hardcover, 416 pages
English language
Published April 8, 2014 by Redhook.
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a novel by Claire North, a pseudonym of British author Catherine Webb, published in April 2014. It won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel and was featured in both the Richard and Judy Book Club and the BBC Radio 2 Book Club.
What a beautiful twist on immortality. I like that it's not told chronologically, thus keeping hints and clues for "earlier" lives. Slightly sad, but never too bad to be realistic. You could probably read it to find yourself, in a way. Or you just enjoy the history and character development.
Sort of a cross between an Ian Fleming novel and Audrey Niffenegger's "[b:The Time Traveler's Wife|18619684|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380660571s/18619684.jpg|2153746]." It made me think a lot about the passage of time, generational overlap, and of course, a healthy dose of magic realism and secret societies.
I bought this book because I'm a sucker for time travel books. I'm a sucker for them, despite the fact that each and every one labors in their own explanation of the grandfather paradox. And I at least like each of them even when they later veer into plot points that clearly create paradox after paradox.
So, that explains why I bought this book, but not why you should read it, even if you don't share my weakness for time travel fiction. That's because this book is more than just an indulgence in the fantasy of "what I would do if I could travel in time".
Sure, part of it is that this particular application of time travel as a concept is a bit different, more about living, dying and starting over right where you started (but whole lives rather than a single day leaves lots of room for the …
I bought this book because I'm a sucker for time travel books. I'm a sucker for them, despite the fact that each and every one labors in their own explanation of the grandfather paradox. And I at least like each of them even when they later veer into plot points that clearly create paradox after paradox.
So, that explains why I bought this book, but not why you should read it, even if you don't share my weakness for time travel fiction. That's because this book is more than just an indulgence in the fantasy of "what I would do if I could travel in time".
Sure, part of it is that this particular application of time travel as a concept is a bit different, more about living, dying and starting over right where you started (but whole lives rather than a single day leaves lots of room for the lives to differ instead of Groundhog Day-like repetitiveness). Part of it is that there's an actual plot.
But, and this is maybe more because I read this as I approach the age of 40 instead of the age of 20, there's a soul to this book that explores what it means to contemplate one's life, the nature of friendship and sacrifice, and, without ever actually saying so, what it means to mature. For real.
And, all of the while, it's entertaining.
This is probably the book I've spent the most time ever contemplating a star rating. My rule is to reserve 5 star ratings for books I'd absolutely read again. And, if ever a book invites that question, this'd be it. I'm not sure whether I want to read it again or not. I give 4 star ratings for books I'd recommend unreservedly to other readers. It absolutely meets that criteria and teeters on the edge of wanting to read it again. Make of that what you may.
Sad to say this one was a DNF.
The premise sounded incredible but I found it impossible to warm to the main character and the pace was just horrifically slow. Maybe I'll try it again one day, but for now the tedious execution has put me off.
I enjoyed this right up until the ending, like the last 3 pages or so. I just felt like the ending was a bit of a let down after everything leading up to it, but otherwise I liked this even though I didn't understand the quantum mirror stuff and I found it dragged a little in the middle.
