What is This Time Tomorrow about?

• Time-bending self-discovery: On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice inexplicably travels back to her 16th birthday, allowing her to revisit her past and reconnect with a younger version of her father.
• Re-evaluating life choices: Alice uses this time travel experience to re-examine her life, her relationships, and the choices she has made, gaining new perspectives on her present.
• Focus on familial bonds: The core of the story revolves around Alice's relationship with her father, exploring themes of love, loss, and the importance of cherishing time with loved ones.

Why should I read This Time Tomorrow?

• Heartfelt emotional journey: The novel offers a deeply emotional exploration of family dynamics, love, and the bittersweet nature of time, resonating with readers on a personal level.
• Unique time travel perspective: It presents a fresh take on time travel, focusing less on the mechanics and more on the emotional impact of revisiting the past and its influence on the present.
• Thought-provoking themes: The book prompts reflection on life choices, the passage of time, and the importance of appreciating the present, making it a meaningful and engaging read.

What is the background of This Time Tomorrow?

• Set in New York City: The story is primarily set in New York City, with specific locations like the Upper West Side playing a significant role in grounding the narrative.
• 1990s and present-day contrast: The novel juxtaposes the 1990s, when Alice is 16, with the present day, highlighting the changes in culture, technology, and personal perspectives.
• Personal and relatable context: The story is rooted in the universal experience of family relationships and the desire to understand and connect with loved ones, making it relatable to a wide audience.

What are the most memorable quotes in This Time Tomorrow?

• "Time is a funny thing": This quote encapsulates the central theme of the novel, highlighting the subjective and often unpredictable nature of time and its impact on our lives.
• "You can't change the past, but you can change how you see it": This quote speaks to Alice's journey of self-discovery, emphasizing the power of perspective and acceptance in dealing with past events.
• "The best thing you can do is be present": This quote underscores the novel's message about cherishing the present moment and the importance of living with intention, a key lesson Alice learns.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does Emma Straub use?

• Conversational and witty tone: Straub employs a light, conversational tone with witty dialogue, making the story engaging and accessible to a wide range of readers.
• First-person perspective: The narrative is told from Alice's first-person point of view, allowing readers to intimately experience her thoughts, emotions, and personal growth.
• Time manipulation techniques: Straub uses time travel as a narrative device to explore themes of nostalgia, regret, and the impact of the past on the present, creating a unique reading experience.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

• The significance of the apartment: Alice's apartment, a constant in both timelines, symbolizes her independence and stability, highlighting her personal growth and the continuity of her life.
• Recurring mentions of music: Specific songs and artists from the 90s, like the mention of "The Cranberries," evoke a sense of nostalgia and connect Alice to her younger self and her past experiences.
• The father's love of books: Leonard's passion for books and his role as a writer subtly foreshadows Alice's own journey of self-discovery and her eventual understanding of her father's life.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

• Alice's initial feeling of something missing: Her initial sense of incompleteness foreshadows her journey back in time and her need to reconnect with her father and her past.
• The mention of her father's health: The early descriptions of her father's declining health in the present serve as a stark contrast to his vitality in the past, emphasizing the impact of time.
• Callbacks to specific conversations: Certain conversations and interactions in the past are later revisited with new meaning, highlighting the cyclical nature of time and the importance of perspective.

What are some unexpected character connections?

• Alice's connection to her younger self: The novel explores the complex relationship between Alice and her 16-year-old self, highlighting the continuity and changes in her identity over time.
• The parallel between Alice and her father: The story reveals parallels between Alice's life and her father's, suggesting a deeper understanding and connection between them than she initially realized.
• Sam's role as a constant: Sam's unwavering presence in both timelines underscores the importance of friendship and the stability it provides in the face of change and uncertainty.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

• Sam, the steadfast friend: Sam serves as a grounding force in Alice's life, offering unwavering support and a sense of normalcy amidst the time travel chaos, highlighting the importance of friendship.
• Young Leonard, the vibrant father: The younger version of Alice's father is crucial, allowing her to see him in his prime and understand his life beyond his role as her parent, adding depth to their relationship.
• Minor characters from the past: Characters from Alice's teenage years, like her high school crush, provide context for her past and help her understand her personal growth and the choices she made.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

• Alice's desire for connection: Beneath her contentment, Alice yearns for a deeper connection with her father, driving her emotional journey and her desire to understand him better.
• Leonard's unspoken love: Leonard's actions and interactions reveal a deep, unspoken love for Alice, which she only fully understands after traveling back in time and seeing him in his prime.
• Sam's quiet support: Sam's unwavering support for Alice stems from a deep, unspoken understanding of her needs and a desire to provide stability and comfort, highlighting the strength of their bond.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

• Alice's internal conflict: Alice grapples with the desire to change the past versus accepting it, showcasing her internal struggle with regret and the complexities of time.
• Leonard's hidden vulnerabilities: Despite his vibrant exterior, Leonard's character reveals hidden vulnerabilities and a quiet understanding of his own mortality, adding depth to his persona.
• Sam's emotional intelligence: Sam's ability to understand and support Alice without judgment highlights her emotional intelligence and her role as a stable and reliable presence.

What are the major emotional turning points?

• The initial time travel shock: Alice's sudden transportation back to her 16th birthday is a major emotional turning point, setting the stage for her journey of self-discovery and reflection.
• Reconnecting with her younger father: Seeing her father in his prime is a bittersweet emotional experience for Alice, prompting her to re-evaluate their relationship and her own life.
• The return to the present: Alice's return to the present with newfound understanding and appreciation is a significant emotional turning point, highlighting her personal growth and acceptance.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

• Alice and Leonard's evolving bond: Their relationship evolves from a distant connection to a deeper understanding and appreciation, highlighting the transformative power of time and perspective.
• Alice and Sam's unwavering friendship: Their friendship remains a constant source of support and stability, underscoring the importance of enduring connections in the face of change.
• Alice's relationship with her past self: Alice's journey allows her to reconcile with her past self, fostering a sense of self-acceptance and understanding of her personal growth.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

• The mechanics of time travel: The novel does not explain the mechanics of time travel, leaving it open to interpretation and focusing instead on the emotional impact of the experience.
• The extent of Alice's influence: It's unclear how much Alice's actions in the past truly alter the present, leaving readers to ponder the nature of causality and free will.
• The future of Alice's relationships: The novel leaves the future of Alice's relationships open-ended, allowing readers to imagine the possibilities and the impact of her journey on her life.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in This Time Tomorrow?

• Alice's potential to alter the past: The debate over whether Alice should change past events raises questions about the ethics of time travel and the consequences of altering history.
• The focus on personal growth over grand changes: Some readers might debate whether the novel's focus on personal growth is more or less satisfying than a plot with more significant alterations to the timeline.
• The bittersweet nature of the ending: The ending, while hopeful, is also bittersweet, prompting debate about the nature of acceptance and the inevitability of loss.

This Time Tomorrow Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

• Acceptance and appreciation: The ending emphasizes Alice's acceptance of her past and her newfound appreciation for the present, highlighting the importance of living with intention.
• Focus on personal growth: The ending underscores Alice's personal growth and her ability to reconcile with her past, suggesting that the journey is more important than the destination.
• The cyclical nature of time: The ending implies a cyclical nature of time, suggesting that the past, present, and future are interconnected and that understanding the past can enrich the present.