noah242002-blog

[noah242002-blog]

Why I Enjoyed This Book

I really enjoyed this book. It was a combination of science fiction and fantasy, which are both genres that I enjoy. I also really liked the premise because it is unique, and not something you see in books very often. I find entire idea of reliving your life but keeping your previous memories very interesting. It can be a bit confusing at times, which I think is usually a good thing because it makes you think and is more engaging. I also found the ending to be very satisfying, and a fitting end to the story. I recommend this book to anyone who will enjoy a more serious fantasy/sci fi story that makes you think.

[noah242002-blog]

Theme Cont’d

Once Harry meets Franklin Phearson is when the idea of changing history significantly comes into the book. Phearson thinks that he can use Harry to change history, but Harry refuses, because he knows that there could be unseen consequences. This theme of making a difference also relates to the ending of the book. To stop Vincent from ending the world with his machine, he must change history. At the end of the book, Harry is the only one who can make a difference and save the world.

[noah242002-blog]

Theme

I think the overall theme of the book is making a difference. Throughout the book, Harry is unsure whether he can or should make a difference with the power to change history. There are examples of him changing history in the story like how, for example, in the beginning of the book, he uses his knowledge of WWII to save a group of soldiers who he witnessed being killed by a tank in his previous life. He also uses his knowledge to gain money early in his life by betting on sports teams he knows will win, for example.

[noah242002-blog]

Setting

The setting of this book is significant to the story, especially the location of harry’s birth Berwick-upon-Tweed. Harry is not happy here in the beginning of his life, because both his biological mother and adoptive mother die there. He is not treated well by his adoptive father, and his biological father barely acknowledges his existence. It is also significant because throughout the book, he must keep his birthplace a secret, so other Kalachakra can not kill his parents before he is born and stop his existence. This is especially true with the antagonist Vincent, who would kill Harry if he ever found out his birthplace.

[noah242002-blog]

Characters

The protagonist of the story is Harry August. He is a Kalachakra, which means he relives his same life over and over again. During his second life when he realizes he is living his life over again, he goes insane and commits suicide. Once he is reborn again in his third life, he realized it will continue to happen, he researches religions to try and find out why it is happening. He doesn’t find anything, so he tries science in his next life. He eventually accepts it when he realizes he won’t find an answer in science either. Another important character is Vincent, the antagonist. Vincent is a Kalachakra like Harry, but he uses his power to research and build a machine called the quantum mirror that will reveal the secrets of everything. This machine will result in the end of the world somehow, and because Harry knows Vincent best, he is tasked with stopping him.        

[noah242002-blog]

Overview

I would class The First Fifteen lives of Harry August as a fantasy and science fiction novel. Fantasy because of the Kalachakra and being reborn, and science fiction because of Vincent’s Quantum Mirror machine. It is written in first person singular in Harry’s perspective. The writing style of the book is mostly very serious, but there are humorous parts. I would also say that the book is similar to a coming of age story, but in the sense that Harry learns about himself every time he relives his life.