From the critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Confessions of Max Tivoli comes The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, a rapturously romantic story of a woman who finds herself transported to the “other lives” she might have lived.
After the death of her beloved twin brother and the abandonment of her long-time lover, Greta Wells undergoes electroshock therapy. Over the … undergoes electroshock therapy. Over the course of the treatment, Greta finds herself repeatedly sent to 1918, 1941, and back to the present. Whisked from the gas-lit streets and horse-drawn carriages of the West Village to a martini-fueled lunch at the Oak Room, in these other worlds, Greta finds her brother alive and well—though fearfully masking his true personality. And her former lover is now her devoted husband…but will he be unfaithful to her in this life as well? Greta Wells is fascinated by her alter egos: in 1941, she is a devoted mother; in 1918, she is a bohemian adulteress.
In this spellbinding novel by Andrew Sean Greer, each reality has its own losses, its own rewards; each extracts a different price. Which life will she choose as she wrestles with the unpredictability of love and the consequences of even her most carefully considered choices?
more
This is one of the more beautiful books I’ve ever read. From the incredible first sentence through the incredibly well-crafted and uniquely spun tale of time travel (of sorts), Greer’s novel is an absolute delight. Trust me – this is an author you don’t want to miss.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I highly recommend it. A great book to get engrossed in and enjoy.
Time Travel with a Twist. Greta travels among three different periods in history, meeting the same people in different scenarios in each visit. She discovers that wherever she goes, except her own time, she is actually impersonating another Greta—the one who lived in that time and those circumstances. So, there are three Gretas who trade places …
I’ve been looking for a book like this for a long time, and here it was, right there all along. Three versions of the same woman, set against the historical backdrops of war and plague, the depth of this novel is nothing short of astounding. Like Greer’s other work, it is both understated and profoundly moving in the way it portrays humanity as a …
I had a hard time following the plot.
A quirky, well written novel, while seemingly unrealistic, makes you wonder about past and intertwined lives. A great book club choice- lots to talk about.
Very unique way to tell a story.
With a similar premise to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but without the emotions I felt while reading that book, I was only mildly entertained. The writing was good and although the story didn’t live up to the “Traveler’s Wife”, which I read years ago, this book was still worthy of reading if you don’t need a lot of excitement. The characters were …
Fascinating look at what the same people in landscape may be like if they were plopped into varying times. Excellent character development, incredible perspectives. Truly painted an amazing picture of how our local place and time can shape who we become. Excellent!
The Impossible Luves of Greta Wells uses mental illness as a way to explore time travel and ‘What if?’. I was not ultimately satisfied,but parts of the story and the characters kept me interestied. Worth a read.
So interesting how the author made her the same and different in different times!
This book made me think about what if I had lived in a different time period. Would I have been the same person I am today? It was a great read, and thought provoking too. I would recommend it.
I did not like this book at all, and could not finish reading it. Time travel fiction is tricky and difficult to do well (the Time Traveler’s Wife was great). This book was confusing and somehow not believable, as the narrator finds herself alternating through different decades every time she has electro-shock therapy. In each of her three …
I really enjoyed this twist of time travel and reading about the different eras of NYC. I learned of new places to look up and explore. The story line was not so typical, it was intriguing while also relatable. Interesting to see a woman reflect on how many different lives one could lead reflective of the decade. I enjoyed the supporting …
Interesting premise
This absorbing tale follows Greta as she deals with a life changing event. Lessons to be learned!
really interesting concept – “time travel” and how lives can change by a single action
If you like time travel books, read this. Great story, interesting characters.d
Was disappointed. Not bad, but predictable and not what I expected (not believable, for me, yet I loved Kate Atkinson’s Life after Life, so it might just be me.)
This book is such an original. Nothing compares to it. It is wonderful, entertaining, tragic and perfect all at the same time. One of the most creative stories I have read. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who likes unusual plots with unexpected endings…This is it!!