Book Review: Timeless

Timeless (Timeless #1)

By: Alexandra Monir

Published By: Random House Children's Books

Publication Date: January 2011

Page Count: 304

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Young Adult - Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Alexandra Monir has created something truly special with Timeless. She has managed to two take my two favorite genres and mesh them together. Timeless tells the story of Michele Windsor, the granddaughter of one of the most wealthy families in New York City, and her special ability to travel into the past. Through Michele's eyes readers are able to see not only contemporary NYC, but also how the city appeared in the 1910's, 1920's, and 1940's. It is apparent that Monir has done her research; the historical elements of this one are intriguing. I'm already thinking I need to take a trip to NYC and Newport, Rhode Island.

The element of time travel heavily drives this novel and while some plausible theories on the subject are brought up in the text, they kind of went over my head. During the moments when Caissie and Michele are discussing Michele's ability I found myself tuning out and letting my thoughts meander back to Philip. The relationship between Michele and Philip was one of the elements that kept me reading at a frantic pace. I wanted to know more about what was going to happen to these two when time had seen fit to place them in different centuries. I still have a lot of questions about the time travel and the plot line, but I am sure those will be answered at some point as this series moves forward. I am really excited to read the recently released short story, "Secrets of the Time Society", to see if it will provide some of the answers I am seeking. I also have a feeling that readers will be learning more about Michele's father soon.

The romance in this one was so sweet. I couldn't help myself from forming a slight crush on Philip. He is the type of boy every girl dreams of when she's young - handsome, chivalrous, well mannered. It also doesn't hurt that he is wealthy and musically gifted. There is just something about a boy who has musical talent that gets me every time. Michele is a lucky girl - in spite of the whole living in different centuries element. Its obvious that these two care deeply about one another. Michele is frantic to make sure that Philip enjoys his life to the fullest - even if she can't be there with him. It was nice to see a YA character who was so selfless and didn't allow her own desires to outweigh her logic.

My favorite element of this book was the history. I don't know much about the Gilded Age other than stuff I have learned over the years due to my Titanic obsession so it was interesting for me to learn about the time period. Monir was kind enough to include a lengthy list of sources she used while researching the material for this novel; I will definitely be checking out some of these books to learn more about the early 1900's. I also love reading books where the author's passion for the subject matter saturates the pages. It is obvious that Monir loves history as much as I do. She does a beautiful job of bringing historical NYC to life. Kudos to Monir for an impressive debut novel.

One Last Gripe: Some of the dialog was a bit annoying. It held me back from being able to give this book a 5 rating.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I've already mentioned the history, but I also really liked the musical elements as well

First Sentence: Michele stood alone in the center of a hall of mirrors.

Favorite Character: Michele

Least Favorite Character: Violet

Summary:

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.
 
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.