63 pages 2 hours read

Matt Haig

How to Stop Time

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

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Part 5, Chapters 11-13Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5: “The Return”

Part 5, Chapter 11 Summary: “Byron Bay, Australia, Now”

Hendrich pours gasoline on Omai’s house. Tom yells for him to stop, arguing Omai isn’t a threat. Hendrich proclaims they need to protect themselves, but Tom no longer buys that excuse. He mentions Hendrich’s lies and keeping Marion a secret. Burning houses doesn’t keep people safe. Hendrich claims Berlin and the biotech companies are stronger than ever. There will always be superstition and lies and witch hunts. He pulls a lighter from his pocket and flicks on the flame. Tom screams for Omai to get out of the house. Everything begins to collide. Marion arrives, commanding Hendrich to stop. Omai, carrying his daughter, steps outside. Marion shoots Hendrich in the shoulder. He pours the gasoline over himself and lights it. He walks toward the seaside cliff. They watch in silence as Hendrich disappears over the edge.

Part 5, Chapter 12 Summary: “London, Now”

Marion accompanies Tom to London. Tom learns she spent time in Scotland, Canada, and France. She was a weaver back then. She talks about her depression, panic attacks, and the antidepressants she takes. Tom types up an email to one of the biotech companies, StopTime. He attaches the photo from Ciro’s and a present-day selfie but saves the email as a draft.