Four library employees, including my darling wife, and a host of bloggers had recommended The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I had a Border’s 30% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket last week and so I took their advice and picked up a copy. I had been meaning to pick up this book since I first laid eyes on it as I was struck by the cover image and colors as well as the intriguing title. Showing uncharacteristic restraint, however, I managed to put it off until now in an effort to reduce my reading pile. Let me tell you right now, reading pile be damned, quit reading this review and start reading this book now! It is that good.
It is no secret that reading is one of my great loves and I have a pretty good knack for choosing books that I end up enjoying. That being said the books that grab on to me and won’t let go…those that talk to me while I am sleeping and say “Quit wasting time, read me!” are few and far between. The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of those books. Despite clocking in at a hearty 536 pages the time literally flew by as I was lost in its pages.
Though the title may indicate otherwise, this is not a science fiction book. There are no Dr. Who-ish travels to visit the dinosaurs or trips into future space-age realms. The Time Traveler’s Wife is a love story. It is the story of Henry DeTamble, a Chicago librarian with Chrono-displacement Disorder, and the love of his life, Clare. It is the story about a man whose time travels are involuntary and often unwanted. This is also the story about a woman who chooses to love and live with this very difficult disorder. It is also a story about living life to its fullest in the time that is given.
This is, unbelievably, Audrey Niffenegger’s first mainstream novel. It is so well crafted and flows so well that I am in awe of her talent and aching for another book. The story is told entirely by Henry and Clare in vignettes describing the occurences on certain dates. While Clare’s story is relatively chronological, Henry’s jumps around in time. Each vingette begins with the date and time and the ages of both Henry and Clare. While Henry is 8 years older than Clare in “real time” he actually meets her at various ages beginning when she is 6 years old. It has been a long time since I’ve read Time and Again by Jack Finney (another amazing book) but something about this book felt like Time and Again. The time travel element is no doubt part of that similarity but I think the fact that both books focus on the relationship of characters in a real world vs. a science fiction focus on time travel gives them a similar feel.
Niffenegger does a marvelous job of infusing Henry and Clare with life. Each character has hobbies and talents (again no spoilers) that give the story such depth and dimension. Their sexual relationship (this is an adult story, not for kids) is not gratuitous and is handled in a loving way that gives richness and realism to their relationship. Also both characters have very interesting careers. Henry works in a fascinating library in Chicago and Clare is an artist who makes hand crafted papers, a hobby Niffenegger shares.
Audrey Niffenegger is a professor in the MFA program at the Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. The program teaches such things as bookbinding, papermaking, and letterpress printing. Niffenegger’s previous books were small print runs of visual books with letterpress type and aquatint illustrations that she hand made. A self-professed woman “fixated on oddity” her previous creations touched on ideas surrounding “mutants, peculiar nature things, taxidermy, [and] amputation.” Her website gives a hint of what some of her other work may look like but is sadly still largely under construction.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is rare that I find myself so easily enthralled in a story. Like any good love story this tale has happy and sad moments, both of which are powerfully rendered. Be prepared to smile but also to shed a few tears. I’m not ashamed to admit that at one point in the story I began crying and was still crying some 40 or 50 pages later. The Time Traveler’s Wife is an inspiring tale about the power of love, the value of good relationships, and the need to make the most of every moment in life.
I know many of you have read this book so I’m doing something a little different and am allowing and encouraging spoiler conversations in the comments. Please comment away but if you don’t want to read anything specific about the book then you may want to avoid reading the comments. Thanks!
This was a great book and a great review by Carl.
Great review.
I really enjoyed this book when I read it. Although I was a bit iffy when Henry first met Clare, was all a bit “grooming-like”
But as the story developed I did lose that feeling and thought it was a very well-written, well-thought out book.
I won’t read your review because I started reading this a couple days ago. But I’ll come back to it.
Great Anne, please give us your thoughts.
I had read that comment on your site or in your comments on someone else’s site before I started reading it Fence and looked at it and I agree, she handled it well so it didn’t look that way. The fact that he met her at 6 only after he had already been married to her in real time helped eliminate that idea in some ways. And I was so glad Audrey had them wait until she was of age. That would’ve been a very creepy disappointment otherwise.
And it was well thought out Fence. I didn’t see a lot of loop holes like you expect to see in alot of time travel stuff. It took some marvelous planning to write the story so that it wasn’t confusing with Henry jumping around in time and she did a great job with that.
She must have had a whole database set up of when they met each other and what was going on in their respective lives, just to keep it all straight in her own head 🙂
You might enjoy this article/book review about Audrey Niffenegger. I neglected to credit it as the source of my quotes from A.N. above. Its a very interesting piece.
Hey Fence, is there some significance to Susan Hated Literature as the name of your book review site?
Ok. I’m going out and buying this book today! I just skimmed your review because I didn’t want to know much before reading it. All the good recommendations are enough for me. I’ll let you know how I’m progressing this week, Carl. Of course I’m laughing right now because I’m going to be putting down Ombria in Shadow after just one chapter and starting a new book. My reputation of sticking to one book at a time takes a hit again. 🙂 Oh well, my wife will get a good laugh.
I could put up a quick review for Ombria in Shadow for you if that’ll help you out! 🙂 I think you’ll like this book and you’ll probably enjoy Ombria once you get into it. It has some similarities to Neverwhere. Maybe Keri can read it while it waits on your pile! 🙂
LOL! Thanks buddy! 🙂
Keri could read Ombria in one sitting she is an incredibley fast reader. I’m jealous. I on the other hand I’m slow, s l o w, s l o w …..
Susan hated literature is a quote from a Terry Pratchett book, it continues “she’d much prefer to read a good book”
In a way it is anti-book-snobbery. Plus I love the Discworld books.
I’ll get around to reading those someday. I enjoyed the Pratchet/Gaiman collaboration on Good Omens.
Here from Michele’s! This looks like a wonderful book. I love reading too, and know exactly what you mean about some books calling out to be pulled from the reading stack.
Thanks for the recommend!
I work at a Borders, so I’m happy to hear you shopped there! This sells at a pretty good clip and sometimes I resist reading books like that, which is foolish. I’ll put this on my list of “should reads.”
I am EXACTLY the same way Nat. I used to work at Waldenbooks when I was in college, which, to age myself, was right when Grisham was becoming popular and EVERYONE was reading Grisham which promptly turned me off to reading him. Snobbish as it is I prefer the be the one who ‘discovers’ a good book and shares it rather than picking up something because its become a best seller. Which is really stupid because I obviously want books I like to become best seller so that the author makes money and is allowed to write more. Its a weird catch-22 to be sure.
Hey man! Thanks for “rambling” on my site. I was encouraged and will check out the blogs you mentioned.
You know I must be one of the few people in the world never to have read anything by Grisham. I’ve never even seen an entire film based on his work
I haven’t read any Grisham either but have seen a few of the films.
Finished TTW at 10:00 pm tonight. Wow! I will gladly add my name to list of people who loved this book. Normaly I’m a slow reader but this book hooked me and I blew through it in 5 days when a book this size sometimes takes me months because I will put it down and return to it multiple times because it just won’t hold my interest. That wasn’t the case with TTW. The story just gripped me and I HAD to keep reading.
I’m amazed how the author kept all the time periods straight as she jumped around in time. I loved being in both characters heads so much and feeling how each fell in love with each other and how their relationship changed over time. So many times you don’t see characters grow any in novels. That is defiently not the case here. I guess I could relate to my own life. My wife and I have been married for 12 years and I know how our relationship has changed and evolved over time so I could relate to Henry and Clare in many ways. The book made me think about that and yes in a good way.
Even though I guessed how this tale would end early on it wasn’t any big deal because this novel is about the journey the characters go on not the end result. I loved how the author handled so many of the side characters, too. The author avoided sterotyping them and made them so believeable. I really enjoyed how the author handled Kimy, Sharon, and Henry’s Dad. I also hated Gomez especially at the end. I don’t believe Henry knew what Gomez did with Clare at the end or he would’ve killed him. That really peeved me. The ending was so emotional already with Henry dieing and then Gomez does that. What a kick in the gut. I was glad Henry was able to keep visiting Alba after his death. I can’t imagine leaving my kids so early in life. I think about that sometimes and I’m just thankful for everyday I get to spend with Keri and the kids.
I thank Mary and her friends again for getting Carl to read this book who in turn got me to read this book and know I must add it to my wife’s reading pile. Sounds like some kind of pyramid scheme and I feel like I now owe Mary A LOT of money. 🙂
You can pay me! 🙂
Great thoughts Jeff. It was extremely emotional. At the point where he saw Alba for the first time and she told him that he had died I started crying and never really stopped until after I finished the book. It touched me on so many levels….made me think about my relationship with Tori and with Mary and how much I enjoy my time with them and want to make the most of it.
I too hated the whole Gomez thing and could’ve done without that part at the end with him.
This was such a creative, well done, well planned and wonderful book. I still am not over it and feel lost without currently having a ‘gripping’ book to read.
I totaly understand what you mean about that part when Alba tells Henry he has died. It was a tough read. In fact it was tough rooting for them to have Alba then you find out she also has the same genetic diease as Henry. Then she’s viewing him in the past, too. All these twists. Truely a great book. We have to talk over all the specifics of this book tommarrow wether it’s at the shop or after it closes.
Does the author mention on her website anything about working on new book? I hope she is not someone who puts out just one book and then we never hear anything from her again.
In regards to her next book, here is what she wrote on her website:
I’m working on my second novel, Her Fearful Symmetry.
The novel concerns a pair of mirror-image twins, Julia and Valentina Poole. The twins are young, sheltered American girls who inherit a flat on the edge of Highgate Cemetery in London, bequeathed to them by their recently deceased aunt. Julia and Valentina are inseparable, and function almost as one being, although in temperament they are opposites. As the story begins, they arrive in London to live in their aunt’s apartment.
Their presence disrupts the lives of their upstairs and downstairs neighbors. Martin Wells is a translator who never leaves his apartment and struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Robert Fanshaw works as a guide in Highgate Cemetery and is devoted to all things associated with death. Julia takes it upon herself to “cure” Martin; Robert falls in love with Valentina and begins to pry her away from her twin. Valentina starts to crave autonomy. Julia becomes more demanding and possessive. Things get out of control, as you might imagine.
Sounds interesting. It took her 4 and a half years to write Time Traveler’s Wife, so I wouldn’t be looking for this novel any time soon.
That next book does sound interesting. We’ll have to check it out whenever it’s published.
For sure. I’m actually hoping her website gets up and running soon as I’d like to keep tabs on the more hands-on obscure stuff that she does.
I finished it. Loved it. Loved it loved it loved it.
For many many reasons, but yes, mostly because it is an incredible link between the characters’ feelings and our own.
And of course I cried.
And she is very good at writing as both girl and guy. None of the “monologues” ever struck me as awkward, or as something a guy wouldn’t think/say/do. Right?
Now, about that Gomez thing in the end, it’s easy to blame him, but really it did take two to tango. They had a very physical relationship with Henry, she was missing him, he had been gone 18 months, she “wished” him back – it doesn’t read out of plot or character.
I agree Anne! Glad you are among those of us who are fans. If you want to read some real moronic and frustrating comments about it, log on to Amazon.com and find the book. Look at the reviews and choose ‘lowest ratings’ and read some of the dumb reasons why people didn’t like it. I respect people’s rights to not like books that I liked…everyone has different tastes, but some of the criticisms that people level at the author are just idiotic!
Phew! I just finished the book and I am wrung out! What an amazing book…and a great review Carl. I can only imagine how this read to you as a father..it was emotional to me without children and not having experienced marriage yet. Such a beautiful book. It amazes me that this is Niffenegger’s first book! incredible!
I felt the same way as Jeff about the Gomez thing at the end. I wanted to kick his ass. Though I see Anne’s point…it does take two to tango, but Gomez took advantage of her in that fragile state.
Anyway, I had to pop on by and read your thoughts on the book. I’m so glad I finally read this one…thanks for the recommendation!
You’re welcome. Its wild to see that your comment is almost two full years since the last comment about this book. The blog world is a wonderful thing. I will read yours tonight or in the morning. So glad you enjoyed it.
I really really loved this book too. I read it last year. The thing with Gomez at the end really pissed me off too. Obviously it was both of them and it was something she had done before with Gomez, before she met Henry in real time, but well after his presence in her life. It was so infuriating to me that he took advantage of her weakness, and I suppose that she was weak angered me as well. But it was just one of the many things that made the story and the characters so real and relatable. They were flawed. I was quite surprised at the strength of my emotions in response to the actions of the characters. I had to remind myself that these were not real people. They sure felt real, though.
Jehara: You are correct, the things that we didn’t like did make these characters more real…more human. It is an amazing achievement in fiction, in my opinion.
I agree. I cannot remember the last time I read a book where the characters felt so supremely real and I was so emotionally invested in their actions.