Published March 2004 by Gale Group
Source: Bought this one
Publisher's Summary:
The Time Traveler's Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.
The Time Traveler's Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare's marriage and their passionate love for each other as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals--steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.
My Thoughts:
Four years ago I read Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry (my review) and, while I found much to like about the book, I was left wondering "do I bother with The Time Traveler's Wife?" But I had it on my shelves already and, because it is so beloved by so many, I decided to add it to my 2014 TBR Challenge list of books. Even then I put it off to the very end of the year.
Why???? Oh yeah...time travel. A subject I've always shied away from. Until 2014 when two of my favorite books involved time travel.
When I mentioned in a December post that it was taking me a long time to read this book, many of you commented that it's a book I needed to make sure to take my time with and be focused on. So very true. It turns out to have been a good thing that I didn't have the time to blow through this book; it's a book that demands that you pay attention. And to really think. Because Niffenegger gives readers a whole new way to think about time travel. What if you really couldn't change anything by going back in time? What if you couldn't control time travel? What if someone moved back and forth in time continually?
Even though the time travel piece of this story is key to the entire novel, The Time Traveler's Wife is, at its heart, a love story. Not just the love of a man and a woman but love of family and the pain that love can create. Niffenegger's love story is, in fact, filled with pain but also the redemptive power of love. And there is Clare. As much as I came to care about Henry, it was Clare who carried the story for me.
I was also not a fan of time travel till I read a book I won on Goodreads which changed my mind completely! handled well the subject is fascinating. haven't read this one but hopefully will get to it eventually.
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally drawn to time travel either but... you know I love this book! I'm thrilled to see you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteFor years a few friends have been trying to talk me into reading this book. I eventually bought a copy. And I imagine eventually I will read it. :-) I am glad you liked it, Lisa. I think I'm ready for this one now--more than I was in the past.
ReplyDeleteI have wondered how the author plans the plot of a book like this, with so much intertwining of time lines. What do you think? Maybe he has little file cards arranged on a wall...with one of them having the constant time line (probably her) and his visits and revisits popping up through her time line.
ReplyDeleteI remember when this first came out and so many people were raving about it. I never had any interest in reading it (like you I'm not a big fan of time travel in book form) but it sounds like I should reconsider. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you finally found the groove with this one. I read it several years ago (before blogging) and it has continued to stick with me. I'll never forget sitting in my bed at 2 in the morning and just sobbing...and then going to wake up my sister so that I could sob to her about it. She wasn't very appreciative. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right--so much of the story is about Henry and his time traveling, but Clare really is the center (I forget that the title of the book is WIFE!). LOL!
Glad you finally read this. I liked it a lot and I liked that it provided such a different take on time travel, as you note. And it is a love story--I found the ending quite heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book so much when I read it years ago! It was very touching. I liked Her Feaful Symmetry as well, just not as much as this one.
ReplyDeleteI love this story! I haven't read the book yet, but I have purchased it :) Will definitely give it a read one day.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the film of this book, but haven't read the book itself, even though I've purchased it. I'll probably like it, so I'll give it a read.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed it. I loved this one so much, I cried and after that I passed it on to my roommate so she could cry too. I haven';t read Her Fearful Symmetry but I think I own it and will get to it one day, it's a good thing to know that you liked it.
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