As Time Goes By

LoveReading Says

A bittersweet and reflective story about getting older. Everyone at one time or another looks back on past events and wonders. Wonders at themselves and who they were, wonders at other people, or even what might have been. In ‘As Time Goes By’ by W. Royce Adams, our elderly male main character and narrator, finds his memories and thoughts slipping away, urging him to try and remember who he is, “Squinting into some memorable windows in my life before they all fog up” and whether anything he’s done has had a lasting impact.

Formatted like a memoir, the reader follows Old from his childhood to the present tense, struggling to understand the mob lynching he sees as a child on a journey through the south, to the hormone induced confusion of adolescence, relationships with family and friends, time served in the Navy. In all the ups and downs, confusions and complexities of life.

I’m sure that a lot of people have thought about the legacy that they’ll leave, and Old is a relatable and open character in which to explore this concept. I liked the style of writing, Old regularly professes himself to not be a good writer but the result of his minimal fluff narrative is an open and approachable story that draws you in as though you were a fly on the wall in Old’s living room.

He tells his story without the need to make himself a hero, and ‘As Time Goes By’ feels like listening to an old friend. There are philosophical musings which feel perfectly placed in a book that focuses on life and death, and the context makes the narrative feel bittersweet. A poignant read that I’m sure will inspire a reflective mood in those who read it.

Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador

About As Time Goes By

Having watched those he loved leave the world before him, Old prepares for the final chapter of his own story. Working on his memoir, Old muses on the key moments of his life that had a profound impact on him, telling us of the after-effects of a mob lynching, a punch-up at summer camp, naval service during the Korean War, drug and alcohol-fueled binges in Spain, relationships won and lost, and struggles with cancer. It’s a bitter sweet reflection on a long and storied life.

Find This Book In