Replay

By: Ken Grimwood

Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1988, 43-year-old Jeff Winston died of a heart attack. But then he awoke, and it was 1963; Jeff was 18 all over again, his memory of the next two decades intact. This time around, Jeff would gain all the power and wealth he never had before. This time around he'd know how to do it right. Until next time.

©1998 Ken Grimwood (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1988

Forrest Gump meets Quantum Leap

This book was rumored to be the impetus for Groundhog Day, but resembles Forrest Gump in scope with the same time travel mechanisms of Quantum Leap. Extremely captivating and very difficult to stop listening to. Fans of Stephen King's Kennedy altertnative future assassination novel 1964 would enjoy this one.

Disappointing ending

At the beginning, this book fascinated me. The storyline was fabulous, the character development exceptional, but the ending was a disappointment.

The gold standard for insightful time travel!

Such a fantastic book delivering a moving and insightful storyline that can’t help but encourage the listener to appreciate life and make the most of everyday. Replay is one of my favorites and one of the few books I’ve gone back to listen to more than once. 5+ stars.

Groundhog Day meets the Time Travelers Wife

If you could sum up Replay in three words, what would they be?

Great sci-fi story

What did you like best about this story?

The way things were altered and what happen to the characters each time Andrew Stilman came back.

What about William Dufris’s performance did you like?

Smooth, even reading and a nice voice. Easy to tell when characters changed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved this book and want to reread it. I didn't cry, but the love story was bittersweet and I was sad for the main characters.

Love!

This book is one of my old favorites. I haven’t read it in years and I thought I would listen this time. It’s never a disappointment

My new favorite book to replay over and over

I came by the book when Suntup announced their new book… ended up buying 3! Got 3 more to give away! I love this story, the journey back in time, the lessons in history… I listened the the audible in one day… I just couldn’t stop… Now looking for his other books to read, come on Audible!!! I need more from this author… And William Dufris did an amazing job reading this story. I recommend this wholeheartedly…

Great listen.

What a creative use of this vehicle to examine past, present and hopefully, future. Kept me enthralled. There were moments when it was slow and pedantic but I feel that was by the authors design. The narration was top notch.

didn't think I would like it

I checked a synopsis after starting this, and was prepared to be bored by the concept. in fact, the first quarter of the book dragged for me. I actually left it running, because I hate to waste an expensive audiobook by not finishing it. I found myself surprised by the story, a bit later, and felt it get more engaging. by the second third of the book, I was listening to it full time. "I couldn't put it down", we used to say. the feeling was the same, even if the medium has changed.

I enjoyed this enough to recommend it to my mom. The narrator did a fine, too; the charactees were all distinguishable by unique tonal characteristics. The story only had one or two unfinished loose ends, to my way of thinking. I even laughed out loud at some of the humorous parts.

no explanation necessary

an amazingly well done account of a person experience in time shifts without any cliches

One of the greatest time travel books ever written

If you could sum up Replay in three words, what would they be?

Do it again.

What other book might you compare Replay to and why?

There are some newer books that use this same conceit--notably The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver--but this one got there first, and it lingers in the memory.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the ending. It was a long journey to get there, but the payoff--both emotionally and to the story--was huge.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Each time the protagonist had an epiphany, it felt like I did too. To me, that's good writing.

Any additional comments?

Any one who enjoys time travel, do-overs, and second chances will enjoy this book. The only downside to the entire book was that the narrator occasionally mispronounced something - a professional baseball player's name, a city - and that took me out of the book.