As Time Goes By: A Novel of Casablanca

My husband is a life-long Casa Blanca fan. We're both avid readers and while I haven't read this one yet, he tells me the story was interesting and true to the original Casa Blanca characters.

Casablanca is my all time favorite movie. I did not know until this year that there was a sequel done in novel form. And it was everything I would have wanted. From Rick's back story and answers to questions , like why he couldn't return to America, how he and Ilsa met, what Ilsa and Lazlo discussed in the plane and so much more. The ending is wonderful and so satisfying. My hats off to Micheal Walsh for fulfilling my Casablanca dreams!

I liked the book as it filled in some background, as well as future, and as the author states, I envision the movie stars in the roles as I read. However, the author seems to make Rick Blaine appear weak and wishy-washy at times. To me Rick should be maintained as a stronger character. His accomplishments are not those of a weak person. I just couldn't see Humphrey Bogart's character that weak. I think everybody else was portrayed pretty much the same as the movie script showed them.

How did I not know that there was a novel sequel to Casablanca, one of my favorite films?I dove into this and could "hear" the characters speaking as if from the movie. The author continues the story, weaving action before and after what was on screen. The main characters are more fully fleshed out, and we get to know them in a new way. I really enjoyed this book and blazed through it in a day.Everything you loved about Casablanca, but just a little more.Highly recommend.

At its best, you can envision in your mind Bogart, Bergman, Greenstreet, Lorre, Rains, and all the rest moving forward, after the plane has left for Lisbon. At times, reading this novel, these characters materialize in my imagination.However, there are severe issues with the plot.Elsa is #1. She has little to do in the movie other than to be the object of the desire of two men. Here, she has nothing whatsoever to do with the planning of murder or the gathering of any useful information, yet she is nonsensically asked to sleep with the villain. Her information as an "insider to the Nazis" adds nothing to the plot, as she has no information. Her peril as heroine is contrived and downright silly. The story would have been more realistic without her, or with her in London safe and out of the way. Think of "Bridge on the River Kwai." Would it have been more thrilling if Ekberg or Monroe had been handed to the Japanese commandant, and tasked with providing useless information?2. What are assassins in Prague doing sitting around for days after parachuting in? Waiting for Rick to have second thoughts? Waiting for Ingrid to be deflowered? Waiting for Renault to blow the cover? Come on...covert operations are swift and unexpected. That's how they succeed. Waiting around while the characters think things over endlessly is pointless and unnecessarily dangerous.3. Rick tosses a suitcase full of money into the trunk of his car. After a gangland shooting, he jumps into Sam's car. Yet somehow he still has the cash to bankroll his escape. The suitcase is as important as the one in "The Killing," yet it somehow is transported from Rick's car to Sam's.4. Rick simply changes his name slightly, without addressing the issue of his name on a passport, and happily sails away from multiple murders linked to him. One can suspend disbelief for Hollywood movies, but for novels we can expect better. To be fair, maybe you could get away this easily in the 1930's, but I doubt it.A fun read that evokes memories of the movie, with holes in the plot bigger than those created by Rick's .45.

If you are a Casablanca movie fan, this may be the perfect story to round out the tale. "What happens after the plane took off?" "How did Rick get to, of ALL places Casablanca, to begin with?" This well-written pre-and sequel will answer all that. Written in a smart and sometimes with the Rick Blaine attitude, it will keep you reading.

I first read this book as an audio book. Whether by ear or eye, I keep hearing the voices from the movie "Casablanca." This book takes up at the moment where the movie ends and is true to the characters as played in the movie. The book is both sequel and prequel. You learn both how Rick ended up in Casablanca and what happens to him after the movie. I have seen some reviews put the book down for having so many ties to the movie; to me, they are what make this book special. It is almost like seeing "Casablanca Part 2" in my head. A very enjoyable read.

If you love the movie like I do, I think you'll like it. Fits well with the movie. This could be the basis for a sequel film. Fast, fun, exciting read. Great backstory for Rick. I actually enjoyed the backstory more than the forward story, which was also good. No obvious inconsistencies with the script of the movie. Plus you learn more about World War II history.

Such an amazing read. Couldn't put it down

Loved the book. Always wondered what happened after the end of Casablanca

正当な続編ではないのですが、あの名作映画「カサブランカ」の続編です。主人公を複数的に描いているためかリックの活躍が相対的に少なくなっています。その代わりルイやラズロの活躍が増えており、同時に各キャラの経歴なり、過去なりが詳細に描かれています。舞台はカサブランカを離れ、ロンドン、プラハと移り、実際の歴史でも発生した「ハイドリヒ暗殺」が物語の中心軸になります。敵はドイツになっていますが、イギリスの巧みな（同時に陰湿な）手法が伝わってくる話でもあります。

Great combination prequal and sequel. It is best if you can also watch the motion picture " Casablanca" at the right moment(s) in the book.

Was bought for my 65 year old Dad and he loved it.