The Time Traveler's Wife

I came into this book expecting a lot from reviews I'd heard, but despite being a generally not very critical person, I genuinely really disliked it. While it's rhetorically very lovely, the romance doesn't come through to me at all (due to a lot of things; the blandness of Clare's character, the dislikeability of Henry's, the "predetermined" nature of each of their meetings, and the gross pedophilia-ness of it all). Additionally, it just feels very messy, with several inconsistencies that were never cleared up, and even a few typos I picked out, which just really show off the poor editing that went into this. And that doesn't even begin to go into the oversexualization of Clare (which, unfortunately, takes up almost every page off this too-long-for-its-mediocre-plot book) and the racist caricatures of the (very few) characters of color. But I think I've probably gotten my opinion across without picking out the details. Overall, very disappointed.

I saw the movie and fell hard, bought the book but just last weekend read it.It's one those books that literally takes you away, very gently and tenderly tears your heart out, but then leaves you feeling transported, as if Claire and Henry's story was your life, your love, your heartache. So beautiful. So glad HBO took an interest!

I really enjoyed this book. I love a good romance and this one feels very unique to me. First, be aware that Niffenegger is very honest with her writing and some people might find that to be crude. There is a lot of references to sex (not overly descriptive scenes but the characters have a lot of sex). She uses foul language. And she's unapologetic about both which is part of what I loved about this book. It feels like real people despite the extraordinary reality of their lives.The book takes place over several decades, but it mostly takes place in Chicago during the 1990's. The main characters are intellectual/artistic types who are into punk to give you a sense of their personalities which appealed to me. Perhaps I'm biased because I grew up in Chicago in the 1990's and was part of the punk scene so this book is filled with nostalgia for me. She knows the city well and makes many very specific references that might be lost (or possibly annoy) people who are unfamiliar with the area, but I loved it. It simply wasn't what I was expecting from this type of book.What I struggled with was that the book is very depressing in parts. She built these characters and their relationship up so well that I became very attached and it was painful to follow them through their troubles. Of course every story needs conflict so I can't complain about it, but it was very emotionally difficult for me to read certain parts. But I'd call that a success because I want to feel something for characters when I read.Overall I found the story and characters endearing. Some of the time travel stuff got a little confusing in parts (or maybe I was tired), but otherwise it was easy to follow along with. If you want to read about a great love, I highly recommend this book.

While I was reading The Time Traveler's Wife, I was sometimes frustrated about keeping track of who was where when, and considered making a time map so I could figure out when everyone was, as well as where.But I never did, because I was too emotionally involved with the story and characters to take the time. “Unputdownable” comes to mind.I also enjoyed the movie, think the casting is excellent (especially Eric Bana, who looks like the book’s description of Harry) and it did real justice to the characters and the situation – BUT.The move tells the story chronologically rather than hopping around in all kinds of time periods directions and without warning the way the book (and poor Harry's life) does….The book lets the reader experience life as Henry lives it (in other words, in a constant, chaotic uproar), which is incredibly powerful and emotional, and, coupled with the wry sense of humor that’s part of Henry’s narrative and perspective, lets the reader experience Henry’s pain, confusion, frustration, fears, hopes and joys firsthand and in the moment.Which leads me to my last thought: the writing is brilliant, vivid, evocative, emotional (without being sloppy) and incredibly poignant.I've ended up alternating between movie and book. The movie for when I want to visit the characters but don’t have the emotional or physical stamina to keep up with Henry’s chaotic journey, and the book for when I’m up for a full immersion in a beautiful, heartbreaking, wonderful story.

I read this book because it was on the list of top 100 books that I've been using as my guide to a good read. With the plethora of books available these days it's getting harder and harder to find a book that is worth reading. The plot intrigued me, the cover notes enticed me to part with some hard-earned cash. I loaded it up on my Kindle and settled back with anticipation.I have strange reading habits. I fall asleep if I read for too long. This is not necessarily the fault of the books I read. I've nodded off in the middle of the greats - Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Catch 22, The Handmaid's Tale... But I found myself slipping off for good reason while wading through descriptions of how Clare, the female love interest, created her artworks, or lists of mostly British punk bands from the 70s. My lids were heavy while the author displayed her well researched knowledge of drugs. And I often skipped over needlessly long descriptions of locations.The book, while entertaining enough to keep me reading to the end (between naps), would not be on my top 100 books list. Maybe I should get a new list. The Da Vinci Code is on it too. And I threw that one across the room.I wanted it to be another "One Day", or an "Eleanor Oliphant". But it just isn't. I wanted to love it, but I just couldn't.

The Time Travelers WifeBook reviewRegan BurleyNo major spoilers here.Just a quick overview of the main storyline and themes.So, if you want to know the beginning, middle and end, and all in-between then you’ll have to read it for “yourself”!I found it an interesting story, engaging and extremely hard to put down.The main plot follows the lives of Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire.Living their lives together and apart, from various times and places.Then later on their daughter Alba is woven into the tale.The other supporting characters in this story feel real and believable.The issue of the time travel disorder, is dealt with in a serious way.Henry can’t control it completely, he sometimes can delay it happening but not stop himself from time traveling.Where he will ends up is chosen at random for he can’t choose a destination and it’s only his physical self that time travels his clothes don’t follow him and he winds up starkers and vulnerable in a different time and place.Frequently he has to break the law to survive, to find food, shelter, money and clothing.Occasionally Henry gets caught and arrested for doing something illicit.Or gets a glimpse into his future.He mostly travels along his own and Clares time stream.But a word of caution for those who aren’t so broad minded as I amThere’s a lot of sex and nudity throughout this books narrative and at times the descriptions of sexual activity are described in a truly graphic and erotic way.[Eg a few references to Henry being good in bed and about him *coming*]There’s lot of innuendo. With a bit of adult humor, wit and double entendres.Being a love story a little bit of naughtiness is to be expected.But still it has a humorous side too, at times it left me in stitches.(A fair amount of bad language)The F word is used a number of times; Otherwise reasonably mild swear words and insults.Some moderate drug usage which caused Henry to feel drowsy and light headed; leading to him being in a state of mild sedation but for only a few pages of the book not for very long.....Some moments of emotional distress, pain and heartbreak.Plus, it can seem a bit perverse and weird the fact that Henry and Clare started forming a romantic attachment to each other whilst she’s a young child, in her mid teens and that it then carried on into her adult years.At various points in the story does get complicated and time runs in the reverse order when they meet/ have yet to meet...it’s happened/ has yet to happen. Und so Weiter!So at times it can be a bit awkward and cringe worthy to read.It deals with real life situations and relationships with a sci-fi twist.The ending made me cry tears of sadness mixed with joy.So bloody good the way the author built up the events leading to the end of the book, it was done in such a clever and easy to follow way and left me feeling very emotional and satisfied by the outcome of the tale.Well worth a read and should be read.I would definitely recommend buying it without haste.

If you like time travel stories, this is an original twist to the genre with the main protagonist, Henry, jumping backwards and forwards in time to see his wife, Claire, at various stages of her life. A clever plot device is used (no spoilers here!) so that Claire knows when he will show up next.The main problem, however is that the book is overly descriptive and verbose. Unless it is key to the plot (it isn’t), we don’t need to know the colour of Henry’s coat buttons. We don’t need the contents of a shopping basket itemised. We don’t need a shot by shot description of people playing pool. And when Henry is walking through a museum (at the start) do we really need to have a description of every exhibit in every room? It was as if the author sat there with the museum guide as she wrote it. This was all padding.This is a novel which could and should have been about 200 pages shorter, without losing any of the key elements of the plot or the tension. Without spoiling it for anyone, there is one section which was not only extremely vulgar, but totally unnecessary. Again, no spoilers, but the ending was flagged up long before it arrived, ruining the suspense.In the book’s favour, the film version was absolutely dire! So badly edited that unless you had read the book first, the film made little sense.

I could not recommend this book strongly enough; it has to be one of the most engaging and moving stories that I've ever read. A man repeatedly appears to a young girl throughout her childhood. There's nothing sinister about him, he seems to genuinely care about her. Little does she know, but this is her future husband; the man who she will eventually meet in adulthood who will change her life for ever. I watched the film following the release of the book, and there is no comparison. It is simply an incredible story. If I was only allowed one book to take with me to a desert island, I'd choose this one.

Bought as I enjoyed the film and wanted to see the expansion of the world/story that they inevitably have to cut from movies for pacing reasons. I have to admit I was initially concerned this was going to be too much of a romance novel, and it is, sometimes verging on Mills and Boon, and as a science fiction fan I was hoping for more time travel, which there isn’t. However… I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quicker than this and I loved it!Fundamentally it’s a wholly original time travel story that’s never been covered before and you should give it a go.