[Winterfella]

Another interesting tidbit is about the movie by Spielberg that is described within the book, about communicating with the dolphins. Grimwood actually later wrote a book with that exact plot. It was called "Into the Deep". I never read it, and I know it never did as well as Replay, but when I came across it I had to do a double take, because it's basically the same plot as described in Replay.

[Paladin]

I believe the author died in June 2003, not last year as someone stated.

Over all I really enjoyed Replay. It seems to be a quick read and I couldn't put it down. It did tend to slow down a bit, toward the end,for me though. I really began to like the character of Jeff throughout the book.

I do sort of agree with most of you in the fact that you don't really find out the reason on why these replays keep happening. Even so, I don't think it ruined the experience for me.

I sort of disagree on how the book focused on the "me" attitude. I think some of you are taking this too harshly.

I definitely enjoyed the book overall and might be interested in reading some of Ken Grimwood's other works. Its a shame we not be able to see the sequal to this book.

- Paladin

[Eventine]

I think I nominated this, I definitely remember voting for it. I read it 3 or 4 weeks ago and really enjoyed. Haven't been posting much lately though because of big work commitments.

The beginning was really fun for me. Travelling back in your own timeline is something I've always wished I could do, and in his first few times through the protagonist does have a crack at a lot of things people (and by people I mean me) would do: winning big gambling, trying to save the world (i.e. JFK), revisit some failed romances.

I wondered how the novel could be sustained by this, and right about where I thought it might get boring we got introduced to the concept that there was someone else out there with the same problem. It reminds me a bit of a SF novel I once read about a guy who faded out of existence of our reality bit by bit, and found a girl who'd done the same (any ideas of what it was called?). It's around this part that I felt some spirituality elements start to creep in that didn't really work for me, but I could understand in the context of the characters.
It was great seeing the characters move into a frustrated/scared phase after this. They knew their time left in replays was growing shorter, and they coldn't find out about anything regarding why, or seem to make any impact in their existence. I really liked the cryptic note from Sydney - I think it just said "Wait", which really increased my anticipation of the ending.

And I supposed that was the only part of the book I found disappointing, but only slightly. As much as I would have loved a massive explanation, I didn't go in expecting it and was thus wasn't really bothered when the same thing started happening to some other poor bloke. I think the open ending really leaves the book open to the interpretation of the reader - they get to decide why they think it happens. I'm betting a lot of people think a lot of different things. What about everyone here?

[Winterfella]

Okay it was two years ago, not last year. Time flies as you get older. Especially when you're on you're fourth or fifth replay. ;)

[Paladin]

I think the frustrated/scared phase that Eventine mentions is when it started to slow down for me. Especially around the interrogation part. But then it picked up for me.

[Huike]

As much as I would have loved a massive explanation, I didn't go in expecting it....
I think that's why I felt so let down. My expectations were huge for this book, I'd been reading about it on and off for months before I finally got a copy, not to mention that some of the reviews I looked through made it out to be one of the best fantasy books they'd ever read. Maybe I should be a little more skeptical in the way of reviews :o and instead of reading ones that praise it, read some that criticise it - they're generally more realistic and bit more helpful. Not everyone can look at a book critically in a way that is useful to the customer - most reviews tend to be love or hate.

Okay it was two years ago, not last year. Time flies as you get older. Especially when you're on you're fourth or fifth replay. ;)
ROFL :D Wait till you get to your 18th, then we'll talk ;) :D :p

[Eventine]

I think the frustrated/scared phase that Eventine mentions is when it started to slow down for me. Especially around the interrogation part. But then it picked up for me.

What's the old saying about best intentions?
Te interrogation replay was interesting in that it was the one where they most attempted to help themselves, through understanding of their condition (as opposed to financial/emotional gain which only lasts a replay), and they ended up in the most nightmarish replay of all. Looking back that's probably a bit of the book that is against the "me' concept.


Maybe I should be a little more skeptical in the way of reviews and instead of reading ones that praise it, read some that criticise it - they're generally more realistic and bit more helpful.


That's why I rarely read Amazon reviews - too much effort to sift through the gush to find negative critical reviews.

[Grey Sea]

I was surfing around in the sister forum you know Sci-Fi and found Replay discussed over there. Not that I'm prejudiced, I read plenty Sci-Fi. monty mike you read a review, did you find the book classified in one way or another?

[Huike]

monty mike you read a review, did you find the book classified in one way or another?
Calssified? By this do you mean what genre it is?

I always thought Replay was Sci-Fi, but it's in the Fantasy Masterworks, so I guess not.

[Eventine]

Calssified? By this do you mean what genre it is?

I always thought Replay was Sci-Fi, but it's in the Fantasy Masterworks, so I guess not.

I saw a review or comment or something somewhere saying that it appeared to be SF most of the way, but the ending showed that it was fantasy. I wonder how on earth whoever said that came to that conclusion.

To me this is one of those books that you can fit into a genre based on your perception. By not explaining why the replays are happening, the reader can decide themselves if it is a scientific or magical phenomena(sp?). It probably shows something about the reader, if nothing more than their reading habits.