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| The Mirror | 
 enlarge | Author: Marlys Millhiser
Publisher: Rue Morgue Press
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $11.89
You Save: $7.06 (37%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $8.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (137 reviews)
Sales Rank: 30258
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 303
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 2.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0915230151
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780915230150
ASIN: 0915230151
Publication Date: November 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 132 more reviews...
 Not for everyone December 15, 2008
Let me offer some perceptions so you can judge for yourself whether you'll enjoy this book. I was swayed by the many positive reviews, but in the end wasn't satisfied with the read. I'm not a paranormal fan, but that part of the story didn't bother me. It was the mechanics and conclusions that did.
Pros: Intriguing concept. Imagine living in your grandparents or great-grandparents time. The book does a good job of painting a pretty realistic picture of the hardships, attitudes and advantages of an earlier time period. I liked that it wasn't romanticized. Conversely, imagine living in the future and trying to deal with unimaginable technology advances and a different belief system. Not easy. And again, the book does a good job of conveying the difficulty as well as the appreciation of some `modern' advantages. Imagine living in a body and a life that isn't yours. That was handled really well.
I thought the author did a good job of keeping things straight in the different time periods and handling the discomfort the protagonist/s felt about a situation that seemed unbelievable, but to them was disconcertingly real.
Cons: I found the pace uncomfortably choppy, with many sudden point of view changes that had me rereading a lot. Some parts were covered in great detail and had a good engrossing flow, while others were glossed over so abruptly, I lost my concentration and often didn't retain that information well. Consequently, when that tidbit was addressed later I had only the barest recollection of having seen it before, which jarred me out of the story. It seemed as though the author wanted to include too much--more than was necessary to tell the story well. Multiple very brief scenes seemed randomly stuck in almost as an afterthought. Some had value, but most didn't. I found that annoying, but perhaps those more attuned to the sound bite style of media today might not find it a problem. In that regard, this book seems to have been written before its time. It fits in better with today's preferences, which perhaps explains its resurgence of popularity. I also wondered if the manuscript had been overly long and edited down to pre-defined size a little too ruthlessly.
I found the ending unsatisfying. There were loose ends everywhere and it was depressing. Supposedly, the story was about the mirror, but it wasn't really, it was about the two women, who for unexplained reasons were treated differently by the mirror than everyone else. I found the bits about the mirror incidental and unnecessary, as though there was conscious effort to make the story about the mirror when it wasn't.
Obviously, to read other reviews, many really enjoyed this book. Perhaps paranormal fans are more at home with how some things were handled. Sadly, it just didn't work for me although I truly did find the concept fascinating, and read the whole book with interest (coupled with some confusion). I can't say I don't recommend it, because it is thought provoking, but it is also flawed, so go in with open eyes.
 a super time travel book November 16, 2008
I read this book when it first came out years ago but lent it to a friend and never got it back. Then I took it out from the library and reread it again a few years later and still loved it. Recently I found a hard copy at a thrift shop and scarfed it up to put it on my keeper shelf.
Shay, and her adventures back in time, make for a wonderful read. If you enjoy time travel or romances you have to find this book. I recommend this story highly!
 What happens when you're transported back in time, and suddenly married to your grandfather August 2, 2008
A really great story..something you can reread again and again..
Follows two relatives, who end up switching places in time, one goes to the past to be thrust into a plain time period filled with rough hard men, and the other into the future to find her way into the sensitive arm's of her granddaughter's fiance..and how they each deal with their alien surroundings and time periods..
Why have'nt I read this before June 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I loved this book!! It is so well written. I loved the way she handled the time paradoxs. Her characters are well developed and totally real. I wonder why I have'nt read it before but I definetly will read it again!!
" FIFTY PAGES TOO LONG " May 26, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Oh boy, I just know I will get the wrath of most reviewers but, I do recall at least a couple who will agree with me...but, it's my opinion and that's what this is all about.
now before you get the hacking at a response to me...I don't read any, as this is my turn. Next ...the book was intriguing for the first half, then got bogged down . where's was the editor was was it the author herself ? It could have been splendid . but, now this book will find it's way to the local library .
book goes into minute detail on some pages and goes on and on leaving you with the foolish notion there's a reason ( perhaps on the next few pages ? ) but, no, just for the sake of the author's desire . Like bout the scene with the candy store , over and over and yet, when a key character dies ...poof , maybe a small paragraph . one sentence they are here then the next it's like " oh by the way " my uncle dropped dead sort of thing .
If you truly like time travel to the past type books, as I do as well and do not mind reading detail all of which really matter to the story plot . May I suggest ............
" Time And Again " by Jack Finney , " Time After Time " also by Jack Finney . These books well thought out and done with care . I own old copies of those and " All About Time " short stories by Finney .
Also the book " Bid Time Return " by which the movie " Somewhere In Time " starring Jane seymour, Chris Reeve was somewhat losely taken from ...but,it is still a good read and now re-released under title of " Somewhere In Time " same as the movie , to attract new readers .
Give them a try .
Just my opinion after all, what sort of site would this be if every book had 5 stars ? what's the point ? most of you gave 5 stars which I based buying ' The Mirror ' ... I should have read the 3 star reviews a bit closer .
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