For years I have been hearing about The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I first heard about the movie and, in reality, it sounded so much like a similar movie, that I sometimes enjoy to watch with Keanu Reaves and Sandra Bullock, that I decided I didn’t need to bother watching the movie version of The Time Traveler’s Wife. But I was reading The Reading List and although it wasn’t on the actual reading list, one of the main characters was reading the book and it so I added it to my To Read list…and then I started seeing the name of the book everywhere. When my wife, Karen G Clemenson, and I were at the library, the Saturday before last, it literally was on the wall, right at my eye level and I took at as a sign that I should read this book.
The main characters are Henry and Clare who meet when Henry is 36 and Clare is 6 years old. They are in the meadow on the property of her parent’s home in Indiana. Henry is naked and hungry. When he announces himself, she is scared and throws her shoes at him. Bleeding, he asks to borrow the beach towel she has with her and promises not to hurt her. He tells her he has lost his clothes and that he is a time traveler. After a few rounds of conversation they end up sharing the Hershey’s bar in her pocket.
Henry was born with a Chrono-Displacement Disorder diagnosed by a molecular geneticist by the name of Dr. David Kendrick, when he is an adult, yet his parents have taken him to doctors many times throughout his childhood. Henry’s mom passed when he was 6-years-old. She was decapitated in a car accident. This was the 2nd time Henry time traveled. It was Christmas Eve. Henry’s father was a violinist. He was also an alcoholic. He was miserable after his wife died. At 57, his nerves are shot and he can no longer perform. The neighbor Mrs. Kim, known as Kimy was Henry’s main nurturer. Throughout most of the book this is the meat of what we learn about Henry’s past to help us understand the troubled parts of his personality.
Most of the story takes place in Chicago where Henry was born and raised.
Throughout Clare’s life, Henry pops in at different ages. From the moment they met there is a strong connection. Henry is careful to never give Clare information about the future or even of himself. Instead they work on her school work, visit and keep things platonic.
When they are finally in present day together; Clare is 22 and Henry is 30, they are married and the story goes on. Henry continues to time travel. He has no control over when he will leave or how long he will be gone, or what will happen to him while he is gone. This is strain on their marriage. I have to say the time traveling thing was a handicap for me. I just couldn’t believe it and it made it hard for me to believe the story. I am a very literal person. But what I did believe, and this is a testament to Niffenegger, is the relationship. Henry and Clare were real to me. They were friends. They were lovers. They wanted the best for each other. They left room for growth. They left room for failure and forgiveness. They were the best versions of themselves they could be for each other. I could relate to them, if not for the make-believe genetic illness Henry and their eventual child had.
This was not my favorite book. I gave it 3 stars because the topic was too sci-fi for me but the writing was wonderful and the characters were well-rounded and very human. I was very disappointed with the end. The author most definitely made sure that Clare being more happy with a few minutes of wonderful rather than a lifetime of nothing special was her way until the end. Henry had so little joy in his life and so much gut wrenching horror, at least he had Clare, while he did.
I checked my copy out at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger on Amazon.com.
Read my Review on Goodreads:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sold on the time traveling DNA…but I loved Henry and Clare’s relationship. Great character development.
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My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.
For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.
If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:
Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.
I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.
I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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