Book 71 - Matt Haig "How To Stop Time"

Matt Haig "How To Stop Time" (Canongate)




Tom Hazard is a seemingly middle-aged man starting a new job as a secondary school history teacher in a London borough. However, due to an extremely rare condition, he does not age as humans usually do and has actually been alive several centuries.

Every eight years he must change his identity and location to avoid being exposed. The main rule of his life being not to get emotionally attached to any one life or one person because sooner or later he will have to move on.

The book is set mainly in the present but through a series of flashbacks Tom takes the reader on a journey through several centuries of British history taking in the witch trials, the plague, colonialism, Shakespeare and jazz along the way.

It turns out, he is not the only one with this condition and a society has been set up to help and protect people like him, and Tom is a fully paid up member. But Tom is tired of hiding and being alone. The question is, what will his breaking of the society's rules cost him?

At first the book seems to be just another immortal story with witch-hunters rather than vampires, but in reality its a love letter to life, how we should cherish every moment because you never know when everything will change and as such is moving and life affirming.

This is my first book by the author and I have to say despite a few minor quibbles, the repetition of how smelly London used to be being one, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a good pace to it, the history was interesting without being too detailed and I felt that Haig showed a deft touch with the old heart strings. I will certainly be on the look out for more of his offerings.

Book 72 - Toby Manning "The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd"

Toby Manning "The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd" (Rough Guides)




A nice overview of Pink Floyd whether you are a committed fan or curious to find out more about the band. It gives a lot of inside information to the rise and fall of this mysterious progressive rock band. It also provides a lot of additional places to find out more information about them. Therefore, it serves as a great start-up to any Floyd fan, including all the post Floyd solo music or projects by members of the band. One to read thoroughly or dip in to. Perfect.

Thursday Thoughts

A quiet relaxing day on the whole.

I was sorting out all the Cds for this big sale I had on discogs but there are still five I canaot find out of the 24 this person ordered. However, if push comes to shove, a refund will be initiated for those five. The recipient is not too fusssed to have these straight way ,si I do habv the weekend to check.

Apart from that, I did pop into town midday to get some food items, have a beer at my local, and to have my hair cut. They also trim your eyebrows, and reduce the follicles elsewhere.

I then picked up the latest December Wire magazine. Another few days of reading ahead.



I listened to some recent purchases and found charity shop items, such as one by Bunny Wailer doing versions of songs by The Wailers. An excellent roots reggae album.