Replay

Fantastic book. I absolutely love a time travel book and this is one of the best I have ever read. It started slowly and I wondered about even carrying on with it but I am so glad I persevered. I soon had bother putting it down and at no point did I know what was going to happen or could have anticipated the ending. It was full of twists and turns that kept me enthralled and reading until late at night.

There are quite a few books that tell this kind of story, however this one was written quite a while ago and because of that is not tainted with the state of the world as we know it now.A familiar storyline if you read this kind of genre.What would you do given the same chances?I read it in a few days relaxing on holiday, I didn’t want it to end, not too taxing but thought provoking and sometimes incredibly sad.I have given it to my wife, it’s on her pile-near the top…I’ll read it again, next time round. 😉

Superb story many years ahead of its time. I couldn’t put it down. Compelling story and brimming with ideas that are lacking in many stories nowadays.

I was looking for something‘different’ to read and found this.It is a well thought out book, an interesting plot and it makes you wonder what you would do in a similar situation?If your life rewound what would you do differently?The author weaves the challenges, the frustration the moral dilemmas into an absolutely cracking read I could not put down.

Just read it.A tired old theme I thought as I picked it up out of curiosity. I could not have been more wrong. This is a wonderful book.

There are many questions people ask themselves about their own lives, probably the most terrible questions we ask ourselves relate to things that we cannot change - what would you do differently if you had the chance of living again. Would you turn left or right? Just how different might your life be if you could go back with the knowledge you now possess?This book looks at that ultimate question - what if you could go back and do it all over again? Be born into a young body at a point in your life where nearly anything is possible. That is the story of Replay, as the middle-aged Jeff, stuck in a dead-end job and whose marriage is breaking apart, dies of a heart-attack and awakes as his 18 year old self. The book deals superbly with his initial confusion and then the slow realisation that it is a second chance, too that his knowledge of the future can bring him great wealth and even power.The book I have loved because it is so clearly honest even when showing the darker side to foresight, it looks at what most people would want to do: make money, travel around, not have to work, turn dreams into reality. Jeff is believable as he does not become a superhero nor does he want to run for President, he is just a normal person doing what a normal person would do. That said, the book pointedly shows through Jeff as the protagonist that it is not a mere knowledge of future events that can fulfil him in ways he previously didn't imagine, it is merely to desire to want to reach for something more. Replay serves as a moral tale as through Jeff you learn that perhaps living your life again and again would not be as easy nor as welcome as you would want. Ultimately the story has a profound ending with a statement that has stuck with me, years after having first read it and having since re-read it several times.I would have to say that this is the best book I have ever read, and though it might be an ironic comment this is the book I would choose to take to a desert island and read over and over again. It is touching, original, sad, funny but most importantly of all you believe it. I honestly cannot recommend the book enough, I sincerely hope you try it and love it as much as I do.

I bought this based on one of those "if you liked this book then you might like that book" algorithms which are usually a bit hit-and-miss but wow - if you like a good sci-fi time travel "what if you could live your life over again?" type story, this is surely one of the best there is. I couldn't put it down. The movie rights for this have been picked up and passed around for a number of years, probably because it's just too much story for 2 hours on screen. It will surely end up as a flagship high budget mini series (hi Amazon Prime Video!)

Firstly, I give 4 stars, not because there is anything wrong with it, I really enjoyed it.. it is rare I give 5* for a book..but it was very close.I don't usually read fiction - though read this because I had/still have(!) some life choices to make, someone on YouTube recommended..It was odd reading this book about extended life, knowing that the actually author passed away years ago - at least he contributed something of IMHO significance by penning this story.I read it over 2 weeks, it caused me to think much and took me to another world and I questioned what I'd do if I was in this situation.. this in itself I feel gave me more perspective in my own life and my direction & purpose..[e.g. 'what would I do , if I woke up at 17 years old again?' actually, what I realised is, it totally depends on what life direction you chose.. being younger would be great.. but you still can't do everything, you still have limited time.. eg is family important, or a career making films (like one of Jeff's fellow friends)]Book was really enjoyable, I won't say 'I couldn't put it down' but I definitely looked forward to reading more. I'm not one who feels I need 'escapism' when reading - though I enjoyed this book giving me this..Some interesting points towards to end, a young girl said to Jeff when deciding a decision to make "It's ok I have all the time in the world"and that seemed the opposite of what Jeff had discovered - despite having a significantly extended time , time was still very precious..Anyway - enough - if this book appeals to you enough to read this review to the end - it's probably a good indication you should read this book..P.s. if this review was useful , let me know and I can leave more reviews