Replay

Rating:
Summary: Great story, great ending
Review: I bought this book because the premise seemed interesting, although I was a bit skeptical. I feared it would be a "Back to the Future" type story - seen it before. I was wrong. I won't give any of it away, but suffice it to say that by the time the story ended, I was really emotional about the one and only life I have to live. There were really neat twists to the book although to be honest, I nearly shut the book for good somewhere in the middle when it got incredibly hokie. You'll know this part when you see it. Once you get past that part, things start to make sense.

Despite the fact that the main character lives his life over and over again, I came away from the story with the message "You've only got one life to live. Don't take anything for granted and make every moment count." I've lent this book to two other people who enjoyed it as much as I did. I spend a great deal of time reading but I've not seen a story quite like this one before. I could hardly put it down.

Rating:
Summary: One of My Desert Island Books
Review: I am instantly suspicious of any reviewer who gushes, "This is the best book ever!!" My reaction is always, "Are you sure?" "Are you telling me that, out of every book in the entire cosmos, this is the best one you've encountered?" Incredulity follows.

HOWEVER, I am compelled to admit that this is my favorite novel, bar none. There are other works more artful in prose, others with better dialogue, and still others with more precisely defined characters. And yet. Boldly and emphatically, without shame or reservation, I declare, that this is my favorite novel, bar none.

Perhaps it is because this book grapples with the philosophical notions, of "what if" and "if only". Or maybe because it deals with the irrevocable nature of human choices. Or does the attraction lie in the irresistible allure of timeless love?
Bah! Such heady notions aside, this is simply one fascinating read.

In summary, Jeff Winston seemingly "dies" in 1988, but finds himself alive in his 18 year-old body, back in 1963. Not only that, he retains complete foreknowledge of all future events, and he now has to live his life all over again. What will he do? What would you do? With whom would you share this experience? Would this existence allow you to attain happiness? These are the questions that are raised in this novel. Note, I said "raised" not answered, because Grimwood studiously and deliberately fails to present answers, and these questions are left dangling, but in way that is both satisfying and proper. I enjoy Jeff's first three "replays" the most, as Grimwood gives less treatment and detail to Jeff's subsequent rounds, and as a result, the middle of the book has a somewhat perfunctory feel. This, however, is a minor complaint.

Overall, Grimwood creates some very likeble characters, with good, punchy dialogue. That however, is not his strongest suit; his strength lies in his deft ability to create empathy, by squarely placing you inside Jeff Winston's skin. As the reader, you feel Jeff's intrigue and excitement upon discovering his predicament; you adopt his avarice as he gambles and prospects, armed with future knowledge; you join him as he rages against God, and throws himself into a sea of hedonism, and later isolation; you feel his long-lost stirrings of curiousity about "Starsea"; and of course, you share his bottomless yearning for the love and company of another: Pamela, Linda, Gretchen, someone, anyone to share this Kafkaesque journey. Grimwood does a masterful job at this; he makes Jeff's experience, my experience. And that is why I love this book.

I have read "Replay" about five times, and I thoroughly enjoy it every time. Over the past ten years I had been unable to find anyone who had read this book, so it is wonderful to read other reviews and find that my experience is shared by others, who have also read it multiple times. It seems that this book makes proselytizers out of its readers, who then proceed to become fishers of men, pushing the book on family, friend, and foe. I too, have done this. In fact, I have three copies, two paperbacks for lending, and a hardcovever, which, by virtue of cruel experience, is now permanently assigned to my bookcase. I will not overstate things by claiming that this book changed my life or worldview, but from a literary point of view, I'm so glad that ten years ago, I found this book on my college roomate's desk and "borrowed" it. I would hate to have missed the experience, and would hate for anyone else to do so. Highly recommended, but you can't have mine.

Rating:
Summary: Boomer midlife crisis in guise of a story
Review: (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Time travel is my favorite genre. I have loved Marlys Milshiser, Jack Finney and H. G. Wells. That said, I was generally disappointed with this book after all the incredible reviews.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the review that this feels like a baby boomer in a midlife crisis waxing philosophical about metaphysics. I got the distinct impression that the author has done his share of drugs in the 60's and this affected his writing.

It does have an interesting premise and the author delivers early in the story. But there are too many implausibilities in how the characters act. There also storylines that go nowhere (what was the serial killer about?!) And by the time Pam leaves her husband, a decent guy, and takes her kids cross country to be with Jeff, I found myself cringing at the self-centered theme - "Life is short! Personal fulfillment is all that matters!" A few pages later, Pam's kids have become so infatuated with Jeff that they are begging not to go home to visit with their father - this, of course, justifies splitting up the family for the main characters' happiness. I had hoped for Jeff to learn more about compassion and altruism by the weak ending.

Still, I'm in the minority here so I will, with reservations, recommend the book to those who like time travel. Judge for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books...
Review: When I first saw the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, I immediately thought of this book (which I first read when it was originally published).

Both Replay (Grimwood) and Groundhog Day are pleasant surprises, in that both explore the subject matter (what would YOU do when given the chance to correct yesterdays mistakes) in very imaginative ways.

Perhaps, someday, somebody (Spielberg?) will produce a movie from this book. Apart from being a very good story, it would not cost a great deal in special effects ;)

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful...but something is missing
Review: Replay provides some of the possible answers to "What if I could just start over..." Although I think I got the author's intended answers, I couldn't help wonder what the causes of the "replays" were. Obviously the reason for replays wasn't important to the author (and are neither important nor relevant to the book), but I certainly wondered. I would have given him 5 stars had he made a more than light-hearted attempt to answer that.

After finishing the book, I felt like a new beginning wouldn't change very much in the world, although perhaps my own personal life could be significantly different. The author seems to say that we'd still experience most of the same emotions and have many of the same trials, especially those related to love and personal relationships. My final impression was that whether I have one chance at life or many, I need to make the most of whatever time I have right now.

Rating:
Summary: Just loved it
Review: Great Book - thought provoking but an easy read. I read it in one sitting - couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: It Really Is A Wonderful Life
Review: This book takes the reliving your life again with full wisdom to its ultimate ends with superb detail. All of the characters' experiences are explored with such wonderful detail you are drawn completely into the fantasy. This book is great fun.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: Like the protagonist, this is a book you need to read and reread again. Time travel books are not always easy to do (see Crichton), but this one hits a home run. It draws parallels to to the movie Groundhog day, and it reminds me a little bit of the great flick Memento as well. I wish Grimwood would write more often.

Rating:
Summary: REPLAY
Review: I AM SKEPTICAL ABOUT ANY BOOK I PICK UP AND START TO READ BECAUSE OF HIGH STANDARDS I SET FOR ALL MY BOOKS. HOWEVER, THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC AS FAR AS KEEPING MY ATTENTION AND FOR IT'S CREATIVITY. REALLY MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE SINCE WE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SECOND CHANCES AS WINSTON DID. I DIDN'T CARE FOR THE SERIAL KILLER SECTION BUT I ASSUME THE WRITER PUT THAT IN FOR US TO THINK OF SOME MORALITY TYPE CHOICES TO BE MADE. I'M NOT A VERY FAST READER BUT I SURE READ THIS ONE QUICKLY SINCE IT WAS SO COMPELLING. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE SAME OLD FICTION LINES THIS IS GREAT.

Rating:
Summary: Liked it a lot
Review: I'd rate this a 9 out of 10, but there were some parts, some character motivations I guess you'd call them, that made little sense. That said, I recommend this book to anyone who likes time travel stories or the movie Groundhog Day. Maybe the best recommendation I can give for the book is to say it normally takes me about a week to read a book this size (about 300 pages). This one I read in three days. It hooks you and keeps you reading.