Time Travel discussion

A Time To Change



“I would rather love passionately for an hour than benignly for a lifetime.”

In a house full of history and secrets, the past will not stay where it belongs…

Lou has always loved Hill House, the derelict manor on the abandoned land near her home. As a child, the tragic history of its owners, the Mandevilles, inspired her dream to become a history teacher. But in her late twenties, and working in a shop to pay off student debts, life is passing her by.

That changes when a family disaster sends Lou’s life into a downward spiral and she seeks comfort in the ruined corridors of Hill House. The house transforms around her and Lou is transported back to Christmas 1913. Convinced she has been in an accident and is in a coma, Lou immerses herself in her Edwardian dream. With the Mandevilles oblivious to her true identity, Lou becomes their houseguest and befriends the eldest son, Captain Thomas Mandeville, a man she knows is destined to die in the First World War.

Lou feels more at home in the past than the present and when she realises the experience is real she sets out to do everything in her power to save her new friends.

Lou passes between 1913 and 2013, unearthing plots of murder and blackmail, which she must stop no matter the cost.

On her quest to save the Mandevilles by saving Thomas, Lou will face the hardest decision of her life. She will learn that love cannot be separated by a century.

I have a copy on my shelf!

Isn't Mandeville a name from Rebecca?

Cheryl wrote: "Isn't Mandeville a name from Rebecca?"

Yes It was the name of the House. The place.

Is the author mixing up books? We have Hill House (I’m thinking of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House) and Mandeville from Rebecca but in this case it’s a last name instead of a house.

Oh, so the book I originally nominated actually won! Last time I checked it was lagging behind and I assumed it was going to finish runner-up yet again. It must have had a late surge.

I should be in a position to start reading this quite soon.

This will be next on my reading docket. I like that there are 2 months for the book.

Yes, I agree 2 months seems about right.

Will be starting this at the weekend.

Lol- when I left town on my trip, Flashforward was in the lead in the polls, so I took that book with me, and I am now 75% into it, OH well, it is a great read, I hope to get to the actual group read soon.

Author Robert J. Sawyer "predict" in this book both the Pope's name in 2009 (Benedict XVI) and the Nobel laureates in physics by their work in 1998.

Hmmm. The opening 5% all felt a bit 'Jeremy Kyle' to me (for our UK members). I'm at 25% now and it's okay, but I would say that so far it's a book I feel my other (better) half would enjoy more than me.

My latest WTF moment was this: would someone in 1913 have said "brain the size of a planet"?? I think that may have raised some eyebrows had I heard it in Howards end, unless that's just me.

So, is this more of a love story with time travel? That is one reason I haven’t ever voted for it in the polls.

Nancy wrote: "So, is this more of a love story with time travel? That is one reason I haven’t ever voted for it in the polls."

I don't know yet Nancy. I am up to like Chapter 5. I am enjoying thus far. It is definitely time travel. (view spoiler)[ I liked the little thought bit we got from the house's perspective. How it sought Lou out. (hide spoiler)]

I don’t have this on my to read list and it’s not at my library so it isn’t at the top of my list to read. I will wait to see what everyone thinks.

Yeah, I'm glad I'm not mod, otherwise I'd feel obligated to at least try to read it. As is, no interest, sorry. I sure do hope those that voted for it all participate!

I will say that I am enjoying it. I like that period the time travel is taking place in. The whole Edwardian House and all that. It could be turning into a little bit of a love story....but I am ok with it. Its not over the top and makes sense for the history of the house. Also the house....(view spoiler)[at least it seems benevolent, I think that it something to ponder, the role of the house in the book (hide spoiler)]

What time period is it?

1813. Just before the start of WW1.

I finished this last night and it was okay, but it wasn't really my kind of book. The setting and world-building was done well enough, but I didn't particularly take to most of the character as I found them mostly over the top caricatures e.g. people were either so good they were saintly or completely evil with no redeeming features, which is a pet hate of mine.

Ultimately, the romance aspect was way too heavy handed in this for me to enjoy or believe it, and I like to think i'm not unromantic and loved books like the Time Travellers Wife. At times I felt like I was reading a Mills & Boon book, not that I actually know what they are like, but how I imagine them to be, I guess.

The time travelling aspects of the book were okay, but the ending was a bit too twee for me and quite a few TT strands didn't really click into place. When the lead character effectively states this, saying she doesn't understand why certain people know certain things, there is some glib statement about it's not for her to understand.

Overall, a bit unsatisfying for me, but I can see why others would like it. 2.5 Stars for me.

I am almost done. So far I am enjoying it. (view spoiler)[ I really like that the house is ultimately driving this, that it has power, but it using it in a good way (hide spoiler)] Lets see how I feel when I am done.

Jennifer wrote: "I am almost done. So far I am enjoying it. [spoilers removed] Lets see how I feel when I am done."

That’s funny you are reading another book with a house that has power.

As I originally nominated this, i'm glad someone is enjoying it!

I haven't had much luck with the last few books we have read here, with Hyperion being the exception. Couple that with the fact that for some time I have had sitting on my shelf at home to read, 11/22/63, Fifteen Lives of Harry August, Timeline, The Ivanhoe Gambit, and Time ships (I think most of these have already been read by the group), I think I need to get these read before trying again here.

If I don't love some of those, then I know I really must be burnt out on TT...!

Dean wrote: "As I originally nominated this, i'm glad someone is enjoying it!

I haven't had much luck with the last few books we have read here, with Hyperion being the exception. Couple that with the fact tha..."

I have only read 11/22/63 and The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August and they are both really good!

Nancy beat me to The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. I have read it twice.

Jennifer wrote: "Nancy beat me to The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. I have read it twice."

Already?

It is worth reading more than once. I haven’t gotten around to a second time yet.

I think I will move Harry August to the front on my To Read List - I don't want to have too high expectations as that can lead to disappointment, but I have a feeling I will really enjoy it.

Nancy wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Nancy beat me to The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. I have read it twice."

Already?

It is worth reading more than once. I haven’t gotten around to a second..."

Yes. I even purchased a copy for home...because I could read it again.

I finished last night . This is my little review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


It was not a dark, gritty novel. I rather enjoyed it. I did roll my eyes here and there with the romance, but I felt it was appropriate and not overdone. I mean...you had to realize it was going to happen with the setting we were in...

I did get the eebie jeebie's when (view spoiler)[when the house turned the bath faucet (hide spoiler)] Overall I enjoyed this book. I liked that (view spoiler)[the house was the root of the time travel, that it sought "the right people" out, that it looked to make a difference. It was not an evil house. (hide spoiler)]

I liked it very much, and here is the review I wrote: Thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters were terrific and the author really knew how to draw this reader in and hook her! I loved every bit of this tale, and found myself sad when it ended. The sign of a good book!

I am glad to of you like it!

How many other folks read the book?

Well, it's still early in the two-month period, so I'm sure others will chime in at some point.

Hopefully the other people that voted will come by.

Ever the optimist Nancy!

It has always surprised me to see how many people vote for the group read, compared to how many people seem to end up reading the book.

If I am not going to read the book I vote for , then whats the point?

I think some people lurk and vote and read the book but never comment.

For example, seven group members have marked the book ‘want to read’ since February.

Maybe I would send a group message that the group book is up etc etc...

Nancy wrote: "I think some people lurk and vote and read the book but never comment.."

I would like to think that is the case, rather than voting on something if you have no intention of reading.

Stepping out of the shadows to say I've never before read a book because it had been recommended in a group like this. On this one, I read whatever part Amazon put on my Kindle for free and then decided it was worth the small cost to finish reading - both because I was curious and because it felt like I was supporting a writer.

The ending wrapped up just a little too neatly but I still enjoyed it. The ending combined with some writing choices, made it something I'd categorize as light or "beach reads". As someone else said, the characters were a bit one dimensional.

I was hooked when the house transformed around Lou (happens early enough I'm assuming this isn't a spoiler) because of how I feel when I see derelict houses that were once beautiful. That the author handled THIS part of it well guaranteed my overall experience would be positive.

Glad you enjoyed it Kathryn.

The part around the house transforming was done well, and reminded me of the feeling I got with 'The Secret Garden', though I have to say the latter felt more special or 'magical' in this respect.

I liked that we had actual thoughts from the house. I also liked that it was not the "EVIL HOUSE", that it was actually a very nice house and wanted its inhabitants, including the servants to be happy. I liked that it reached out to help people.

Kathryn wrote: "Stepping out of the shadows to say I've never before read a book because it had been recommended. On this one, I read whatever part Amazon put on my Kindle for free and then decided it was worth th..."

I would agree. Nothing intense or deep. It was a nice read and a nice place to spend a few days. I am glad to have read it.