Recent Reads: Matt Haig's 'How to Stop Time'.
I
recently read (as part of my pledge to read exclusively Hyped-Up Hardbacks in the month of July) 'How to Stop Time', the latest
fiction from the most excellent Matt Haig.
The
book tells the story of Tom Hazard, a man with a fairly uncommon
condition – he grows old v-e-r-y slo-w-w-w-w-w-ly. But I don't mean like, he ages suspiciously well like some celebrities who must have sold their souls or some shit (Keanu Reeves, we're onto you). No I mean like, Tom still looked
18 when he was actually almost 200.
In
the 'present' portion of the book, we are following Tom at a time in
his life when he passes for early 40s maybe, and gets a new grey hair
every few decades. He's decided that after a turbulent existence here, there and everywhere (Elizabethan England, Jazz-Age Paris, New York
and the South Seas), he wants to return to the big smoke and
teach...history. Pretty perfect career move, to be honest.
At
some point in his unusual life, he was found by an undercover society
of others like him – those afflicted with this little-known
condition, Anageria. He was then given the chance to exist in small
chunks of time, here and there all over the world, if he did the odd
job for the king pin of the society, Hendrich, and abided by some
strict rules.
Rule
#1: do not fall in love.
...and
guess what he already did? And is now in serious danger of doing
again?!
I
loved this book quite a bit. The story itself was utterly mad, as
high concept as they come, and it was told excellently. I really
enjoyed not just the reading of it, but the events I was able to
attend around the time of its release; the launch ting in Foyles
Charing Cross Road, where Matt chatted with the boss queen Bryony
Gordon about not just the book but also mental health and his writing
process, and then a very special Lush Book Club at their London HQ
(shoutout to the angelic Lex for the invite and for brilliantly
organising!).
I
read 'How to Stop Time' in just under a fortnight (and really the
only reason it took me so long was because I try not to lug hardbacks
around in my handbag) and then immediately passed it on to Mama Latter – another big fan of Matt Haig, who attended the launch
event with me at Foyles – because I knew this tale was right up her
street.
As
she read my book, she'd occasionally message me with photos of pages
I'd folded the corners of, guessing which particular sentence or
paragraph on that page had resonated with me so much, or just tickled
my fancy.
She got it right most times – and then started sending me
little bits she was finding
particularly beautiful.
One
annoying thing about this read? Well, I'd found out just before
starting it that this little-known theatrical guy Benedict Somethingorother had already bought the
right to someday turn the story into a film – and so for the first half of
the book, I was accidentally picturing a very Sherlocky Tom Hazard.
Stupid brain of mine! I eventually managed to put him to one side and create
my own Tom, though. But he resembled Matt Haig from time to
time, actually...
Matt
Haig recently tweeted (shocker, I mean, he hardly uses Twitter...)
that writing fiction was far more personal than writing non-fic. I
completely agree. Yes, it's intensely intimate writing a memoir or
opinion piece – you're basically giving people a peek into your
life and letting them sniff your dirty laundry...wait, this fell
apart. Hang on.
Fiction is more personal than non-fiction. Your daydreams are sometimes more privately you than your reality, I think.— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) July 16, 2017
What
I'm getting at is this: when you create something of your own,
all by yourself, and then others
find it and consume it – whether you are a writer fortunate enough
to be published, or a baker opening up your own cafe, whatever. It's
your creation and perhaps more of an insight into your mind and your
heart than any biography, blog post or opinionated article could ever
be. People will read your fiction and – hopefully – fall in love
with this world and these characters that you've made for them.
They'll see what has been forming inside your head for who knows how
long, and they'll take in every little thing you have typed. That
must be amazing and humbling, as an author, but also a bit freaking
petrifying.
Oh, Matt's also said this about writing fiction. I liked this theory too, tbf.
Writing fiction is weird, isn't it? You are just lying. It's like you are just trying to be the best bullshitter.— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) September 8, 2016
'How
to Stop Time' is a fantastic read – and a very welcome break from
our hideous present day. I really think you should all get hold of
it, readers. And let Tom Hazard teach you through time.
(And
the new hardback, RRP £12.99, is only £6.43 on A Great Read!)
Ooh. I love the cover and I'm very curious after reading your review :)
ReplyDeleteIt's truly beautiful. I'm so glad you might be picking this up! x
Delete