Was the ending of the book or the movie better? SPOILER ALERT!!

[Hannah]

Absolutely. Other people have said they thought this end was depressing for Claire, but I felt it was wonderful. Just imagine losing the person you love most - the worst thing about it would be knowing you would never see them again. But Claire always knew she would see Henry again, a feeling so many people would die for.

[Paul]

I'd say the movie ending was better as it was not so sweet. I'd extend that and say I enjoyed the movie more than the book.

[Rachel]

I enjoyed the book but really hated the ending. How selfish of him to tell her that she was going to see him again when she was old - no chance of her loving someone else then, she just had to wait around to get old! She was still a young woman when he died. I think it would have been much better for him to have told her that they wouldn't have seen each other and then to have surprised her. Left me feeling a bit miffed with him to be honest and spoilt the book for me. I didn't really like the film though although it ended better. It felt like a Danielle Steel mini drama to me.

[Lizzie]

Rachel: I didn't think of that. You are right! Pretty selfish. But, I loved the book.

[Shirley]

I read the book first and much preferred the book's ending to the film. And I don't see why the fact that she would see him again when an old woman would prevent her from loving another man - after all, she had a lot of years to fill, and if he really loved her, he would be happy for her to meet someone else. I thought the film was a good attempt at portraying the book, but the book was, for me, far better.

[Melana]

The ending in the book, definitely.

[Fairuz]

The book.

[April]

Donna said: Okay, here's another question. Do you think Claire actually dies in the end of the book? I got that impression - that Henry actually comes to get her. What do you all think?

That's exactly what I thought, as well.

[Shirley]

yes, I think she dies at the end of the book.

[Katherine]

I liked both endings. In the movie, she got to be surprised, got to see him randomly whenever he popped in, and I liked that. But the end of the book was a lot more meaningful - it's like she waited to see him one last time before she passed. Both endings were amazingy done, and I liked both versions - which is VERY rare for me, as I tend to favor books over the movie adaptations.

[Kristi]

I thought the ending of the book was better. The only thing about the movie that I liked better was that they lightened it up a little. Like someone above said there wasn't the part about her and Gomez and also they left out the gruesome details about his feet and death. Although having read the book I still cried through the last half of the movie because I was correlating the endings.

[Kristi]

Joni wrote: "The ending in the movie was much better...and very sad at the same time. It gave me goose bumps...and I couldnt shake that feeling for a while. To think her husband, love of her life died and sh..."

But he comes back to her at the end of the book.

[Carole]

I enjoyed both book and film but think the book had a much better ending.

[Mia]

I didn't like a lot of the movie (except for how pretty it was and the actors), because I think it made it too much about Henry and not enough about Clare, BUT, the ending was fantastic. The ending of the book is one of the few things that bugs me (as has been mentioned (view spoiler)[the sex with Gomez what is his problem? (hide spoiler)]) as it sort of skips ahead of Clare's life without Henry and we're lead to believe those years between nothing happened or nothing mattered? I love, love love this book but that ending really bugged me in how it was delivered.

[Sharon]

I wasnt at all happy with how the film laid out the story. I changed major events in the book to suit its audience. Book was brilliant and I loved every word of it but the film left me annoyed. I mean why change the part about him losing his legs to frostbite into him being stuck in a wheelchair for a few weeks "while his legs recover", I think the version in the book makes Henry's suffering all the more emotional and believable. Then they just added on an ending of their own, I dont see the point. They made the film because the book was brilliant but unfortunately couldnt stick fully to the story, Its a shame.

[Amanda]

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of the best books I've ever read. I've recommended it to many, many people. I was frustrated that many things were changed in the movie, including the ending. That being said, I did have more of an emotional reaction with the movie than I did with the book. I'd take either. I'm such a fan of her work!

[debbie]

I was terribly disappointed in the movie. This is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and the ending in the book was perfect.

[Greg]

Donna wrote: "I recently read The Time Traveler's Wife and adored it, then I re-watched the movie, and I'm torn between the two endings. Although one of my favorite passages in the book was Henry's letter, I'm ..."

I think throughout the book you find out that time can not be changed, however much Henry would like it to happen. He already knew he would meet Clare again in the future and she would have waited all that time for him, nothing he could do would change that. But shes always been waiting for Henry, it was her whole life, but she had true love and it was something worth waiting for. I like to think that in the end he turned up to help her, I think she died in his arms, she didnt die alone. I love the book ending and I think the film totally missed the point and thats why it wasn't as much loved as the book...basically people watching movies dont love sad endings, so they adapted it to make you think she could move on....

[Janani]

the ending of the book is very inspiring and poetic and does justice to the title. an entire life spent in waiting for one single moment was... bittersweet.

the ending of the movie was a symbol of hope and in a way happiness. the ending of the movie promises henry to spend more time with his dear daughter and wife.

in a way both the endings were book but i loved the book's ending better

[Cat]

Book.

[Lauren]

I think the book ending was much better, much more touching. Ever since clare was young she was waiting for Henry to return, and even when she was old she was still waiting. so much more romantic than the film ending.

[Brie]

I thought both endings were well done but I have to admit that I liked the book's version better. I just love how he saw her one last time when she was an old lady. It was touching!

Then again, there were parts of the book that I really didn't like, and I'm glad the movie left out. Such as the relationship between Clare and the male friend (sorry, I can't remember his name) and how she sleeps with him after Henry dies. That just killed me!! It killed a little of the romance of the story. I'm glad the movie didn't include that.

[Susan]

I liked the movie ending better because it was more ambiguous - will this or won't this be the last time? When in the book, we know that she will see him again that one last time. I found it sadder having to live in that moment with her - because that moment was all she had.

[kisha]

I think the book ending was better. Although I didn't like that he told her when he'd see her again I did like that he came to her in old age and it would've been so, powerful of a movie scene.

[kisha]

Donna wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I prefer the movie ending simply because the book ending ruined the characters. In both book and film, Henry claims to love Clare, and part of this love is wanting what is best f..."

Yes I noticed that and I totally agree.

[Gretchen]

The book. If I was only going to see the love of my life only one more time I would rather have the excitement of waiting to see them at the end then my life rather then my life ending with the last time I saw them being decades before.

[P.J.]

The book is one of my favourite's in recent years and I thought it was far superior to the film (and I do love my films). I'm a bloke and I had to put the book down towards the very end as I was getting so upset. For me, the ending of the book beats the ending of the movie. Hands down!

Such as shame that Audrey Niffenegger's follow up, "Her Fearful Symmetry", was such a major disappointment when I read it.

[Sreetama]

the ending in the book,according to me..especially because of her undying trust in henry..belief that he would come again,albeit the last time

[Maria]

I prefer the book ending. I was actually looking forward to it when the movie came out, but they made a different ending. It was still a good ending.

As for Henry being selfish, I don't think so. The book skipped Clare's life but that doesn't mean nothing happened to her life except to wait. She's an active person, an artist. I bet there's so many things she did while waiting for Henry. There was a scene when Henry just came back and Clare said something like she's busy and she can't just sit around waiting for him. She didn't just wasted her life in waiting for Henry.

I think the point of Henry telling Clare when he will see her again is that he knew she will wait just like she did when she was a kid. Instead of letting her wait for nothing for days or years he told her, at least Clare knows when is the exact time therefore it let's her do other things. it was the hope of seeing him that actually makes her want to live longer, I guess.

And you don't really have to fall in love again just so you can say that you spent your time well, Clare doesn't have to fall in love with another man. And with a love like theirs, I don't think Clare will be able to love again, only Henry. Whether he tells her or not, she will only love and wait for Henry.

[Donna]

Phillip wrote: "The book is one of my favourite's in recent years and I thought it was far superior to the film (and I do love my films). I'm a bloke and I had to put the book down towards the very end as I was g..."

Phillip, what didn't you like about Her Fearful Symmetry? I go back and forth about wanting to read it. Was considering putting it on a book challenge for next year.

Thanks for your continuing comments everyone. It's great to see all the different points of view.

[Bob]

I don't think it's fair to compare the movie and the book. The mediums are completely different. In her book, Audrey is allowed to explore and express the thoughts of both Henry and Clare. We get insight into every scene that is simply not available to moviemakers. Also, Audrey had at her disposal an infinite number of words and pages to tell the complete story. Every reader who picked up the book had little intention of not finishing it, no matter the length. Moviemakers don't have that luxury. To delve into the thoughts of Clare and Henry, they would have long sections of narration that would force viewers to simply turn off the movie. We won't even discuss just how much easier it is to feel every emotion the writer wants us to when they can give us the inner thoughts and feelings of their characters. The worst writer has an advantage of the best filmmaker for that reason. I will react so much more strongly to a book over a movie about the same thing 100 percent of the time.

Needless to say, for me, the book ending is far better for me. I like that Audrey has Clare waiting for Henry right to the bitter end. I like that Clare still reacts as she did her entire life at the first sight of Henry. I like that Henry is able to give Clare this one last gift. And don't be mistaken, Henry telling Clare he will see her again is a gift for Clare. Yes, she will endure longing disappointment and pain during her wait, but that is the Clare has chosen. It is simply in keeping with her character that she waits and longs for HEnry right to the end.

I also like the contrast between Clare waiting and never seeing Henry as opposed to Alba, who gets to see Henry regularly.

The last visit Henry pays Clare is also a gift to the reader. It's one last scene in which their true and powerful love is on display.

[❤️Melanie G.📖💛]

Michele wrote: "The movie was disappointing. I love the book. I'm over books to movies."

Nelly wrote: "Michele wrote: "The movie was disappointing. I love the book. I'm over books to movies."

Although I thought Brokeback Mountain was a beautiful adaptation of the book. I also thought The Bridges of..."

I totally agree with you about books being made into movies. Unless the movie can stay true to the book then DON'T make the movie.

[Jayne-Marie]

The book is always better than the film but in this case, I really enjoyed the film too. Such a nice change!

[❤️Melanie G.📖💛]

In this case...I feel the movie was better than the book.

[Rosanna]

I think the movie's version of the ending connected with the audience a lot, because as humans we all need some form of closure...The books ending was very sad and the movie ending was very touching.
This Book/Movie for me is a keeper and will highly recommend it.

[Shelia]

I loved the ending in the movie. Then I read the book and loved that ending even better.

[Borum]

Definitely the book..
It was much more romantic and heart-rendering to wait all those years to see him just once more.
Yes, the part about Gomez ruined some of the positive image I had of him, but it seemed more realistic that way (hey, Claire IS an attractive young widow, after all)

[Tash]

I think both endings work. Clearly the films ending is easier for an audience to swallow - and honestly the book ending was so heartwrenching, I wondered if I could sit through it on film.

[Dawn]

Cate wrote: "I was dissapointed in the movie to be honest. So I prefer the book."

I totally agree. Its not very often that movies are able to do the book justice.

[Karen Cooper]

I definitely thought the ending in the book was more poignant.

[Geidy]

The ending in the movie was soo better then in the book. The movie is sad,but it is awesome.I think that the movie is better because he didn't lose his legs in the movie.

[helllo.mon]

The ending of the book was so much better, a lot more touching. Was very disappointed with the movie ending.