THIS!
Review: Time and Again by Jack Finney is an interesting weave of historical fiction, science fiction, and romance. The book centers around Si Morley, who is transported from January 1970 to January 1882 New York. Finney's descriptions of New York in the 1880's is astonishing and vivid. I really think this book is suited to all ages. I was thirteen when I first read it, and have read it many times since. I know many adults who have read the same book and loved it every bit as much as I did. On the other end of the scale, I know several ten and eleven year olds who have read this book. Time and Again is illustrated with sketches, woodcuts, and photos that add to one's enjoyment of the book. I reccomend this book full heartedly...Happy Reading!
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Summary: I envy the person reading this for the first time...
Review: Of the dozens of times I've read this book, I am still enchanted, amazed and thrilled with each reading of this truly wonderful tale. I must have bought 20 copies as gifts for friends and family, and I truly envy the person who reads this for the first time!
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Summary: My absolute Desert Island book
Review: I don't know how many times I've read this book--dozens, easily, since I first read it about 15 years ago. Not only is it a fascinating read (and Finny's style is exquisitely to the point, capturing every nuance with the casual ease of a major writer) but also the photo illustrations will knock you out--the Statue of Liberty's arm waiting for the body! A wonderful, wonderful book, filled with wonder. Like opening Huck Finn for the first time.
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Summary: A great and magical book
Review: Ever since I read this book, I have been fascinated with both time travel and history. Jack Finney has a way of describing the past in such a way that you really believe you are there. Unlike period books, his main character (Si Morley) descriptions of the people and places are from the eyes of a man who sees things from a present perspective. He points out the way people talk, and walk, and spend time together on frosty day. Some people have commented that the way Si Morley travels through time is hokey, I agree. But why devise some clever means, when we all know from the get go time travel is impossible? (isn't it?) Another time travel book that is written in the same spirit is "If I Never Get Back" by Darryl Brock . If you liked Jack Finney and baseball, you will love this book. Let me know.
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Summary: My favorite book in the world
Review: This is a truly wonderful, magical book, filled with real, likable people in the most extraordinary, exhilirating situation
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Summary: NOT the inspiration for "Somewhere in Time"
Review: I really enjoyed this book and had no idea of its cult status. Agreed - the method of time-travel is a little bit of a stretch. Too simple: why do you need a secret government project to imagine something and simply make it happen? But the story was great, the characters interesting, and it offers the kind of look at a long-ago vanished NYC that really makes you wonder if this project happened. I do have to point out an error that an earlier reviewer made in a Dec '98 posting: this book is NOT the inspiration behind the Reeve/Seymour movie "Somewhere in Time." The inspiration for that film was the novel "Bid Time Return" by Richard Matheson, the same man who wrote "What Dreams May Come." Let's give credit where credit is due!
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Summary: Badly Written and Implausible
Review: I'm thankful to see the few poor reviews mingled among all these (inexplicable) raves. I just finished reading this book and thought it was awful! Si Morley is a big boor/bore and the method of time travel was laughable. I would have been completely willing to believe any sort of time machine scenario, but merely acting as if you live in a certain time and REALLY BELIEVING? I felt as is I should be clapping so Tinkerbell doesn't die. Ridiculous. And then, by just holding on to Julia, he is able to bring her back to present day New York? I normally have no problem suspending my disbelief and am a huge fan of Magic Realism, so it's not as if I am lacking in imagination enough to appreciate this novel; it's just that this book is so poorly written, the characters never stay in character (the author just has them behave and speak in whatever manner is convinent at the moment; anyone having read Edith Wharton would realize that Julia would never have spoken as casually as she does here)that I found it laughable. It has some interesting bits and pieces of NYC history, but I'd rather read Caleb Carr for a dose of that than have to wade through anything like this mess again.
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Summary: This is a GREAT book!!!!
Review: I've read quite a few books about time travel and this one is my favorite. I love the author's attention to detail. The descriptions make you feel like you are really in 1882. Now if only it wasn't so depressingly pessimistic......
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Summary: a little slow at first but a great time-travel read
Review: For those readers who like time-travel stories this one is a must. I read it, loved it, and later found out that this book had acquired a legion of fans. It's easy to see why since it not only has a plausible absorbing story line, but the text is supplimented with photographs that lend an air of authenticity to this journey into the past century. Best of all, there is a sequel to this book that I also enjoyed. Jack Finney has a gift for "What if..." kind of stories that are evocative of daydreams that somehow seem possible.
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Summary: An Intriguing Journey
Review: Jack Finney's tale is a combination mystery and travelogue into the past. The formula works like magic, except for the added political philosophizing near the end. It's one of the most creative, intriguing novels I've read. Highly recommended.
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