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Elise: A Terrifying Novel of Immortality
Elise is a sweeping, cinematically paced suspense story that follows its heroine through the passions and terrors of mankind's most elusive dream: physical immortality.
Elise Travers is a beautiful and sophisticated Boston hostess, whose husband, Patrick, is a wealthy young entrepreneur; but this widely envied couple is bound by one dark secret; their knowledge that, unless a medical miracle can somehow be arranged, Patrick will gradually age and die, while his wife will remain eternally young. For Elise's life began three centuries before, at the palace of Versailles during Louis XIV's reign; and now, for the first time, she is willing to risk everything so that she might share her lonely gift of perpetual youth with the man she loves. But not even she can imagine the terrible dangers that this quest entails, dangers both to herself and to the world at large.
Elise is both a chilling contemporary tale of suspense and a rich historical drama that ranges from the Russia of Peter the Great to a slave uprising in old French San Domingo to a plush New Orleans brothel shortly after the War of 1812. In addition to featuring the most unusual female character in recent years, this novel offers a fascinating exploration of humanity's most fervent desire - the urge for immortality - and reveals an unexpectedly horrifying side of that bright aspiration
Elise Travers is a beautiful and sophisticated Boston hostess, whose husband, Patrick, is a wealthy young entrepreneur; but this widely envied couple is bound by one dark secret; their knowledge that, unless a medical miracle can somehow be arranged, Patrick will gradually age and die, while his wife will remain eternally young. For Elise's life began three centuries before, at the palace of Versailles during Louis XIV's reign; and now, for the first time, she is willing to risk everything so that she might share her lonely gift of perpetual youth with the man she loves. But not even she can imagine the terrible dangers that this quest entails, dangers both to herself and to the world at large.
Elise is both a chilling contemporary tale of suspense and a rich historical drama that ranges from the Russia of Peter the Great to a slave uprising in old French San Domingo to a plush New Orleans brothel shortly after the War of 1812. In addition to featuring the most unusual female character in recent years, this novel offers a fascinating exploration of humanity's most fervent desire - the urge for immortality - and reveals an unexpectedly horrifying side of that bright aspiration
256 pages, hardcover
First published August 1, 1979
About the author
Ken Grimwood
9 books309 followersKen Grimwood (1944–2003) worked in broadcast journalism for a number of years before retiring in 1988 to write full-time. He wrote five novels, including the award-winning Replay, Breakthrough, and The Voice Outside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 8, 2013
I was originally introduced to Ken Grimwood through Replay, which is just a fantastic book, one of my favorites of all time. Elise is an earlier work, exploring a lot of the same themes that he perfected in Replay; immortality, time passing, loss and the human condition.
While I didn't love Elise as much as Replay, I still enjoyed it very much. It was a fascinating journey through time and history that begins with Elise's birth in 1683 and continues on to modern times. I think it will probably resonate with women more than men, since at heart it is a historical drama romance, but I still found a lot to appreciate about the work and Ken Grimwood is masterful at drawing you in to the lives of his characters and making you believe what they're going through is real and could happen.
While I didn't love Elise as much as Replay, I still enjoyed it very much. It was a fascinating journey through time and history that begins with Elise's birth in 1683 and continues on to modern times. I think it will probably resonate with women more than men, since at heart it is a historical drama romance, but I still found a lot to appreciate about the work and Ken Grimwood is masterful at drawing you in to the lives of his characters and making you believe what they're going through is real and could happen.
May 24, 2015
I heard about this book many years ago after looking up information about the author's other book 'Replay'. The book is out of print so it is very difficult to get a copy and the ones available online are very expensive. After many years of looking for a copy I was able to get one through a library. I have to say that I expected a lot more from a book with such an interesting topic. The book is rather short and sometimes the dialogue feels a bit too stiff. Overall it was an interesting book but I feel like the author could have done so much more with it.
March 26, 2021
Çok keyifli bir okumaydı. Aynı konu üzerine neredeyse aynı biçimde yazılmış Zamanı Durdurmanın Yolları daha iyi bir kitap olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
Ken Grimwood çok iyi bir yazar. Okuru nasıl elinde tutacağını biliyor. Aceleye getirilmiş sonu olmasa muazzam bir kitap olurdu.
Ken Grimwood çok iyi bir yazar. Okuru nasıl elinde tutacağını biliyor. Aceleye getirilmiş sonu olmasa muazzam bir kitap olurdu.
January 24, 2016
3.2/5
Pek beğendiğimi söyleyemiyeceğim. Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
Pek beğendiğimi söyleyemiyeceğim. Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
February 1, 2024
Zaman Çarkı, babasını birkaç günde öldüren tıbbi bir muamma nedeniyle ölümsüz olan Elise isminde bir kadınla ilgili. Kitabın başında Elise 300 küsur yaşında, hastalanmadığı, ölmediği gibi yaşlanmıyor da, hep genç, hep sağlıklı. Bir yandan geçmişe, Elise'in upuzun hayatına, sevgililerine dönüşlerle geçen kitap, bir yandan da günümüzde (daha doğrusu romanın yazıldığı dönem olan 70'lerin sonunda) Elise'in bu durumuna bir çare aramasını anlatıyor. Elise (Zaman Çarkı) nadir bulunuyor, koleksiyonculara özel fiyatlara satılıyordu, ben de harıl harıl aradığım halde hiçbir yerde bulamamıştım, o yüzden Türkçe çevirisinin yapıldığını duyunca çok şaşırıp sevinmiştim. Ken Grimwood'a diğer kitaplarından bir hayranlığım da vardı. Ancak ciddi hayalkırıklığına uğradım. Bu şahane konuyu, olabilecek en yüzeysel, en klişe, en yavan şekilde işlemiş, saçmasapan bir şekilde de sonlandırmış, sanki zorla bitirmiş bu kitabı Grimwood. İlgilenenlere, Elise'e hiç bulaşmayıp, Sil Baştan ya da Kayboluş'u tekrar okumalarını tavsiye ediyorum.
June 10, 2021
Sadly, after searching for hours on the internet for this book, ‘Elise’ has proven to be another disappointment in the hopes of reading something by Ken Grimwood as good as ‘Replay’.
Much like ‘Breakthrough’ this book doesn’t really go anywhere and much of it was rather dull.
There were things I did like about the book. The parallels between events in the past and the present were good at times. The story found its depth towards the end as the relationship with Patrick was explored (perhaps if this were explored earlier, I would’ve been wanting things to work out for the characters). And of course Ken Grimwoods style has proven to keep me reading to the end despite the story not being great.
Much like ‘Breakthrough’ this book doesn’t really go anywhere and much of it was rather dull.
There were things I did like about the book. The parallels between events in the past and the present were good at times. The story found its depth towards the end as the relationship with Patrick was explored (perhaps if this were explored earlier, I would’ve been wanting things to work out for the characters). And of course Ken Grimwoods style has proven to keep me reading to the end despite the story not being great.
June 16, 2014
Great premise, so-so execution. This book should have been at least twice as long as it actually was (a measly 256 pages). There was just so much more to this story that was just glossed over. The woman lived 300+ years, for goodness sake, and I don't think we even heard about anything that happened between 1815 and 1980! Ken Grimwood definitely became a better writer between 1979 when Elise was published and 1986 when his masterpiece Replay came out.
July 31, 2023
I mean I did read it quite fast bc it was very entertaining but omg I hated the structure of the book and I hated how Grimwood misused the opportunity of writing about an immortal woman like come on… 3 stars bc I LOVED reading about her past, Christine was such a baddie but I hated the parts of the “present time.” Anyway it was a very fun holiday read but nothing compared to Replay. That book of his was a masterpiece
March 15, 2023
Детальніше – у першому випуску подкасту "небагатослів".
Еліза народилася 300 років тому. Тепер вона сподівається, що наука досягла того рівня, який пояснить, чому вона не вмирає і навіть не старіє. Оскільки чергуються дві сюжетні лінії – минулого і сучасного – майже все відомо з самого початку. Все інше – це заповнювач сторінок перед розв’язкою.
Еліза народилася 300 років тому. Тепер вона сподівається, що наука досягла того рівня, який пояснить, чому вона не вмирає і навіть не старіє. Оскільки чергуються дві сюжетні лінії – минулого і сучасного – майже все відомо з самого початку. Все інше – це заповнювач сторінок перед розв’язкою.
October 31, 2017
Zaman Çarkı, güzel bir kitaptı; özgün bir konusu, yalın bir anlatımı vardı, pek heyecanlandırmadı beni, sürüklemedi de ama sıkıcı da değildi ve normal bir tempoda okunup bitirilebilecek bir kitaptı. Konusu geçmiş ve günümüz şeklinde ilerliyordu. Geçmişte; Christine Françosie, Kralın sadık hizmetkârları Henri ve Diane'nın çocuğudur. Babasının daha doğmadan ölmesi, annesinden de mecbur ayrı bırakılması sebebiyle, Kralın, yeni eşinin himayesinde, yatılı okullarda yetiştikten sonra Rus elçisi, Ekselans Dimitri ile evlenir, daha sonra Dimitri'nin yaşlanıp, ôlmesiyle kendisiyle ilgili bir şeyleri fark etmeye başlar ve bu, onun için dönüm noktası olur. Şimdiki zamanda ise Elise Travers, ebediyen genç kalacak olması sebebiyle artık kayıp vermek istemeyerek, sevdiği adam Patrick ile uzun bir hayat istiyordur; bunun gerçekleşebilmesi için, bilimin gelişmiş olmasından faydalanarak bir şeyler yapmak için yaptığı planlar, onun isteğini gerçektirmede yarar sağlayabilecek midir?
Bu kitap bize, çoğu kişinin istediği ölümsüzlüğün nasıl bir kabus olduğunu o kadar iyi anlatıyor ki... Dünyanın, böyle bir şeyin gerçekleşmesiyle nasıl bir kaosa sürekleneceğini de gözler önüne seriyor. Patrick karakterinin sonda yaptığı şeye ise o kadar kızdım ki... saçmalıktı. Elise, Christine karakterlerine ise bir o kadar da üzüldüm. Yazarın diğer kitaplarına da bir şans vereceğim, bakalım onlar beğenmenin yanında beni heyecanlandırabilecekler mi?
Bu kitap bize, çoğu kişinin istediği ölümsüzlüğün nasıl bir kabus olduğunu o kadar iyi anlatıyor ki... Dünyanın, böyle bir şeyin gerçekleşmesiyle nasıl bir kaosa sürekleneceğini de gözler önüne seriyor. Patrick karakterinin sonda yaptığı şeye ise o kadar kızdım ki... saçmalıktı. Elise, Christine karakterlerine ise bir o kadar da üzüldüm. Yazarın diğer kitaplarına da bir şans vereceğim, bakalım onlar beğenmenin yanında beni heyecanlandırabilecekler mi?
July 25, 2012
Ken Grimwood'un tüm kitapları gibi harika bir kitaptı. Zaten bir fenomen yazardan böyle bir kitap beklenirdi.Yaşasaydı eğer sormak isterdim bu sıradışı kurguları nasıl yapıyorsunuz diye, Ken'in kitaplarındaki kurgular Ken'in doğa üstü bir kabiliyete sahip olduğunun kanıtıdır ayrıca.
Elise'in ölümsüzlüğünü kocasının anlaması bölümü bir harikaydı ayrıca. Fakat yazarın Silbaştan'ı her zaman ilk sırada...
Elise'in ölümsüzlüğünü kocasının anlaması bölümü bir harikaydı ayrıca. Fakat yazarın Silbaştan'ı her zaman ilk sırada...
May 31, 2017
Başından sonuna kadar elimden bırakamadığım, beni en başından içine çekip alan bir kitap oldu. Kitap boyunca kendimi Elise'nin yerine koymadan edemedim.
February 20, 2021
This is just an average book about immortality, a stepping stone to the classic REPLAY, which Grimwood wrote seven years later.
Interestingly enough, the book is a collector's item; the lowest price you'd pay on Amazon is $415, and they go upwards of $1,400!
Interestingly enough, the book is a collector's item; the lowest price you'd pay on Amazon is $415, and they go upwards of $1,400!
September 18, 2017
Çok beğendim ve bana Ölümsüz Aşk-Age of Adaline filmini anımsattı. Filmin senaryosuna ilham vermiş olmalı.
November 11, 2018
Really liked the story and premise. Wish the author would have spent more time with the various characters along the way.
December 10, 2018
Very interesting plot, the writing not nearly as good as "Replay" but still a good and quick read.
February 14, 2020
Book was amazing but the bread poisoning? Really? I think writer have strong pencil but end of his books are so much important for story. However it was fantastic!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2021
Güzel kitap. Okuması falan eğlenceli, akıcı bir kitap ama sonu rezalet kötü geldi bana.
June 14, 2022
Not as good as Replay but I liked it.
July 19, 2022
Zaman zaman sıkıldım ama konu mükemmeldi bence
December 19, 2015
Elise, when compared to Replay and Breakthrough, is a weak book. The premise of the book and the main theme (immortality) is vastly interesting but the execution of the story is poor. Elise was a huge disappointment for me because I really enjoyed Grimwood's other two novels. However, it is still a nice book to enjoy on lunch breaks or before going to bed, and it shows the foundation of the author's common themes, motifs and also his style of storytelling.
July 5, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. One of the few times I would have said... I wish he had made this a lot longer. I felt attached to a lot of the characters and would have loved to read more about them, even if it wasnt directly tied to the plot line.
The story flipped back and forth in time... and "modern" day was 1980, which I found wonderfully entertaining.
The story flipped back and forth in time... and "modern" day was 1980, which I found wonderfully entertaining.
September 9, 2014
Another gem from the late Ken Grimwood. Across 300 years, a woman who cannot age or die deals with an endless sequence of love and loss. The writing is beautiful, the history is fascinating, and the main character is strong, sympathetic and memorable. Despite being more than 30 years old, this novel comfortably stands the test time. A hard title to find a copy of, but worth the effort.
September 11, 2015
Sil Baştan ve Kayboluş'dan sonra inanılmaz kötü bir kitap. 6'yı sırf yazar yüzünden verdim. Yoksa 4 falan zor alır. İlk 2 kitabı beğenip de "bu da güzeldir kesin" mantığıyla yaklaşacaklar uzak dursun. Kitap başlıyor ve bomboş bitiyor. Ne olay örgüsü var adam akıllı, ne adam akıllı bir olay var ne de başka bir şey. Boş...
January 23, 2016
Ken Grimwood is a good writer . There is no doubt about that . However this particular book did not match my expectations. It was probably because of the fact that the story had not progressed at all. It was like reading a historical novel knowing and guessing the end.
February 24, 2012
...zaman yalnızca saatin iki vuruşu arasında duruyor gibiydi. İşte bir tek o anlardaulaşacağını umduğu ölümsüzlüğe yaklaşmış gibi hissediyordu kendini...
March 20, 2012
this book is great... ken grimwood already perfect author. in fact my favorite author... must be read...
June 18, 2012
I am disappointed. end of the book is very classic. I expected very interestingfinal. But is really simple. Actually i don't like so much. Normally i like Ken Grimwood's book but not this time.
January 16, 2013
This is the third book of Ken that i read. I think he was obsessed with time, being immortal and reincarnetion. But, he was absolutely a good writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews