Matt Haig's How to Stop Time offers a poignant exploration of immortality, blending historical fiction with a contemporary love story. Readers appreciate its imaginative premise and Haig's engaging prose. However, some critics find the plot predictable and the protagonist underdeveloped. Overall, it resonates well for its emotional depth and thought-provoking themes.

Readers who enjoy Matt Haig's How to Stop Time are often fans of historical fiction with a twist of magical realism. This book appeals to those intrigued by time travel and emotional, philosophical narratives, much like readers of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In Matt Haig’s novel, How to Stop Time, Tom Hazard, who ages extraordinarily slowly and has lived for centuries, navigates a contemporary existence in London while reflecting on his storied past, which includes encounters with historical figures and a tragic separation from his family. He seeks to reunite with his daughter, Marion, and contemplates the inevitability of change and the pursuit of happiness amidst constant danger.

Melancholic / Contemplative / Bittersweet / Emotional / Mysterious

Matt Haig

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

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Before You Read How to Stop Time | SuperSummary

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Overview

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How to Stop Time Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Life Among the Mayflies”

Part 1, Introduction-Chapter 4

How to Stop Time Part 1, Introduction-Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 5-8

How to Stop Time Part 1, Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 9-14

How to Stop Time Part 1, Chapters 9-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Man Who Was America”

Part 2, Chapters 1-5

How to Stop Time Part 2, Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Rose”

Part 3, Chapters 1-3

How to Stop Time Part 3, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 4-5

How to Stop Time Part 3, Chapters 4-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 6-10

How to Stop Time Part 3, Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 11-13

How to Stop Time Part 3, Chapters 11-13 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “The Pianist”

Part 4, Chapters 1-2

How to Stop Time Part 4, Chapters 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapters 3-4

How to Stop Time Part 4, Chapters 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapters 5-7

How to Stop Time Part 4, Chapters 5-7 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapters 8-10

How to Stop Time Part 4, Chapters 8-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 5: “The Return”

Part 5, Chapters 1-3

How to Stop Time Part 5, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 5, Chapters 4-8

How to Stop Time Part 5, Chapters 4-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 5, Chapters 9-10

How to Stop Time Part 5, Chapters 9-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 5, Chapters 11-13

How to Stop Time Part 5, Chapters 11-13 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

How to Stop Time Character Analysis

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Themes

How to Stop Time Themes

Symbols & Motifs

How to Stop Time Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

How to Stop Time Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

How to Stop Time Essay Topics

How to Stop Time

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

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Book Details