The Time Traveler's Wife in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Sep 08, 2014 Jody rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: guardian-1000, book-bub-100-classics, bbc-100, aty-2016, rory-gilmore, npr-top-100-sci-fi-fantasy, womens-prize-for-fiction

Wow, this book made me angry on an almost Lolita-esque scale.

Admittedly, I did enjoy the first 10%. But then I quickly realised that it was pretentious twaddle, sloppily written with two of the most unlikeable characters I've ever come across in a book. Clare, in particular, is just a slightly-more-literary Bella Swan. A completely codependent waste of space. (view spoiler)

Incredibly ...more

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Aug 20, 2017 Debra Barstad rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend but be warned there is some graphic language that is used so may not be suitable for younger people.

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Oct 09, 2024 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: zoct-24, fiction, travel, 2024, time-travel

I have tried numerous times to read The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. For some reason, I never got more than a couple of chapters in. I was determined to read it this time but struggled to continue after a couple of chapters. I pressed on, and after getting to 25 percent in my Kindle version, I was finally prepared to go the distance.

The book alternates in viewpoints between the two title characters, Henry DeTamble and his wife Clare Abshire. Henry suffers from a rare genetic disor I have tried numerous times to read The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. For some reason, I never got more than a couple of chapters in. I was determined to read it this time but struggled to continue after a couple of chapters. I pressed on, and after getting to 25 percent in my Kindle version, I was finally prepared to go the distance.

The book alternates in viewpoints between the two title characters, Henry DeTamble and his wife Clare Abshire. Henry suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Chrono Impairment, which causes him to involuntarily vanish and reappear naked in a different time and place. As the book opens in 1991, Henry is 28 and has been living the life of a womanizing playboy while he works at the Chicago Public Library. When a 20-year-old Clare walks into the library and instantly recognizes Henry as the man who has been part of her life since the age of six, she knows this is the point that they begin their life together.

This book is the incredibly poignant story of how Henry is pulled in and out of the past, present and future, finding himself in places he hasn't yet visited, or memories which he can't change even if he wanted to. Clare, on the other hand, must stay eternally in the present, never knowing where and when Henry is, and if he will return in one piece.

Readers witness 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 like steady jobs, good friends, and children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving .

I did have three issues that kept me from completely enjoying the story. First, I thought the numerous chapters of back and forth time jumping was confusing. Second, I could never understand how Henry could interract with himself. I thought that seemed impossible. Finally, why would Henry and Claire want children who might suffer from this same genetic disease?

I decided to ignore those issues and concentrate on a story of timeless love and heartbreak. I can see why so many people loved it. ...more

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Sep 01, 2015 Cecilia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A love story layered with complexity and metaphor. Quite brilliant and an easy absorbing read. The ending brought me to tears.

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Aug 12, 2017 Vir rated it it was ok

Shelves: book-to-film

I was liking the story, but ended up losing interest about two thirds of the way through.
Funnily enough, i saw that they had the movie up on netflix so i thought i would give it a watch and see how the story ended.
I lost interest in watching about halfway through the movie.

I'm not sure what it was about the book. It's not like i didn't like it or anything. Just ended up losing interest. Too bad too. I had heard such good things about it. ...more

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Nov 06, 2018 Joy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, ebook, contemporary

I really don't understand the love for this book. I found all of the characters dull and pretentious. I really found the relationship between Claire and Henry to be so creepy. Whether it was intentional or not, he groomed her from an early age to be his wife. She spent her childhood and teenage years playing and talking with a naked middle aged man, without her parents' knowledge. It really left a bad taste in my mouth. ...more

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