review of "The Time Thief"
written by Grady Harp, Top 100 reviewer

This review is from: The Time Thief (Kindle Edition) New York author Charles Stoll attended Syracuse University, became involved in a career of retail management, and now he has retire to live in Florida and write. He has published three books to date, each portraying philosophy, spirituality and sexuality as they actually exist in the present day. His books include ENIGMA, HANGING IN THE BALANCE and not THE TIME THIEF. The story line in this novel in very cleverly manipulated by the author, introducing all manner of choices for the reader to select and follow only to discover in the end it is all related. The synopsis suggests this conundrum: `Each of the five main characters take on a true cause of their own: Professor Royale, whose theories on time are unique and provocative, will make the reader reevaluate their own concept of time. The professor's father, Marvin, Sr., seeks the sweet release of death, dances with a skeleton and sees God. The father's caretaker, Mildred, discovers her true purpose wasn't exactly what she expected. Professor Royale's favorite students; Jacob, who decides to put words into action, and his girlfriend, Sarah, who puts action into words and manages to end the Iraq War peacefully.' And as the author adds, `This book will clean out the cobwebs in your mind and leave you with a fresh new perspective on life.' Charles writing style is rich in imagery and terrific dialogue. Reading the Prologue offers a hint of what is to follow: `Travelling home on the A train did not take its usual toll on his hope for the future. Professor Royale was in a state of euphoria from the discovery of a student who was capable of grasping new concepts, who was passionate about learning and who was actually grateful for the experience. This was a professor's dream come true , a quantum leap. After eight years of searching he felt energized. He sat in a sublime oblivious state, suddenly content with his lot in life. He let the dulling fog dissolve. Hope rose out of despair; he was on course again. His first day of school had been a great success. Professor Royale was so preoccupied, he didn't notice the frazzle-haired woman enter the car and head right for him, as if she had foreknowledge of his being there. Before he could react, she hit him square in the jaw with surprising strength and agility for a woman of her years. "Of course there's time, you little ****" she shrieked and raised her arm for a second strike. Her dark eyes bored into him. Her brown stringy hair ran in every direction. The gap between her middle teeth kept drawing his gaze. Professor Royale was not about to allow anyone to ruin his perfect day and caught her arm midair, twisting it behind her back. "What are you talking about, Old Hag?" "You can't take time away," she cried. "It was here before you, and it's gonna be here long after you're gone. Time stays. You leave. You gotta play the game, same as everyone else." His eyes widened in surprise." How do you know my ideas about time?" "I've seen you before, in my mind. I knew you would be coming and I'm here to stop you. I don't know how I know things; I just do. Time is the only thing that's fair in life. You can be poor or wealthy, weak or powerful. But in the end, time will take everything from you. Everybody dies." She laughed maniacally and then looked at him like a wide-eyed child. "So you're saying that the only real purpose of time," the professor recalled what he had told his class that day, "is to escort humanity in and out of this mortal coil in an orderly fashion." She looked confused. He was quite pleased with himself. She hesitated. "Sure a funny way a putting it, but yeah," she said. Professor Royale was beginning to like the witch. Today he had met two people with spark, one who supported him and one who would stop him. He was excited he had found two people interested in his ideas. And he didn't care much what stance they took. He watched her leave at the next stop, as quietly as she entered. He had a creepy feeling that she would reenter his life. He didn't know how he knew it, but, like the hag, he just did. And he wasn't sure of much else.' That is the flavor that runs through the entire book - whimsy, comedy, and adventure all mixed with a hefty does of philosophy. Thinking about Time? Read this and enjoy. Grady Harp, September 15