“Time is a dimension that exists in the universe and it moves at a certain rate.”
The concept of “time” has always been very open to discussion. It is defined by various definitions and perspectives according to different disciplines. Some viewpoints think that time is a concept that exists only in the human mind and that clocks and other time measures are used to perceive time. And some philosophical views argue that “time is just an illusion”. As a result, no matter how different opinions may be, time continues to flow for us and it only moves forward. However, Matt Haig goes back and forth in time with the main character in his book “How to Stop Time”. And he’s trying to explain that the length of time you have to live life well is unimportant. Don’t forget, life is a learning curve and your life is a gift.
Journey into the Life of Tom Hazard: How to Stop Time
“What is time then? If nobody asks me, I know; but if I were desirous to explain it to one that should ask me, plainly I do not know.” ― St. Augustine
Our character, Tom Hazard, is exactly 439 years old. He has a very rare condition called Anageria. This condition, which begins during puberty, causes the body to age extremely slowly. For every 15 years, he spends in his life, his body takes only one age. Tom was born in the 16th century and has witnessed various periods of history over the centuries.
Over the centuries he has lived in many different roles – acting in Shakespeare’s plays, participating in Captain Cook’s expeditions, and circling F. Scott Fitzgerald. However, Tom, an ageless man, could not stay in one place for long, and more than anyone else, he suffered the loss of his loved ones. He had to live with this pain for many years.
In the story, the Albatross Society, founded by Hendrich, was established to protect and find “Alba” like Tom. But Hendrich has a concise rule that he wants everyone to follow.
“The first rule is that you don’t fall in love”. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love.
But there was only one thing Tom wanted in life, to be ordinary. To be able to experience what is normal for everyone in life, to fall in love. Perhaps mourning the love he had centuries ago. A man lost in time and his love story that spanned the ages.
The Adventure of Finding Yourself: A Lifetime of Learning
No matter how long your life is, “time” is unimportant if it’s about finding yourself. Throughout life, one must constantly reinvent yourself. Self-discovery is not about time itself. It is a continuous journey that lasts a lifetime and can be a difficult process to digest. And sometimes this journey feels really tiring. For example, I am not always able to adapt quickly by embracing changes. It takes time to get used to it, but I know the only constant is change. And I think it’s a really cool and dynamic thing. Even though I love change, I can’t always keep my head ahead. The going back and forth in time in my head just reminds me that the road is not smooth. But life only gives us a chance to move forward, and we often have to find ourselves again as we move forward.
“History was – is – a one-way street. You have to keep walking forwards. But you don’t always need to look ahead. Sometimes you can just look around and be happy right where you are.”
We all have our unique paths, what matters is not how someone else’s path looks to you. I know how easy some of their paths seem to you, but maybe to others, your path is too! No matter what, you should never be afraid to discover and try yourself. Look at the story of Tom Hazard! If we live that long road between death and life with fear and the “invisible enemies” you have created, we can waste “our own lives” in naive language.
“In protecting yourself from hurt you could create a new, subtler type of pain. It is a dilemma.”
From How to Stop Time: Matt Haig’s Style
“How to Stop Time” is the first book I’ve read by Matt Haig. An enjoyable read that emphasizes the effect of time and its importance in our lives. I especially found the beginning quite gripping. It is a story that I can never stop wondering about the end, even though it is slow sometimes. From time to time, you find yourself thinking about your life, the choices you make, and your actions. He will whisper in your ear that you should not give up learning for life. Look, Tom hasn’t stopped learning for 439 years!
It makes you feel very pleasant to read Matt Haig’s reflection on the pleasure he gets from literature and art. And in most of the scenes, you can’t help but say that it would be fun to watch this story on the screen. Then you turn and look at Google, you see this has already been thought of. And Benedict Cumberbatch, whom we are sure will be perfect as Tom, will be on the screen. There is definitely something to giggle about reading events from the period from the mouth of someone who has witnessed some important parts of history. And this book is definitely about not underestimating yourself.
After reading it, I read pleasant comments about the author’s book “The Humans” and it aroused my curiosity. Because I really liked the way Matt Haig used words. You can feel in his words that he has a touching purity and honesty. This story is a complete “thought-provoking” reading.
Final Emotional Journey – Contains Spoilers!
In fact, in the flow of the How to Stop Time, we constantly see that Tom can never forget the loss of the love of his life, during his winding back and forth in time. He can’t save Rose, and I also find it a little heartbreaking that his own “situation” is helping him escape the illness. But isn’t our story built on that anyway? And in the intervening years, he dedicates himself to searching for his daughter. A melancholy novel about a man who has lived for hundreds of years, unable to get past the true love he left behind – or perhaps the idea of who he was when he was with his true love.
In the first moments, I felt that the end of the book ended quickly and that the topics were connected quickly. The reunion scene with his girl feels like a bit of a plot twist. But the ending of the Hendrich character, who is paranoid and fed with power balances, with this fiction is pleasing to everyone who says “hooray for the good ones”. I loved the delicate balance of his relationship with his daughter, Marion, as he progressed. I think it’s a very realistic image of a family relationship. The fact that he was under the shock of the Omai-Hendrich-Marion affair, which reminded Tom of the value of the day, of the “moment,” made the end of the day read fast. Even if it has a life span of four centuries, the thing that can tell people the essence of life is sometimes instantaneous.
“That’s the thing with time, isn’t it? It’s not all the same. Some days – some years – some decades – are empty. There is nothing to them. It’s just flat water. And then you come across a year, or even a day, or an afternoon. And it is everything. It is the whole thing.”
Going to the end, I think the main issue for Tom was that he needed to find a way to live “in the moment” in the present, just like everyone else’s.
Reading as Self-Care
You can definitely find something for yourself in this book, which contains beautiful sentences and quotes. You may even find something for yourself that you didn’t realize you were looking for. The well-researched details of British and Imperial history will give you extra pleasure if you are a history lover. A reading that reminds you that enjoying life is hidden in the little things and in the moment, that learning is continuous and the real pleasure is to go on the road! 
Also, I can’t wait to see it on the screens, if you want to travel the pages of history with Tom, give this story a chance. And I’d like to wrap up with a quote by Matt Haig in “How to Stop Time” that gives me hope.
“Whenever I see someone reading a book, especially if it is someone I don’t expect, I feel civilization has become a little safer.”
Happy Reading!
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