The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Wow! I used to hate anything related to time travel as I got way too confused trying to make it all make sense! I only became a little confused in one part of this book and a friend straightened me out! This story is phenomenal and really has you thinking "What if...".


 


The essence of this book is that Henry DeTamble has a rare genetic disorder which is ultimately named Chron-Displacement. Henry jumps through time to places he has or will have been, in time. Clare Abshire is destined to meet, and fall in love with, Henry.

Can you imagine being married to a man who  is there one moment, and quite literally, gone the next? Miss Niffenegger will make you imagine it and she'll have you practically believing it by the end of the book. Her vivid imagery pulled me in. I finished reading the book in November 2004. In August 2005 I listened to it on audio cd. I also convinced my husband to listen to it. I convinced my best friend to read it. Both of my brothers read it on my recommendation. I told everyone about the book. I even REread the book, which is a big deal for me. I missed recording the date that I reread it but it was while we were living in England and before the film version was released so it was in 2008 or 2009.


The book looks at all aspects of life, therefore there are a few scenes that depict sexual activity. Some are pretty integral to the story. There was one scene and the particularly heavy use of one word in particular that my brother, Scott, and I both felt could have been left out without any detriment to the story. Overall, I feel it is worth it to either press on and read those portions of the book or to try to ignore them and skip over them if you feel you can't read such things. The book is definitely not okay for children to read. I would allow our teens to read it but I do think that parents should make that decision themselves.


I have, since, seen the movie that was adapted from the book. I know that most book lovers do not like movie adaptations. This was a tough book to pack into a film. I have to say, though, that the producers did a wonderful job. Much of the film ended up being very much the way I envisioned it. Our kids very much enjoyed the movie too, especially our ten year old son.

As a book lover I love the fact that Henry works for the Newberry Library in Chicago. I want to tour it! Here is some information on the library:  http://www.newberry.org/collections/timetravelers.html  


Believe it or not, I know I will read this book again.
And I will watch the film with my hubby soon too; he hasn't seen it yet.


Henry and Clare...