A young woman is hurled back to 1954 to spend a week with Marilyn Monroe. Together, they embark on their own personal journeys — one a coming-of-age — the other, Marilyn’s journey, a struggle to reconcile with her past and perhaps change the future.A delightful and enthralling read! Elyse Douglas captured magic and put it on the page.—Ambling Bookworm Reviews
Time With Norma Jeane: A Time Travel Novel
By elysedouglas
There is something about time travel novels that I really enjoy. Maybe it is the characters in another time period and adapting, maybe it is the intertwining of past and present, or maybe it is learning something new about either a person or place.
I have read several other books by this duo and have always enjoyed the research, settings, and characters. This book is no different but with a twist. Because it is based on Marilyn Monroe’s life for this week or two in 1954, it made me think about who she was as a person, what her life might have been like, and what it could have been had it not ended so soon. I appreciated the work the authors put forth in portraying her life and the struggles she faced as a celebrity.
Darla was an outstanding protagonist. She was dealing with some of her own issues and is a huge fan of Marilyn’s, yet nothing she does is able to change time or history. I think she learned a bit about herself as well and that maybe life wasn’t so bad in 1998. Her relationship with her Dad may have been trying, but he still loved her and wanted nothing but the best for her.
I really enjoyed the ending…I won’t say much so as not to spoil the book, but there are several revelations that were intriguing.
If you enjoy time travel novels, this is a novel you will want to pick up soon.
We give this 4 paws up.
So many times during one’s youth it seems like a good idea to just escape. But wishing for an escape can lead to unexpected journeys. As is does for a young girl in Elyse Douglas’s novel “Time With Norma Jean”.
Home can be a confusing place. Changes that come about can turn your once safe haven into a less welcoming space. Wanting for a different home life has one teenage girl making wishes that have her traveling to places she thought would be impossible. Dreams come rushing out of the scripts of a time gone by to play out in her life in inconceivable ways! Can idols come back to life? Can time twist into what was instead of what is? This teen has so much to figure out and live through, it warps the mind!
This tale was one that had me riveted to the pages. I enjoyed every twist and turn as I traveled through time with the main character. Douglas tapped into the life of one of my favorite movie stars to create a story I truly loved. Any fan of Marilyn Monroe will want to snatch up a copy of this book for an enjoyable ride!
Elyse Douglas – Time with Norma Jeane – Reviewed 12/30/19 – Read 12/25/19
A shift in time taking young Darla to 1954, and then Marilyn Monroe comes out of the night in a fast car!
@ddeegott Darla loved her mom, and when she passed away she sort of stepped back from life. Not that she was one of the popular ones around the school but after that, she moved toward her second love. Marilyn Monroe and everything about her. When her father remarries, this just pushes her back further. Her love of Marilyn and the old movies was the only thing that kept her going. She loved her father but after her mom’s death, he took to drinking and then Carol came. While Carol and her dad are fighting, Darla decides to take Sonny her faithful dog, out for a walk. She loved nature and discovering things around their home. While walking Sonny takes off and Darla runs to catch up with him. She finds herself on a trail that she has never seen before. All of a sudden a light overtakes her and she finds the weather has subtly changed. Finding Sonny, she decides the return to the house. This is when she comes upon a young man that she has never seen before. He is stargazing with his telescope. When he assures her that there are no houses where her home should be, she takes off to find out for herself. Falling down a hill onto a highway that should not be there. A car comes out of the night and almost hits her. The car stops and a woman steps out coming back to Darla, she bends over and asked if she could help her? It can’t be! Can it? Marilyn Monroe, the car tags say 1954. It must be! The adventure with Norma Jean now begins, and where will it end? Can she get back to her dad? Or is she stuck in 1954???
What did I like? I have read other books from this author and I knew from that I would have another wonderful read. I saved this book to read over the holidays and I am so glad I did. The weather was bad so I curled up and fell into 1954 with Darla and Norma Jean. I have always loved everything about Marilyn. I think I have seen almost every movie that she was ever in. I myself have a large collection of articles and clippings about her. The world was devastated when she was found dead. It was such a shame and she was such a beautiful and sad woman.
What will you like? The amazing research that went into this book is incredible. I lived during that time, and I had read or seen many of the events that are described in the book. You can see that Elyse and Doug work really hard at making sure every detail was correct. The time is beautiful and the fun of the woman is staggering. You will be taken away, and carried into the sadness of her life, and the adventure that happens. This is just an astonishing read, that will have you hooked on page one and won’t let go till the last turns over. I read it all in one sitting and could not lay it down. I was glad that it was snowing outside, and that I had nothing to take me away from this book. I was so sad when I finished it, as I wanted more!!! Don’t miss this one!!!
• Release Date: 1/13/20
• Print Length: 258 pages
• File Size: 1070 KB
• Genre: Time Travel, Historical Fantasy, Fiction
@ddeegott
I hear “Norma Jean” & “Novel” together and I often stop in my tracks. I love both fiercely! So, I had to read this novel,
Elyse Douglas brings Marilyn Monroe to life with breathtaking and genuine beauty inside and out in “Time with Norma Jeane”. Elyse captured her very essence! It was lovely.
Darla stumbled into an almost surreal adventure with Marilyn Monroe after her Mother died. Literally! Stumbling from 1998 to 1954, right in to the helping hands of Marilyn! Such an odd sensation! Fate? Time Travel?
No matter the reason, Darla was going to spend time with Marlyn! Along the way both of their lives might change…
This Time Travel novel is told so brilliantly, there is such an ease….I was in awe! Truly taken away, I could not put this story down until the very end! I felt like I’d gone back to 1954!
I fell in love with Darla, and grew more inspired by Ms, Norma Jean!
It’s amazing what a pen can do when put to paper!
It’s super talented whimsy when Elyse Douglas holds that pen! It’s beautiful!
You won’t want the story to end! I didn’t.
Time with Norma Jeane is another great time travel novel by Elyse Douglas. I love her books and I think this one is among my favorites by her. I enjoyed seeing her vision of how Marilyn Monroe was really like in 1954. I love how the character from the future, Darla, was able to bring out the vulnerable side of Marilyn. Darla not only was able to meet her role model; she met several that were relevant of the time. I was really surprised to see how Joe DiMaggio was portrayed. He was not a character I cared for at all, but it gave another reason why Marilyn was the way she was. I really wish this book was a little longer, so I could have spent more time with her. I was sad to say goodbye to her.
I am giving Time with Norma Jeane five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy 1950s era and time travel novels.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.