Tom Hazard is a forty-year-old-looking man, but has actually been alive for over four hundred years, living many historical events first-hand.
After centuries of travel and exploration, all he wants to do is settle down, but the secretive group which is meant to protect people such as Tom is threatening to derail his life, and what actually might be a shot at love.
Matt Haig Introduces the Immortal Man
Immortality is the sort of concept which we consistently keep musing about, no matter how far it might be out of our reach. At this point, we are still only spit-balling theories and ideas as to how it could be achieved, and as you might imagine, the progress has been fairly minimal.
However, those with a more observant mind for these sorts of subjects soon begin to wonder: would immortality even be worth it in the first place? In his novel How to Stop Time, Matt Haig presents us with a man which might very well make a case for both sides of the argument.
Enter Tom Hazard, a forty-one-year-old man who just moved back to his old home in London in hopes of settling down and becoming a high-school history teacher. Unbeknownst to any of his colleagues, even the one he develops a crush on, Tom has actually walked the Earth for several centuries now due to a rare condition which essentially seems to make him immortal.
He has lived through history himself and has met countless people we only have bits and pieces about today. However, he has had enough: all he wants is a normal life.
Unfortunately for Tom, a secret group exists which is meant to protect those like him, called the Albatross Society, and their sole dominating rule is to never fall in love. Alas, Tom is intent on beginning his new life and romance with or without the group, but their erratic leader begins to threaten everything he might have been hoping for.
The one thing they won't let him have, is perhaps the one thing which help Tom find some true meaning to his existence, hopefully turning it into an actual life worthy of living.
A Singular Perspective on History
The crux of the story does indeed hinge on Tom's quest for a normal life and his opposition to the Albatross Society, but first I would like to take a small detour and discuss the aspect which I personally loved the most in this book: the history.
As you can surely understand, with a character who has experienced four hundred years' worth of history from a first-hand perspective, it would be a waste not to look through his past and see the people he met as well as the many events he might have experienced.
A number of historical figures make their appearance, including Shakespeare and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and while the author doesn't delve too profoundly into their biographies, he does take the time to address how they ended up impacting the world around them and how our perception of them has changed over time.
He places quite a bit of focus on the relation they had to the lives of the people surrounding them, making an interesting showcase for how our own lives are deeply affected by mere contact with the people around us. Though I cannot be certain how accurate his portrayals of most historical figures are, I can assure you they feel completely genuine and believable, at least within the context of the novel.
Just like there are plenty of people to talk with on this journey, there are also numerous events we get to see through the eyes of the nearly-immortal man. His observations are poignant and thought-provoking more than anything else, explaining how humanity is indeed doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again while bearing the illusion of progress. The power of ignorance hasn't diminished over the course of our existence, and its spark can set anyone's world alight.
The Quest for Normalcy
Setting all the historical aspects of this book aside, there is a very compelling plot about a man who, contrary to most heroes, is simply on a quest to have a normal life. It is actually fairly refreshing to see a protagonist who isn't out to set the planet, unravel a conspiracy or avenge the murder of their parents.
Through this quest we get an interesting glimpse at the idea of immortality (or at least living for centuries on end) being too much for the human mind to bear, at least without the comforts of an other's love. Whether you agree or disagree with the author's take on this subject, I have no doubt you will find his depiction of it to be at least compelling for its logic and how well thought-out it is.
While I may have given the impression so far of this being quite the serious book, it remains at its heart, a romantic comedy with a whole bag of quirks thrown in. There are plenty of adorable and humorous interactions between Tom and his colleagues, generally stemming from the secret life experience our protagonist has over everyone else.
The love story itself is actually fairly light in my opinion, and if like me this is a part which doesn't interest you very much, you'll be pleased to know it doesn't swell up to too much prominence.
The main source of conflict in this story, Tom against the Albatross Society, is also interestingly nuanced and leads to some interesting questions and ideas about the responsibilities which fall on the shoulders of people such as Tom.
The Final Verdict
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig is a unique and though-provoking novel about history, love, near-immortality, and how long it can take a person to fully learn how to live. If you enjoy historical fiction and want to read something which feels like a quality breath of fresh air, then I highly recommend you give this novel a shot.
 | Matt HaigPersonal site Matt Haig is an English novelist and journalist who has primarily established himself in the speculative fiction genre. He studied English and History at the University of Hull. He began his career by publishing Reasons to Stay Alive, which was a number one Sunday Times bestseller in the UK. His 2017 novel, How to Stop Time, is even being optioned into a major motion picture by StudioCanal films. |
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