How to Stop Time

By: Matt Haig

Narrated by: Mark Meadows

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The Sunday Times top 10 best seller from the author of The Midnight Library and The Humans

HOW MANY LIFETIMES DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE?

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher, but he’s been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz-Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen it all. As long as he keeps changing his identity, he can stay one step ahead of his past – and stay alive. The only thing he must not do is fall in love.

But what if the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him?  

©2017 Matt Haig (P)2017 Canongate

Critic reviews

"A rollicking time-hopping fantasy... How to Stop Time will provoke wonder and delight." (Observer)

"Hugely entertaining." (John Boyne, Irish Times)

"Outlandish...heartwarming, perceptive prose." (Anita Sethi, Daily Telegraph)

"A rollicking time-hopping fantasy... How to Stop Time will provoke wonder and delight." (Observer)

"Hugely entertaining." (John Boyne, Irish Times)

"Outlandish...heartwarming, perceptive prose." (Anita Sethi, Daily Telegraph)

Everything I love about vampires/time travel without the sci-fi element

Really really enjoyed this book. Becoming quite the Matt Haig fan apparently. It had all the elements of my favourite vampire books (living an extraordinarily long life and having to go undetected whilst watching history being made around you) without the cringey blood sucking and lust fuelled seduction. Loved it.

Love his stories

Really interesting concept and a great story. Brings the times (historical and now) to life

Would make a better movie

It's a good idea, just a bit too slow and lacks a danger aspect you would expect from a secret society. As a movie it would probably move faster.

Great idea but too much drama

although the subject and idea for this book is an interesting concept, the main character seems to be troubled all the time, unable to find contentment or happiness.
it's too much, exaggerated and enerving at times.

Thought Provoking - great pace

Really enjoyed this book I found it thought provoking, with a great pace. Love & Live with no fear afterwards.... well try at least!
Thanks Matt Haig

Beautiful story; amazing reading

I’ve been a fan of Matt Haig’s for quite a while. This book blew me away. Such a compelling story, read by an amazing actor. This is a must-listen!!

Loved it

A most interesting read. Loved it. The narrator really brought the book to life. Well done.

Original story keeps you hooked and guessing what next

Great original idea and entertaining read. I found the ending a bit rushed but perhaps I was just wanting more!

Antidote to despair wrapped in a great story

Matt Haig is an artist. As such, he has a keen insight into the situation of being human. He suffers along with all of us--thinks and feels deeply about our common pains and delights. I don't know him personally, but his writing is shot through with evidence that these things are true.

Somehow, though, this depth doesn't stop him from writing stories full of humor, mystery, suspense, and love. They are paradoxes, these tales of his. Light and heavy. Calculated and warm. Philosophical but made buoyant with whimsy.

How to Stop Time is another triumph for the art of storytelling and for the hopeful pursuit of living.

I loved The Humans but not this one.

I bought this book because The Humans was one of my all-time favorites. When I saw that this book had the same narrator and the same author, I figured I couldn't go wrong. But I did go wrong.

Superb as I expected from Matt Haig

I don't suppose any people expect to learn lessons on how to have a wonderful life from a novel about a man who is over four hundred years old, but believe me you will when you read this story. However, please don't fear that this is a boring preachy affair. In fact it is a wonderfully entertaining story that skips across the centuries at a cracking pace and brings us to a conclusion that is satisfying and not wholly predictable.
I am a huge fan of Matt Haig's writing and this is every bit as good as my two big favourites The Humans and The Radleys. I'm sure the forthcoming film will be marvellous but the excellent narration of this book by Mark Meadows will be a hard act to follow.

love it

This book is the fourth book I have read/listened to by Matt haig, the first one being reasons to stay alive.I have absolutely loved all four books and how to stop time is probably joint favorite with reasons to stay alive.I feel that Matt haig has an amazing ability to understand people and I feel that his stories and themes and his way of writing just show so much understanding and empathy, it is so easy to identify what what he says.I would recommend his books to anyone who is fascinated by people and the way in which the human mind works.

Plot does not live up to the concept

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I was going to.

The central idea of a man ageing 15 times more slowly than normal is a strong one. It generates some nice scenes, and some thoughtful passages on the perception of time and the appreciation of the passing of it.

However there is a "thriller" element to the plot that does not seem fully realised. It is not particularly tense and rather fizzles out towards the end.

Also, the writer makes the same philosophical point too many times and therefore lessens the impact.

The narrators performance is good, well suited to the tone of the book and he handles the various accents competently.
I would recommend this book, but with some reservations.

Loquacious

Would you try another book written by Matt Haig or narrated by Mark Meadows?

No

What will your next listen be?

A fast moving exciting adventure with humor and hopefully some uplifting pieces within the story

Any additional comments?

I have just been reading the reviews for “How to Stop Time” and wonder why I feel so out of step with the majority of the comments. A literary critic would, no doubt, rave about this book, but for me the overuse of similes and metaphors turned this book into a turgid navel gazing collection of time jumping vignettes, so much thinking and remembering, not a lot of doing i.e. finding his daughter.

I found Tom to be a pathetic character who had never grown up, for a man that has lived for over 400 years he appears to have stopped thinking for himself and learnt nothing from his experiences – every small bit of happiness overshadowed by grief/despair and “woe is me”. I would have expected an individual over this length of time to have grown and matured learning from the different experiences and people met over the years and yet he hasn’t - 400 years living in fear – what a waste of time!

I have come to the possible conclusion that this book should be read rather than listened to and would probably appeal to those who enjoy reading Non Fiction or Mindfulness and Wellness books; discovering the hidden meaning within! As you can no doubt ascertain from my comments, I didn’t empathise with Tom, I found the book to be self-indulgent and depressing and spent a lot of time shouting “Get on with it”.

A little glib, better as a young adult novel

Matt Haig's novel, soon to be a motion picture with Benedict Cumberbatch, has had rave reviews, yet I feel I'm in the minority in saying it fell short of expectations.

Following Tom Hazard, an unusual protagonist with a rare condition which has made him live for centuries, has been searching for his daughter ever since he was forced to leave her. Describing major events in history, Hazard continues to change his identity in order to survive becoming a history teacher as his current persona. All the while being controlled by the mysterious Hendricks. Is it better to live for a short while with love, or for eternity alone?

While the story is imaginative, the characters are underdeveloped and the constant time change is inconsistent. The plot may be a little too juvenile for me, not really to my taste. Enjoy the film.

Not for me

Sad to say I totally didn't get the fuss over this book- despite its huge celeb endorsements. Maybe it's just me but I found the main character kinda boring and the bit about Shakespeare made me lol a bit. I'm pleased that it's considered to be a success for the author as he comes across as a decent chap in his interest in the human condition (his other book). I think it might be that I need something a bit at a faster pace.

A marvellous ripping yarn

A colourful romp through history with a heart warming meaning of life type message. Ear candy for any history anoraks that enjoy the gritty detail of social historical references and a bringing to life of past eras. A gripping story is Matt Haigue’s vehicle for transporting us through many ages, particularly Elizabethan England. I couldn’t stop listening, the narrator was ok, I enjoyed his grasp of different accents that were woven throughout. A compulsory listen for history teachers I suppose.

Best book so far this year

I was a bit unsure whether this book was my cup of tea from reading the blurb but I am so glad that I got it as it was a truly excellent read. I was hooked from the start and have just ordered a hard copy for my mum! Brilliant storyline, concept and fabulous performance

Could have been better

I think the idea of this book had so much potential but somehow it felt lightweight. I found some of the language clumsy and it seemed to fall back on cliches rather than substance. I bit disappointing really

Must have read a different book

I think I am reading a different book to that which have been reviewed here. I have got to chapter 16 and I am losing the will to live - NOTHING is happening and it is just a series of vague memories of 'when I was in the age of Napoleon.... or witch hunts .....or....' I cannot go on with this - what a waste of a credit!! I have not been so bored by a book in a long time!!!