Somewhere in Time
aka Bid Time Return

Richard Matheson

Richard Collier has discovered his headaches are a symptom of a brain tumor. He is dying. He gets in his car in Los Angeles, flips a coin, and heads to San Diego. Eventually he ends up at the Coronado Hotel Del, a hotel that has a 100+ year history of plush and luxurious surroundings. Although expensive, he decides to stay a night or two before pushing on to Denver. Then his life is changed.

Richard visits the Del's Hall of History. There he sees a play program and instantly falls in love with the actress pictured on the cover, Elise McKenna. Unfortunately the program is from 1896. It is now 1971. Richard realizes it's foolish to fall in love for the first time in his 36 years with a woman who is dead now, yet he does. He buys and borrows books to study Elise's life. The more he learns, the more he has to be with her.

Finally, Richard realizes that if he is going to try to reach her, he has to time travel. The Hotel Del is the perfect place because of its history and it is where she was in November, 1896. Now, how is the best way to go about this? And if he makes it, how will he approach her and convince her he is honestly in love with her?

Of course Richard is able to travel back in time. He is able to meet Elise and proclaim himself. Or does he? The end of this novel leaves the trip in doubt - letting the reader decide.

This novel was made into a marvelous movie in 1980 (pure chick flick). I'm wondering, though, if the Hotel Del refused permission to film there, because the movie takes place at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

I was going to like the book before I started reading because of the movie. There are small differences between the two story lines but for the most part they are similar (I haven't seen the movie in ages, so only remember basics). I don't remember Elise's manager who tries to keep them apart.

The book is an enjoyable read written in Richard's first person narrative except for a few notes from his brother, Robert. Since I live in San Diego and am a bibliophile, I know the wonderful used bookstore where Richard purchased his books about Elise. I've purchased a few books there myself 30+ years later. The book isn't compelling but is comfortable and charming. It would probably be a good one to read on the black sands of the Coronado beaches.

Notice: Strong sexual content

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon