The premise is brilliant: Once upon a time the universe decided to rewind things ten years. Everyone has to relive the previous ten years over again. Some are put back in prison. Others are brought back to life. Everyone realizes rather quickly that they can’t do anything to alter things. They relive an entire decade as slaves to their own former choices.

Things get interesting when they re-approach the 10 year mark where the universe decided to do grand rewind. After living ten years on auto-pilot, people don’t know what to do with free will!

Unfortunately, the actual book doesn’t live up to the brilliance of the plot. Vonnegut’s meandering random style—which in other works is unique and endearing—is too scattered here. There are moments of brilliance but, in the end, too much confusion.

Ting-a-ling!

Vonnegut, Kurt. Timequake. Berkley Books, 1997.