Replay by Ken Grimwood

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
--
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On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> Replay by Ken Grimwood
>
> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right

I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
close but I cannot remember the name.

Lynn

In article <sm20jl$705$1@dont-email.me>,
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
>> Replay by Ken Grimwood
>>
>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
>
>I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
>close but I cannot remember the name.

Groundhog Day. Not all that recent, 1993.

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On 11/4/2021 8:54 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <sm20jl$705$1@dont-email.me>,
> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
>>> Replay by Ken Grimwood
>>>
>>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
>>
>> I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
>> close but I cannot remember the name.
>
> Groundhog Day. Not all that recent, 1993.

No, that is a movie. There was a recent book that I reviewed here in
the last 12 months. Sigh. Ah, here it is from June 28, 2021:

""The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North
https://www.amazon.com/First-Fifteen-Lives-Harry-August/dp/0316399620/

A standalone fantasy science fiction book, no prequel, no sequel. I
read the well printed and well bound trade paperback published by
Redhook in 2014.

Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
that I have read three or four times now.
https://www.amazon.com/Replay-Ken-Grimwood/dp/068816112X/

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,624 reviews)

Lynn"

Lynn

On Friday, November 5, 2021 at 1:29:55 PM UTC+11, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/4/2021 8:54 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> > In article <sm20jl$705$1...@dont-email.me>,
> > Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> >>> Replay by Ken Grimwood
> >>>
> >>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
> >>
> >> I love this book.

Me too. An everyday joe caught up in a total WTF situation. First time round he does what most people would do: make more money, have a more comfortable life and more girls. Second time he does the same but starts to question "is there anything more?"

I loved some of the mistakes he made too. Like the time he went to the time and place where he met his wife and totally bombed out. "Hi, my name's Jeff. I know lots of stuff about you. No, I'm not creepy at all. Wait, why are you running away?"

> >>There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
> >> close but I cannot remember the name.
> >
> > Groundhog Day. Not all that recent, 1993.
> No, that is a movie. There was a recent book that I reviewed here in
> the last 12 months. Sigh. Ah, here it is from June 28, 2021:
>
> ""The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North
> https://www.amazon.com/First-Fifteen-Lives-Harry-August/dp/0316399620/
>
> A standalone fantasy science fiction book, no prequel, no sequel. I
> read the well printed and well bound trade paperback published by
> Redhook in 2014.
>
> Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
> and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
> that I have read three or four times now.
> https://www.amazon.com/Replay-Ken-Grimwood/dp/068816112X/
>
> My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I think that's the lowest rating I've seen you give!

-Moriarty

On Friday, 5 November 2021 at 02:29:55 UTC, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/4/2021 8:54 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> > In article <sm20jl$705$1...@dont-email.me>,
> > Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> >>> Replay by Ken Grimwood
> >>>
> >>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
> >>
> >> I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
> >> close but I cannot remember the name.
> >
> > Groundhog Day. Not all that recent, 1993.
> No, that is a movie. There was a recent book that I reviewed here in
> the last 12 months. Sigh. Ah, here it is from June 28, 2021:
>
> ""The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North
> https://www.amazon.com/First-Fifteen-Lives-Harry-August/dp/0316399620/
>
> A standalone fantasy science fiction book, no prequel, no sequel. I
> read the well printed and well bound trade paperback published by
> Redhook in 2014.
>
> Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
> and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
> that I have read three or four times now.
> https://www.amazon.com/Replay-Ken-Grimwood/dp/068816112X/
>
> My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
> Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,624 reviews)"

"Editorial reviews" for "Harry August" oddly fail to make
that point... "World Fantasy Award" or not, and having never
opened a copy, of either, I think it's "literary". Which means
no need for fiction of ideas to have /new/ ideas.

On 5/11/21 9:07 pm, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Friday, 5 November 2021 at 02:29:55 UTC, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> On 11/4/2021 8:54 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>>> In article <sm20jl$705$1...@dont-email.me>,
>>> Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
>>>>> Replay by Ken Grimwood
>>>>>
>>>>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
>>>>
>>>> I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
>>>> close but I cannot remember the name.
>>>
>>> Groundhog Day. Not all that recent, 1993.
>> No, that is a movie. There was a recent book that I reviewed here in
>> the last 12 months. Sigh. Ah, here it is from June 28, 2021:
>>
>> ""The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North
>> https://www.amazon.com/First-Fifteen-Lives-Harry-August/dp/0316399620/
>>
>> A standalone fantasy science fiction book, no prequel, no sequel. I
>> read the well printed and well bound trade paperback published by
>> Redhook in 2014.
>>
>> Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
>> and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
>> that I have read three or four times now.
>> https://www.amazon.com/Replay-Ken-Grimwood/dp/068816112X/
>>
>> My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
>> Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,624 reviews)"
>
> "Editorial reviews" for "Harry August" oddly fail to make
> that point... "World Fantasy Award" or not, and having never
> opened a copy, of either, I think it's "literary". Which means
> no need for fiction of ideas to have /new/ ideas.

"Literary" probably means well written, thoughtful, philosophical or, in
a Fantasy category, imaginative.
Grimwood's writing is barely mediocre. His small-minded thought
processes and imaginative capabilities are evident at the beginning of
the book when the protagonist instantly adapts to such mind shattering
events as death at about 50 and rebirth as himself when a teenager with
only minor puzzlement, remembers a couple of sports results and amasses
riches through gambling. Is that imaginative fantasy or childish drek?
Then he decides to alter history but unfortunately he is stupid enough
to actually believe such American mythology such as Lee Harvey Oswald
killing Kennedy. Grimwood has as much imagination as Colin Powell had
integrity.
Given Lynn's astoundingly low rating for "The First Fifteen Lives of
Harry August", the frequent criticism here of his lack of reading
comprehension and his delight for "Replay", I have added that Claire
North book to my TBR list with gleeful anticipation.

On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 10:29:55 PM UTC-4, Lynn McGuire wrote:

> Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
> and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
> that I have read three or four times now.

You have obviously taken the book to heart. ;)

On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 9:15:37 PM UTC-4, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> > Replay by Ken Grimwood
> >
> > https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
> I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
> close but I cannot remember the name.
Greg Benford also wrote a recent book that used the same notion as Replay ("Rewrite" was the name(; I didn't enjoy it as much as "Replay."

Decades ago, I recall a RASFW commenting that she loathed "Replay" - I don't remember quite why.

In article <9733a35f-8609-462e-9c3b-9b1f843305ddn@googlegroups.com>,
Martin <mooremar@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 10:29:55 PM UTC-4, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>
>> Meh. If you want to read a book about somebody living their life over
>> and over again, read "Replay" again by Ken Grimwood. Much better book
>> that I have read three or four times now.
>
>You have obviously taken the book to heart. ;)

/zing

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
Www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

On Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 3:47:26 AM UTC+11, Andrew Love wrote:
> On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 9:15:37 PM UTC-4, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> > On 11/4/2021 8:23 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> > > Replay by Ken Grimwood
> > >
> > > https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tonight-can-we-just-get-it-right
> > I love this book. There was a recent ripoff that did not even come
> > close but I cannot remember the name.
> Greg Benford also wrote a recent book that used the same notion as Replay ("Rewrite" was the name(; I didn't enjoy it as much as "Replay."
>
> Decades ago, I recall a RASFW commenting that she loathed "Replay" - I don't remember quite why.

I recall that too. If we're thinking of the same one, it's long-time poster Lucy Kemnitzer in this thread:

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/egcbWzyX2mg/m/SpTWGN6zyygJ

-Moriarty

On Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 7:52:23 PM UTC-4, Moriarty wrote:

> > Decades ago, I recall a RASFW commenting that she loathed "Replay" - I don't remember quite why.
> I recall that too. If we're thinking of the same one, it's long-time poster Lucy Kemnitzer in this thread:
>
> https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/egcbWzyX2mg/m/SpTWGN6zyygJ
>
Yes, that's the one I was thinking of.

On Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 11:04:22 AM UTC+11, Andrew Love wrote:
> On Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 7:52:23 PM UTC-4, Moriarty wrote:
>
> > > Decades ago, I recall a RASFW commenting that she loathed "Replay" - I don't remember quite why.
> > I recall that too. If we're thinking of the same one, it's long-time poster Lucy Kemnitzer in this thread:
> >
> > https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/egcbWzyX2mg/m/SpTWGN6zyygJ
> >
> Yes, that's the one I was thinking of.

From the linked thread

"spoiler

Anything the main characters try to do to affect the welfare of
anyone besides themselves ends in horrible failure: they only get
off the treadmill when they give up on fixing anything other than
their first marriages. I think this is a disgusting and evil
message.

Lucy Kemnitzer"

On 11/6/2021 7:04 PM, Andrew Love wrote:
> On Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 7:52:23 PM UTC-4, Moriarty wrote:
>
>>> Decades ago, I recall a RASFW commenting that she loathed "Replay" - I don't remember quite why.
>> I recall that too. If we're thinking of the same one, it's long-time poster Lucy Kemnitzer in this thread:
>>
>> https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written/c/egcbWzyX2mg/m/SpTWGN6zyygJ
>>
> Yes, that's the one I was thinking of.

"Louann Miller Nov 3, 2000, 8:39:21 AM to
On Fri, 03 Nov 2000 13:36:20 GMT, Danny Sichel wrote:
Incidentally, a news item from today:
Roberts Mulls Pitt's Replay
Julia Roberts is in talks to join Brad Pitt in Replay, a fantasy movie
from Warner Brothers, Village Roadshow Pictures and Revolution Studios,
according to The Hollywood Reporter. Pitt would play a 43-year-old man
who dies of a heart attack, only to awake as himself in college, where
he has a second chance to correct his life's mistakes, the trade paper
reported. Roberts will play his lost love.
Pitt's character will die again on the same date and replay
his life a la Groundhog Day. The movie is based on a novel of the same
name by Ken Grimwood. Richard LaGravenese is under
consideration to direct. Steve Rodgers wrote the most recent
draft of the screenplay."

Too bad that it did not happen. Julia Roberts had twins about that time
so that may have submarined the movie.

Lynn