When I came to register this book which I had picked up in a box of books from an auction, it sounded so familiar plot-wise ... then I realised it was this book: Somewhere in Time, only with a blokey-sci-fi cover! This may have been the original published title, before the movie came out.

Here is my review from the other edition:
Wow - I actually enjoyed this. It's an interesting story and extremely well written. The writing style in the first part of the book is a little disjointed, but I felt it flowed well nonetheless. The prologue provided verisimilitude and, in fact, tricked me for a bit until I realised it was part of the story too. The author is very clever.

Reserved for the Australian Surprise Fiction Bookbag.

Drumroll........ My first surprise package is.... I was intrigued by this line: "I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing in having my brother's manuscript published." It's a booky thing. Thanks Ro.

cover:
Somewhere in the past Richard had met Elise and loved her with undying passion. Now, suddenly, in a lush seaside hotel, she was calling him, urging him to consummate their love. He was willing - he was desperate - but how could he span the century which separated them? It seemed impossible. Until Richard felt an uncanny surge of power, strong enough to carry him backwards to a mysterious destiny, to reunite him with his lost love in the same hotel a hundred years before. But once he had erased more than a lifetime and glimpsed what lay on the other side of the curtain across the past, could he ever bid time return?
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This story was so familiar to me as I was reading so I had a look at IMDb &, sure enough, there was a movie made back in 1980 called Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour as Richard & Elise. Perhaps this was when the name was changed from Bid Time Return to Somewhere in Time. I must have seen it many, many years ago - although probably not as far back as 1980, maybe as a telemovie some time.

I also found the style a bit disjointed at first but, once I got into it, I enjoyed the reading. This is a love story & an ununsual rendering of the time travel tale. The story starts in 1971, but the action is centred around two short days in 1896. Did Richard travel or did he dream? I did feel short-changed by the briefness of their time together. One can speculate about Elise's hiatus from acting, spending time on her beloved farm, but the book tells us nothing. The dearth of time & information is disappointing, but the story is entertaining. I can't remember much about the movie - I wonder if it gives us more of those elusive details?

Had I read the Global Overview first, I could have saved myself some time as it tells me about the movie:

Like 'What Dreams May Come', which inspired the movie starring Robin Williams, 'Somewhere in Time' is the powerful story of a love that transcends time and space, written by one of the Grand Masters of modern fantasy.

Matheson's classic novel tells the moving, romantic story of a modern man whose love for a woman he has never met draws him back in time to a luxury hotel in San Diego in 1896, where he finds his soul mate in the form of a celebrated actress of the previous century. 'Somewhere in Time' won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the 1979 movie version, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, remains a cult classic whose fans continue to hold yearly conventions to this day.

Added to the M-author bookring.

Taken from the authors beginning with M bookring.

One of the most unusual books I've ever read and I did find it a bit disjointed at first. Eventually though I found I was enjoying it and I now find myself wanting to see the film.

This is going in the "Only Time" bookring.

Received today thanks.

Sending in the "Only Time" bookring

I was totally perplexed when I opened this parcel as I'd forgotten about the "only time" ring... I'll have to sort out how this works exactly, but thanks so much for sending (along with a second book)...

It took me a while to get into this one, but eventually I did. I did not find the main character particularly appealing or pleasant, but the premise of the story was entertaining and it was certainly a new take on time travel. I initially accidentally missed the introduction, so was glad to notice it not too far into the book. This is here as part of the Only Time bookcrossing spiral, and will travel on.

This travels on in the "Only Time" book spiral. It and another book head to Belgium. Sorry, I forgot to add a card to the parcel before taping (thoroughly). Thanks for setting this up. Enjoy the books!

the only time bookring is home

To be released at the parking