How to Stop Time

By: Matt Haig

Narrated by: Mark Meadows

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library.

“A quirky romcom dusted with philosophical observations….A delightfully witty…poignant novel.” —The Washington Post

“She smiled a soft, troubled smile and I felt the whole world slipping away, and I wanted to slip with it, to go wherever she was going… I had existed whole years without her, but that was all it had been. An existence. A book with no words.”

Tom Hazard has just moved back to London, his old home, to settle down and become a high school history teacher. And on his first day at school, he meets a captivating French teacher at his school who seems fascinated by him. But Tom has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been alive for centuries. Tom has lived history--performing with Shakespeare, exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, and sharing cocktails with Fitzgerald. Now, he just wants an ordinary life.

Unfortunately for Tom, the Albatross Society, the secretive group which protects people like Tom, has one rule: Never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behavior of the Society's watchful leader threaten to derail his new life and romance, the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him. Tom will have to decide once and for all whether to remain stuck in the past, or finally begin living in the present.

How to Stop Time tells a love story across the ages—and for the ages—about a man lost in time, the woman who could save him, and the lifetimes it can take to learn how to live. It is a bighearted, wildly original novel about losing and finding yourself, the inevitability of change, and how with enough time to learn, we just might find happiness.

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

These books save me.

Writing a review from behind my phone seems like such a pathetic way to judge a book. I felt like using my prettiest stationary, and writing the author a thank you note. I would write it in cursive. The art of cursive is dying, but my written words would be beautifully understood, I’m sure. Dear Mr. Haig, (it would read.) I have a book that I write my favorite book quotes in. How To Stop Time has so many wonderful, thought provoking, earth shattering quotes, that I simply could not write them all down. It’s as if you are an old soul yourself, with so much raw wisdom. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life. There is no author (living or dead) who ever leads me on such exciting adventures as you. This Oklahoma farm girl is enchanted by the terms used and all of the historic people who were sprinkled in (I adore Frida.) This has been my absolute favorite book to listen to. The reader is so spot on and eloquent. I played it slower than all my other books, because I knew I would fall in love with the story and I would not want it to end. Thank you for sharing your stories and for taking me to worlds that I would never see if it were not for them. You and your books are magic, and I cannot wait for the next swoop of your wand.

Very good - well worth reading

Very enjoyable, especially the artful language and description of history/literature/art. Would have like the story developed more, such a novel idea. Really the only criticism, just wanted more story, bit more detail. Regardless, very good, well read, recommend!

Enjoyable read

loved the whole book...sorry its finished...didn't get lost at any time during the telling.

Thoughtful and entertaining

I loved this book for it's sincere voice. The reader really believes the main character is very very old. His perspectives on history and human nature are spot on, It is entertaining without trying. Enjoy this book, you won't be sorry!

A heart warming and re-assuring listen

I swam beautifully in this one, the words narration and somehow I feel I just might be an alba 😌