Published September 2009 by Simon & Schuster
Source: Regal Literary
Julia and Valentina are "mirror-image" identical twins, jobless college-dropouts. Julia, in particular, seems perfectly content to spend the rest of her life living in the suburbs with her mother and father and Valentina seems unwilling to do anything contradicts Julia.
Across the ocean, in London, their Aunt Elspeth, and aunt they have never seen, has died. The twins only learn of her existence when they receive a letter from Elspeth's barrister advising them that they have inherited her flat adjacent to Highgate cemetary. The cause of the split between Elspeth and the twin's mother, Edie (also identical twins) seems to be the result of Edie stealing husband Jack from then fiancee, Elspeth.There are just two conditions. The twins must live in the flat for one year before they can sell it and their parents cannot step foot in it.
The twins head off to London. The building the flat is in borders Highgate Cemetery and is also home to Robert, who is writing a book on the cemetery and was Elspeth's lover, and Martin, whose obsessive compulsive disorder is so extreme that his long-suffering wife has left him. Robert is immediately taken by Valentina's resemblance to Elspeth and Julia soon befriends Martin. Valentina becomes determined to break away from Julia and begin to live her own life and soon finds that she has an unlikely ally--her aunt's ghost. Elspeth has spent months learning to control her spirit self but the question becomes why. What exactly is it that Elspeth wants?
I may be the only person who has yet to read "The TIme Traveler's Wife," Niffenegger's debut novel for anyone else out there who has yet to read the book. It is so beloved that it would be almost impossible for this book to live up to that one. And it didn't for some readers. I knew I was going into this book with much more realistic expectations. Unfortunately, I was no less disappointed.
The premise of the book certainly intrigued me and I liked the way Niffenegger explored the idea of "death" in so many forms. Niffenegger's writing is evocative and atmospheric--there is a sense of gloom that appropriate pervades the book. Martin was by far my favorite character. His disease was so well written and his circumstances so sad.
That's also part of the problem with the book. I really felt like I should care at least as much about what happened to Valentina and Julia. The way Elspeth helped Valentina escape Julia would have had a far greater impact. And that truth behind what happened between Elspeth and Edie? I really didn't care by the time I got to it, although it was surprising. One reviewer called the book "bewitching" but I'm more inclined to agree with the reviewer that said the plot went from "dull to silly."
Now I'm left with the question, do I bother with "The Time Traveler's Wife?"
Oh no - what's wrong with you?! HA
ReplyDeleteI cared so much for the characters and just loved Elspeth! I wonder if I would feel the same way if I read the book... rather than listening. I can still feel her in the drawer, over a year later.
Sorry you didn't like this one...
I agree. Dull to simply silly.
ReplyDeleteThe Time Traveller's Wife is worth a read though. Vastly superior to this but, I wasn't completely overwhelmed by it either.
I **hated** Her Fearful Symmetry but loved TTW, so I would say, yes, you should bother with it!
ReplyDeleteEek! I have Her Fearful Symmetry just waiting to be read in my bookcase, so I'm sorry to hear this one didn't work for you. I've definitely seen mixed reactions all over the place, and I have yet to read The Time Traveler's Wife myself.
ReplyDeleteI started this book months ago but have yet to finish it. It has been almost a year. I fear that I will feel the same way you do on completion. I have heard similar comments from other reviewers. I will pick it up and finish the book eventually. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI loved HFS and hated TTTW. And truthfully, HFS was not an amazing book, but there was just something haunting about it that truly captivated me and I found myself enjoying it. There was just something there. As for TTTW, that book was just over-hyped and I wished I had not wasted any time reading it. I did not care for the characters and their dramas and just found the whole book to be mediocre at best. I would say skip it, but that wouldn't be right. I suppose if you have the time to squeeze it in, go for it - you may end up liking it. Different strokes and all that, right?
ReplyDeleteI have been on the fence about this book, but after reading your review I think I am going to have to skip this one. Not only do your reactions make an impression, the synopsis just doesn't sound all that great. Thanks for your candid review on this one. It's definitely not for me.
ReplyDeletei loved TTW and am actually interested in re-reading it. I thought the movie a disappointment, however. And HFS was odd but I give Niffenegger props for being creative. It is possible to love one book by an author but not care for a different book. For me, I would say I loved Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go but didn't get into a few of his others. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't care for this one. It seemed ridiculous with the kitten and the drawer and all that and the ending...WTF?
ReplyDeleteI bought TTW before I read this one and after reading HFS I never did open TTW.
Don't give up on The Time Traveller's Wife please! I've heard a few people disappointed with Her Fearful Symmetry (which personally I haven't read yet) but loved The Time Traveller's Wife. And I love The Time Traveller's Wife
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both of these books, so of course I'm going to say that you must read TTW!!!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read either! The hype of TTW caused me to put it off. Maybe someday I'll try this some material by this author. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteTTTW was a good book - though I have to be honest, it seemed unnecessarily "gritty" in some parts, and that took away from the romance of the story. I actually preferred the movie.
ReplyDeleteTHIS book though... I couldn't stand it. I agree, I like the way that the author handled death and being a ghost, but Martin was a far cooler character than V & J. Actually, ALL the characters were cooler than V & J. And the "solution" that V came up with to escape J was so silly... almost as bad as the "suicide by sled" solution in Ethan Frome.
I was intrigued by this book too, and I read it after loving TTTW. Somehow this book lived up to my expectations. I can't say I agreed with it, but I definitely enjoyed being challenged by the author through the themes of death, ghosts and coming back from the dead? It was something very horrifying to actually read about and as different from TTTW as it could be. That said, I'll only recommend that should you choose to read TTTW, don't expect it to be similar or even having minor shades of HFS. They are as different as can be.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the reviews for this one were a lot more mixed than they were for The Time Traveler's Wife. Personally, I liked both a lot. I can understand your issues with this one but I found it enthralling.
ReplyDeleteI ended up liking Martin more than the main characters, too!
ReplyDeleteI loved TTW...much more than this one, but I know people who hated TTW, so it's a book I have a hard time recommending.