Replay – Ken Grimwood

replay
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[starreview]

Classification: Personal Alternate Reality

 

Replay is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Maybe even my favorite book. I’ll try to make sure my review does it justice.

 

Jeff Winston is a rather unsuccessful journalist, living an unhappy life with his wife Linda. Not longer after he turns 43, in October 1988, Jeff suffers a major heart attack – one he does not survive. But instead of finding himself in the afterlife, Jeff finds himself back in 1963, in his 18 year old body. Quickly, Jeff begins enjoying his youth again (it is as the saying goes: “Wisdom is wasted on the youth”). More importantly, he realizes he has 25 years of future knowledge: personal decisions that went wrong, major political and economical events, knowledge of companies that became big and companies that did not survive the times. Armed with this invaluable knowledge, Jeff is able to become a very wealthy person in his early 20s.

 

Until this point, there is not much of a difference between this and many other books and movies. It now changes.

 

Determined to avoid the mistakes he’s made before, and remembering the day, time and location where he originally met Linda, his wife, Jeff decides to do it right this time. Butterflies in his stomach, he goes to meet Linda again. Imagine his surprise when after introducing himself, Linda brushes him off quite rudely. Turns out that the new version of Jeff, wealthy and probably more confident than his original young self, does not appeal to Linda. Jeff continues trying to woo Linda for a while (he still remembers where she lives), but to no avail. He eventually accepts this fate, marries a different woman, and learns to enjoy his comfortable new life.

 

The year 1988 encroaches, and Jeff is 43 year again. He begins to worry something may happen. He routinely works out to make sure he’s in good shape, and makes sure a team of doctors supervise him. They assure him: he’s in perfect health and faces no imminent heart attack.

 

But they are wrong. At exactly the same moment, Jeff suffers yet another (from his mental perspective) heart attack. He dies. Again. And finds himself, once again, in the year 1963, in his 18 year old body.

 

What does he do? I won’t reveal the answer to that, but I will say that this is not the last time Jeff dies and is reborn. Each time he makes different choices that affect both himself and the world in general. Each time he lives life differently. He continues a romance he originally abandoned. He tries warning the world of looming disasters – and gets in trouble with the CIA (who think he has terrorist connections). He tries finding other people like himself. He tries to create the ultimate piece of entertainment by recruiting famous actors and directors (George Lucas, Steven Spielberg) years before they got famous. Until the end – which I won’t reveal.

 

Replay has a great story, very memorable characters, and is highly thought provoking. Although Replay appears to be a rather simple novel on the surface, it is much more profound than that, as it asks major questions: Is life about accumulating wealth and personal belongings? Is life about being with one’s family? Is life about trying new adventures? Is life simply about going through one’s mundane daily routine? What does it mean for a person to have all of his achievements vanish: whether they be wealth, creations of art, fame or even family.

 

Since these are questions we all have to deal with, Replay provides what can only be summarized as a spiritual journey. I believe this is precisely the reason Replay became such a successful novel: because it deals with – possibly – the biggest question of all: What is the meaning of life?

 

Years ago, I used to read Replay every couple of months. Although I no longer do that, even now, some two decades afterwards, Replay still feels to me like one of those books that changed something in me. That made me question my core values. Despite the great story, the surprising twists and turns, and the outstanding characters – I don’t think there can be any higher complement for a book – and an author – than that. Replay is one of my all time favorite books. It is as good as it gets.

 


Link to the book’s details on Amazon.com