A Book In Time: Winner of the 2020 Page Turner Award for Fiction

by Mark Stibbe

Winner of the prestigious 2020 Page Turner Awards, A Book in Time is a truly enchanting work of magical realism by “a hugely talented storyteller.” This exceptional novel has been described by publishers, agents, and literary judges alike as “visionary”, “ambitious”, “magical”, “unique,” “refreshing”. You will never have read anything like it before. And if you’re a lover of books, or you work in a profession to do with books, you will be hooked from the first sentence – a sentence that is extraordinarily unusual and captivating.

A Book in Time is really a love story about a book’s longing over two centuries for the mother who bore it. Adopted by many different owners – some loving, others unscrupulous – this book longs to be reunited with an elderly author who cherished it as if it was her only child. As the book passes through many hands, it observes not only the way people treat it, but each other, and in all of this, its mother’s love sets the high standard against which everything is lovingly judged.

In a strange demonstration of synchronicity, the author – Mark Stibbe – experienced the culmination of his own search for a mother after completing this novel. Having been orphaned in 1960, and having never met or known his birth mother, Mark met her for the first time at the end of 2021, shortly before she died. So, there is more than a hint of Mark’s own search in the book’s quest for its author.

In the case of A Book in Time, in perhaps a unique way, art has magically imitated life even as life has magically imitated art.

Genres: Historical Fiction

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2023

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Lovebookstours as part of the book tour.

A Book In Time is a book that blew me away. It's so worthy of its Page Turner Award! As a huge book lover, reading a book about books is such a treat, and this one was even more special as it is also narrated by a book!
This book made me smile, laugh, and cry in equal measures and just warmed my heart from the start. Many books have stolen my heart, but the book in A Book In Time has claimed it!
We follow the book across a passage of time where it is owned by many different people. We learn about each owner, the treatment of the book, the locations and sights, and emotions the book experiences. This is such an interesting concept, and it's left me very hard pressed to get rid of any books I own after reading it. This is a perfect comfort read, and I urge any book lover to read this at some point in their life.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ending was a bit odd as well as unexpected. But over all great story

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

In this book of literary magical realism, we follow a conscious book – the first edition, author copy, of Emily Swanson’s book of poetry The Burning Ones – as it passes from hand to hand and shelf to shelf and offers a unique perspective on historical events and figures.

I was reminded very much of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, in the way that a non-human main character tells the story to the reader directly, expressing human feelings and emotions but viewed through the filter of a non-human perspective. By substituting horse for book, Mark Stibbe is able to weave a more intimate tale though, as Beauty was confined to events that occurred in the streets and stables, whereas the narrator here is carried close to the chest and kept on bedside tables, in pockets and bags, with only the occasional brief few decades spent locked in the darkness of hiding places.

Through the book we see soldiers on the battlefield and at rest; the rise of the feminist and suffragette movements; the beginnings of racial integration; loving couples and domestic abuse; the trade of the book repairer and book destroyers. We meet ordinary people and famous historical figures like the Brontës, Sarah Grand, Ernest Hemingway and Sylvia Beach, like a leatherbound version of Forrest Gump. And, of course, a book can easily outlive whole generations of people, so there is something of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando in the mix here too.

While this is very much a story of history and people’s lives ebbing and flowing through time, this is also the story of an individual book. The book fears damage and destruction to itself; it forms silent bonds with those guardians that treat it well and appreciate its contents; it yearns to spread the songs of love within its pages to those who most need them. But above everything else, the book longs to be reunited with the ‘mother’ who ‘birthed’ it, and loved it like her very own child, cuddling it and crooning to it and holding it dear to her heart. Throughout the whole story, the book compares motherly love with other kinds of love and finds them wanting, and feels like an orphaned child cast adrift in a world that is sometimes kind but often bewildering and intimidating. And it just wants its mother.

The very end of the story dips more into the surreal and spiritual, as the author explores the soul of a book beyond the mere paper and ink physical trappings, and we explore a version of an afterlife which – as a bibliophile – I fervently hope is not fictional at all. Imagine, a kind of ‘rainbow bridge’ but reuniting people and books instead of pets. (Actually, I would like both, please!)

An unusual and deeply compelling book-within-a-book read, this is ideal for anyone who loves books, historical fiction and gentle, realistic (mostly) magical realism.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore books about books and A Book In Time took this to a whole new level. Not only was it a book about a book, it was narrated by the book!!

What a character the book was, full of so much character, intelligence and emotion.

The story spans across centuries, 1805 - 2030 as the book takes us on probably one of the most amazing journeys through time I've ever been on, with the book passing into the hands of so many historical figures along the way.

The story is absolutely mesmerising and is a love story unlike any other.

Stibbe was the 2020 Page Turner Award for Fiction, duly deserved in my eyes as this was such a fabulous, entertaining, page turner and will certainly make me look at my books from a different perspective in the future.

Many thanks to Love Books Tours for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[gary walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for book lovets

Very unique story of the life of a book. You will not want to stop reading each page draws you into the story,

[Elyse Mcnulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book in Time (paperback) by Mark Stibbe is a book about a book. I know this sounds strange but, it is a story told from the book’s point of view dating from 1805 to 2030. As the book is passed from the original writer to owners throughout time, it discusses other authors and things happening in history from the book’s perspective. As the back of the book states “it is a love story that will forever change the way you look at books.” This is one of those books that I will be sharing, will keep in my own library and will suggest to book clubs. Be sure to read the authors note at the end of the book. Enjoy!!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book in Time by Mark Stibbe is such a lovely book. I’ll be honest... there’s no audio version, and it’s been a long time since I read a physical book without listening along. I really struggled with it at first, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. The writing is absolutely beautiful. The imagery is just stunning. It really paints such vivid scenes in your mind. This is one of those books that lingers... it’ll stay with me for a long time.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book that has been written from the heart and in turn speaks to the heart! You will shed a tear or two while reading through this but you will also smile and laugh. The story is bittersweet, it is about one book's personal journey through the lives of many, we hear of the sights it sees, the guardians it has and the fears and worries it feels.

The character of ‘the book’ is very intelligent, sensitive and poetic, just like the writings it holds within it. You will not only fall in love with the book itself but you will also fall in love with the character!

After reading this you are sure to find it even more difficult when deciding which books to keep and which to pass on to the next reader!

This was an absolutely adorable read and one that I highly recommend picking up! It’s comforting, heartfelt and just amazingly written. The author has done a fantastic job of giving life to this inanimate object and making the reader have real feelings for it!

The author smashed it out of the park with one! A well deserved 5 stars!

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What initially attracted me to this book was the absolutely stunning cover, then I read the premise and was intrigued. A book, about a book, told from the books perspective? How unusual, I thought, and I was not disappointed.
The tale spans more than 200 years in the life of a book of poetry. It meets truly fascinating and historic characters and tells of the good and bad times throughout various countries.
There is a fantasy element to it. It's a living book, of course. However, the truly fantastical part only arrives in the final part, set in 2030. Until then, it's seemingly an ordinary work of fiction. Albeit a very clever one.
You can tell the author has a lot of love for books and that passion shines through. This is a wonderful tale.

[Gemma Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a unique novel. It will make you laugh and cry and gasp at many different times. I really love the idea of following a book and seeing where it goes and who owns it, it’s a really original concept and overall, Mark Stibbe does a great job telling the story. The end of the book was a surprise to me and it’s clear that this entire novel was written straight from the Authors heart.

I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.

[Rebekah Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure where to start with this book. Although I liked the overall idea and some aspects of it, I feel it was poorly executed. Like it needed some more development and proofreading before being released into the world. There were so many typos and many sections were just downright confusing. I like some of the themes, but just wish there were more view points shared, from other human characters. The whole story was told from the point of view of one book and so it lacked depth for me. An interesting read, but disappointing.

[Cathy Frantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because the premise reminded me of Overstory (which follows the lives of trees over time) and North Woods (which follows the life of a house over time). It follows the life of a book over time, but it doesn't come together quite as well. It's told from the point of view of the book through its long life (over 200 years!). This book is a little too fantastical/mystical/religious for me personally but you can tell the author has a lot of love and appreciation for books, and I have a lot of respect for that.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎉BOOK TOUR STOP ALERT 🎉

A Book in Time by Mark Stibbe

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @lovebookstours for my gifted copy.

My thoughts: This book had everything I wanted in a book—finally a story of the life of a book! It feels like the author was searching his own journey as the book was searching for its owner! Superb use of language, incredible storytelling & clever loving themes! It was so beautiful and felt like a book lover’s perfect read! If you like books about books, you must read this book!!!! Go pick it up today! I highly recommend!

Blurb 

A Book in Time is a love story about a book’s longing over two centuries for the mother who bore it. Adopted by many different owners – some loving, others unscrupulous – this book longs to be reunited with an elderly author who cherished it as if it was her only child. As the book passes through many hands, it observes not only the way people treat it, but each other, and in all of this, its mother’s love sets the high standard against which everything is lovingly judged.

In a strange demonstration of synchronicity, the author – Mark Stibbe – experienced the culmination of his own search for a mother after completing this novel. Having been orphaned in 1960, and having never met or known his birth mother, Mark met her for the first time at the end of 2021, shortly before she died. So, there is more than a hint of Mark’s own search in the book’s quest for its author.

In the case of A Book in Time, in perhaps a unique way, art has magically imitated life even as life has magically imitated art. Facebook Handle

Mark Stibbe | Facebook

Authors Website:

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a book that was written by an older woman who never bore children. She loved the book, a series of poems inspired by the Biblical Song of Songs, as if it were her own human child. Over the course of 200 years, the book was handed off to one carefully selected guardian after another, each of whom treasured the book as much as if it were a human being. A Book in Time is in itself a library: of time periods, writers and other creatives, historical events, book genres, and philosophies. It's part fan fiction and part speculative fiction. It is all over the place and thoroughly focused all at the same time.
My favorite aspect of the book: the notions that books are immortal, have integral worth, and are of huge benefit to the people who read them are not new to me; they have always been held close to my heart; however, the concepts that books have souls and are resurrected are ones I had not previously considered but which will be held just as tightly because I find they fit in very well with what I believe about what comes after this earthly existence. Perhaps the most relevant message of this story is that good books are meant to be treasured and we lose much when we forego the touch and smell of gorgeously tooled or illustrated volumes, their pages smudged with the fingerprints and perhaps tear stains of their readers. Each tells a story of those who held them, read them, and learned and felt all that their creator would have them know and feel. Ah! Such is the power of books!

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⏳📙🕰️ A Book in Time 🕰️📙⏳
By Mark Stibbe

"Old books pass through many hands. One book lives to tell the tale."

You know how they say never judge a book by it's cover well with this book, as soon as I saw the front cover, I thought, wow! I want to read this book. The cover is beautifully magical. The story is very different to anything I've read before as it's about a book that has travelled from guardian to guardian over two centuries. What makes this story so unique is that it's written from the book's perceptive. If you've ever wondered, if a book could talk, the stories it could tell you. Where it's been, with who and all about it's experiences and how it got to you today. This is that kind of book!

I've not read many historical fictions, I think history lessons at school made me believe history is boring but I've found this book really interesting  to read. I liked the mention of the famous writers from that time such as the Bronte Sisters and Ernest Hemingway. I absolutely loved reading about the strong, courageous female characters in the book. I think the book is set out really well into separate parts, clearly indicating the time span in each section and short chapters. I would definitely recommend picking up this book...it is a love story that will change the way you look at books. 📚💞📚😍

[Sheryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this journey through a book's life and the unique nature of having a book as the narrator. I often had to remind myself that it was a book talking, not a human being! The author gave the book such a rich personality and child-like nature it was completely engaging. The journey through the ages was also very interesting. The different guardians and characters that reflected different moments in history added so much to the tale.

Before reading the book I was told that the author wrote this book while searching for his birth parents and that the book was a reflection of that. I can see how the journey of the book might reflect some of what he felt as an adopted person, but toward the end when the tale gets fantastical I have a hard time seeing it. After being told that, I was surprised that the author did not note any of that in the Author Notes. In fact, the germination of the book is described as having come from teaching a writing class and the author's relationship with an elder friend.

The end of the book carried me away to another universe entirely. It was so mystical and mysterious, yet grounded and tangible. I loved every minute of it. It is amazing what the author's imagination was able to create for this part of the book and I think it is some of the best mystical fantasy I have ever read.

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know that I can do this story justice with my clunky words.

I was drawn to this book by the title, the cover and then the synopsis - a book told from the POV of the book. A book telling it's own story and searching desperately for its mother, it's author.

And what a story it was. Written in 1805 by the already elderly Emily Swanson, the book, The Burning Ones, was a book of poetry based on The Song of Songs from the Bible. The book itself was a one and only first edition. A gift from the publisher to the author with illustrations by William Blake. It was priceless from it's beginning.

When Emily passed, the book was bequeathed to Billy Massingham, a local handyman, and so began the book's journey. From the Battle of Waterloo, to Bruges in Brussels, and back to England in the hands of Charlotte Brontë, and so much more.

Over a timespan of a hundred and fifty years or more the book was possessed by or was witness to many famous names associated with women's rights or groundbreaking literature. Names like James Joyce, TS Elliot, Hemingway, the Brontë sisters, Sarah Grand, Sylvia Beach (the original owner of the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Co in Paris), Mark Twain, Ezra Pound, Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes.

The book was revered by all who saw it, acknowledged as a priceless and important part of literary history. But all the book wanted was to be back in the arms of its mother.

What an amazing story. The longing of the book was heartbreaking. The conclusion was almost euphoric.

I have never read a book from this POV and I don't know that it could be done again. It would just be a poor imposter.

[Emma Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing read told from unique voice, as the narrator is a book, and the story is the book's own journey through life. This does take a chapter or two to settle into your conscious as you read, especially as the book refers to itself as a child, born to its mother, and yearning to be back with her. Spanning nearly 250 years, this beautifully-bound book of poems by Miss Emily Swanson traverses the land, passed around via a whole cast of people, from well known writers such as Charlotte Bronte and Sarah Grand, to suffragettes and 'ordinary' people....

But the book is longing to be reunited with its 'mother'; an interesting parallel in itself having learnt that the author himself has also searched for his own birth mother.

"Books can be both a blessing and a curse ...[they] are like people. They come into our lives just when you need them ..."

The author was also awarded the Page Turner Award For Fiction for this book, which I think given the unique storyline and narrator is well deserved. This could have fallen flat were it not done well and with consideration, but I think it has been well navigated.

[Pauline Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word, where do I start?! I find myself almost at a loss for words, but not because I don’t know what to say, but because I have so much to say and I don’t know where to begin!
This is a book, that is about a book, so as a self-confessed book lover that was always going to pique my interest. The really interesting thing though, is that it’s about life, history, people, relationships, love, loss, sacrifice, and all viewed from the perspective of a book with its own consciousness.
I was enthralled and thoroughly captivated. This was a unique concept to me. I have read books where the story of the characters made me laugh and cry, but I have never before laughed and cried about a book in a story, but now I have done both more than once throughout this book.
If you are a lover of books and can believe that every person who reads that book leaves behind just a smidgen of themselves (this is why books get fatter the more times they are read 😊) then you will believe in the magickal realism in this story.
I very highly recommend this book.
My thanks to the author and LoveBooksTours for gifting me a copy in return for an honest review.

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that has travelled for 250 years and never gives up hope of finding it's author, that is the only way I can describe it. It not only goes through the hands of ordinary people but also Charlotte Bronte, Sarah Grand and even the suffragettes. It takes you on a journey meeting good, bad, interesting and even people that have nothing apart from the book. The story is told through each page, telling how the reader and the book connected with each other. During all this time the book only has one wish and that is to get back to the author, a child looking in search for it's mother, just as the author that has wrote this story

[Charlie Dogo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look through a book’s eyes

I’m not much on religion, but it’s part of our history, and Mark Stibbe does a fantastic job of incorporating both religious traditions and historical context in, “A Book in Time”. I really enjoyed the first person perspective from a book’s insight, not to mention the many characters along the way! Two hundred Centuries pass as the book tells us a story of its Mother and the longing to find a safe place. This book places a spin on religion towards the end, which I definitely found refreshing. Love abounds and it is an important part of our lives. Even though the voice of a book! Well done indeed.

[Greenreadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the synopsis and the cover. It's a really interesting premise, told from the point of a book from the day of its birth to its death and beyond. The times changes and the book changes hands and each stage of its life gives us snippets about the social climate of the time, for example in the 1800s a renowned physician using his female patients for sex, and men spreading syphilis to their wives. I found the writing style didn't work that well for me and I didn't engage with it as much as I had hoped, but it's definitely an unusual book and it's loved by many.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most unique and touching books I have ever read. It is detailed, beautiful and shows an understanding of the connection between readers and their books, like no one has before.
Honestly, I loved the birth of the book and it’s attachment to its mother, the nature through which the books grows and connects differently, with each new owner and the way the author displayed this throughout.
This is a touching and elegant tale, and it is stunningly written in a way that will have you completely addicted by the first paragraph.

[Amanda Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something extraordinarily different for me and while I did enjoy it for me was a little on the slower side. The writing was amazing I mean it's a story about a book who would have ever thought about that?? Seriously so cool how you read that the book is passed from one person to another!! Makes me never want to give away any of my books ever again lol. This is definitely a good book and it flowed so well especially since it was told over a time span of 200 years!!
Thank you again !!! Highly recommend this book!!

[kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader is there anything that sounds more intriguing than a book written about a book and narrated from the perspective of the book. I mean COME ON.
I was so excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint me at all, I couldn't put it down.

The book in the story is a book of poetry and the timeline of the book spand over two centuries and crosses historical fiction with fantasy and honestly it is done in such a brilliant way.
I don't want to give anything about this book away so I will just say please read it

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about a book before, certainly not from the book’s POV. Such a unique and brilliantly imagined story, starting in 1805 and ending in the future.

The book is split into 12 parts, each one depicting the book’s time with its guardian of the time starting with his mother. There are good and bad guardians, mostly good and all very different. There’s a few famous faces throughout and tales of love and loss, friends and family.

There was one section set in Bruges and I could visualise this so well as we’d been there on holiday just last year, one of our favourite areas of the city. A truly unusual story, a prize winner and a labour of love no doubt.

[Claire Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very cleverly written from the point of view of the book! I enjoyed how much of an adventure this book went on which made such sense even though it went from person to person including some very famous names! I adore historical fiction and loved how this went through so many time periods which wouldn’t be possible with a person. Also the theme of women empowerment throughout time was fascinating. A really good read through time!!

[Vanessa Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all. It has a unique perspective on the life and times of a book. So a book about a book. The author takes you through history to tell the story of the guardians of this valuable and most loved book. Through the 1800's to the wars then into the future. There is history, poetry and a little piece of magic. When you have read this book please be sure to pass it to the next guardian.

[Bex's Bookshelves | Bookstagram | Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instagram | TikTok

This book spans across centuries and is amazing.

I loved how the book was basically narrating the story.

It does take a little time to settle into reading this book, but I promise you it is all worth it in the end.

The way the book flows is intriguing and keeps you reading.

I highly recommend this book.

[Sam Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that stands out about this book is the perspective. I really loved that the whole book is told from the point of view of the book, it really brought a unique story to life! And it was really kind of beautiful to see what happens in the life of a book.
The chapters were nice and short and easy to read. The flow of the story was really well paced. And it was really nice to be able to read about so many different people without it feeling overwhelming! Really loved this!