Beyond the Moon

A Haunting Debut Novel of Time Travel and WW1

By: Catherine Taylor

Narrated by: Liz May Brice

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in WWI in 1916 with a young woman living in modern-day England a century later, in this haunting best-selling literary time-travel novel.

Shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Love Story Prize

Longlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize

"Taylor’s accomplished, genre-bending book succeeds as a WWI historical novel and a beguiling time-travel love story" (Kirkus Reviews)

In 1916, First Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall Military Hospital in Sussex, England. A gifted artist, he’s been wounded fighting in WWI. Shell-shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness, he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless. A century later, in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother - her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs - only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear a suicide attempt, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall, now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place. Then one day, while secretly exploring the old hospital’s abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was he was hurt at the Somme, a WWI battle a century ago. And that his name is Lt Robert Lovett....

Two people, two battles: one against the invading Germans in 1916 France, the other against an uncaring mental health facility in 2017. Part war-story, part timeslip, part love-story - and at the same time a meditation on the themes of war, mental illness, identity, and art, Beyond the Moon is an intelligent, captivating debut novel, perfect for book clubs. 

Contains graphic descriptions of war violence/injuries, profanity, and mild sex.

©2019 Catherine Taylor (P)2020 Catherine Taylor

Not What I Expected

I am surprised that there are so many good reviews for this book. I was very disappointed. I love time travel books and I am a huge Outlander - Diana Gabaldon fan. This story was painful to get through. The graphic descriptions of wounds was over the top. The author should have spent more time working on the plot and less on trying to shock and gross out her readers. Some of the details were just not necessary. The story line was flimsy and I felt that I didn’t know any of the characters very well. I doubt if I will ever read another one of Ms. Taylor’s book again.

Absolutely Enthralling!!!

A must-read for any one who loves WWI, historical novels. I ate up every page of the story from the narrator.

Delightful!

I was skeptical at first as the book’s start was a bit banal. Then I started to be thwarted in my usual game of guessing as to what was going to happen next, being proven wrong again and yet again. WWI scenes were quite horrific, apropos to the reality of what was to become The Great War. I was fascinated with what passed for medicine at the time and the reality of camp surgery and nursing. The time travel aspect of the story took second place to the history of the era and the sweet wartime love story, but woven together well just the same. I found myself not wanting to put it down. Would recommend!

Odd time travel explanation. Good history.

I know it’s time travel, and thus fiction, so the author can do what she wishes. But her explanation for the time travel was way out there. Putting that aside: The story itself was quite good and well researched. If the horror of war makes you squeamish, this might be much. The author does an excellent job making it real. She also gets the potential horror of a modern mental hospital down pretty well, especially for a patient with no family to defend them.
Overall, it’s a lot of history with a sweet love story woven in.

Wow

This was such an amazing book. I cried. And even the narrator was amazing! Great job! Highly recommend

Slipping between WW1 and 2017

Beautifully written by Catherine Taylor and just as beautifully read by Liz May Brice.
Very well researched. I love Time travel books just like this one, and didn't want it to end.
A sign of a good book.
Louisa's slips through time between World War 1 and 2017. I could feel the vibrant atmosphere in all its glory or rather gory of the 1st world war hospital, in contrast to the sanitised modern world of an uncaring mental facility and medication.
There was the hope with an officer in the war for a touch of love and meaning for Louisa that gave her an escape from her real life.

An addictive story

I thought this would be a predictable romance but it was so much more. The descriptions of first world war victims was graphic and visceral and totally convincing. The futility of war and the aftermath of ruined lives and tortured bodies was very powerful. I loved the time travel element too.

An interesting story

I enjoyed the two different worlds and experiences brought together with mental health issues.

fantastic

Absolutely loved this book , I look forward to the next book 📖
Thank you so much

Avid reader Jean

Perfection: a cross between the horrors of war and the description of beautiful nature Add an intriguing fairytale and you have a book by the very clever Catherine Taylor.

Amazing book

Story is original and spellbinding, and the research is exceptional. I hope she has written other books.

Enchanting Love Story

I came across this book completely by accident and I’m so happy I did. It’s such a beautiful story with the most endearing characters. Would highly recommend to all.

So authentic that I felt like I was back in time.

This is an amazing debut novel. The author's historical research was extremely detailed and impressive. Characters were well defined and you really did root for the main character and her mental health situation could happen to any of us. This isn't chick-lit but a historical novel I will be recommending to all my family and friends. Very impressed!