By Matt Haig
Penguin Group, 2019. 352 pgs. Sci-Fi
Tom Hazard looks like an ordinary 41-year-old man, but due to a rare genetic condition, he's actually over 400 years old. He has recently moved back to London to begin teaching history, but London hides memories around every corner, some centuries old. Tom keeps his condition a secret, which isolates him from everyone except the Albatross Society, a small and secretive group of people who, like Tom, age slowly over centuries. The Society has one rule: never fall in love, as forming attachments leads to trouble. But for the first time in centuries, Tom is captivated by a woman, the school's French teacher. The only way to keep her safe is to stay away from her, but Tom is finding that more and more difficult.
This book bridges the gaps between several literary genres: science fiction, romance, and historical fiction. Tom's present-day story is interspersed with glimpses of his life through the centuries. Some cameos from famous historical figures enliven the text, but the observations about the changes in society over time and the nature of time itself offered some of the most interesting moments of the book.
BHG
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