Time (& Space) Bending Reads

“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Today is not just the first Friday of September; it’s also National Read a Book Day and the first week of school for those of us who celebrate – so it’s especially fitting for the time-bending theme of the latest installment of ATK Reads. Early September is that time of year when time seems to have flown and warped all at once. And if you’re like me, with your youngest child starting university, you might wonder how your baby, who surely just began kindergarten, is somehow old enough to move over 4000 kilometres away for school!

One of the magical aspects of books is that they let us travel through time and explore alternate realities. For this month, I’ve chosen three novels that take that to the next level, with time travel and alternate realities at their core. As I started writing about them, I also realized that they’re all by debut novelists. 

So, if you’ve ever felt that time has lost its meaning (and didn't we all feel that a bit during the pandemic?) or believed that books are a certain kind of magic, or wondered if your partner is the best partner for you, or felt like you’ve had some near misses in your life (and wished you could have a do-over), then these books might strike a chord with you!

Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
If you’ve ever believed that books are a certain kind of magic…

Imagine having a magical book in your hands that allows you to open any door anywhere in the world and anywhere in time…Cassie, the protagonist in The Books of Doors, inherits just such a book and goes on a true hero’s journey that includes magic, quests, and a classic good vs evil battle. The novel touches on the dangers of one person having too much power — a theme that resonates in light of today’s world events. You can listen to a sample and read more about the plot via the link above, as I don’t want to give too much away or go on too long about The Book of Doors – because I could go on and on. But I do need to say that I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the audiobook almost as soon as I finished reading the physical book. I’m a speed reader, which I’m sure you’re shocked to hear, and I find listening to books I’ve already read gives me a deeper insight into them. I’m pretty sure The Book of Doors is set up for a sequel, which makes me happy, as I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Cassie, Duncan, Izzy, Lund, and their magical books again. 

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
If you’ve ever wondered if your partner is the best partner for you…

Imagine the surprise of the unmarried protagonist, Lauren, when she comes home one night, and her never-before-seen husband comes down from her attic. And things get even weirder when she realizes she can exchange her current model by sending him back into the attic, usually on a made-up errand, and a new husband will come down in his place.  With each new husband, Lauren’s life resets — from her bank balance to her friendships, job, and even her apartment’s decor, and she uses these markers to get a bead on how healthy each relationship is.  She goes through at least 200 husbands in the course of a year and realizes she’s getting bored of trading up (and down) and has to decide if she wants to – if she even can – finally settle down. And with who. The Husbands gives a refreshing perspective on the impact of our choices and how they affect all areas of our lives. It’s not surprising that Gramazio is a game designer; the book feels like Lauren’s playing a choose-your-own-adventure husband game, and Gramazio even has a fun husband generator on her site.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had some near misses in life (and wished for a do-over)…

Rather like Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, I was skeptical about the conceit of The Seven Deaths (not to be confused with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - which I have done on occasion), which includes time loops, body swaps and a psychopathic footman. But I needn't have worried; described as “Gosford Park meets Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express,” – The Seven Deaths is clever and compelling, jumping backwards and forwards in time over a week. Protagonist Aiden Bishop wakes up in the body of different hosts, reliving the same day, the day on which Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered, and he’s doomed to repeat it until he solves the murder. It turns out he’s not the only one trapped in this loop, and there are those who don’t want him to succeed. I’m about to dig into Turton’s latest novel, The Last Murder at the End of the World, and I’m feeling a bit hesitant. You’d think I’d have learned from my skepticism the first time around – I’ll report back!

Honourable time-bending mention this month goes to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. And, of course, the Outlander series.

A little something extra: My little something extra this month is a recommendation for this YouTube Workout channel - Fitness Over Fifty with Suncoastfit. Sandra is a fitness instructor on the Sunshine Coast, and her videos are gentle and easy to follow. They offer a variety of options that are generally low impact and include a lot of pilates-inspired workouts. I’ve shared these this month because I can’t believe I’ve reached a time and space in my life where workout videos for the over-50 crowd appeal, but apparently, that’s my new reality. I find these are also good if you haven’t been working out a lot and want to get back into the groove without injuring yourself!