Remember when I finally read Middlesex, after putting it aside as something I probably wouldn't like, and absolutely adored it? Same thing just happened with The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I can't recall exactly why I passed on it repeatedly over the years (it was published in 2003), nor can I remember who it was who finally insisted I give it a try, but I brought it on vacation last week and fell in love with it.
I don't usually do sci-fi, but I have always been intrigued by the idea of time travel—well, who hasn't? I remember the first time I saw "The Terminator" and couldn't stop with the "what if" mental games. And I do enjoy love stories, as long as they're not sappy. This book is a perfect fit for me: It's a really beautiful love story involving a time-traveler and a non-time-traveler.
None of the following offers any kind of spoiler; you know right off the bat from the title that you're going to be reading about a time-traveling man and his non-time-traveling wife. Clare first meets Henry when she's 6 and he's 36—he has time-traveled from the future and found himself in a field with a little girl. He knows that this is Clare, who will grow up to be his wife, but she of course has no idea who he is. He continues to visit her from their shared future until she's 18, after which point he doesn't come back for 2 years. (He can't control his time traveling; it just happens.) Then, when she's 20, she sees him in the library where he works. He's only 28, so he's never met her before—all his visits to her as a child and teenager happen later, when he's older!—whereas she of course recognizes him, although he looks younger than she's ever seen him. I find this stuff fascinating, thought-provoking, and way cool.
Sometimes Henry goes back to visit himself as a child; very infrequently he travels to his own future. He can't change the past in any meaningful way, but he sometimes manages to break the rules a little. As you can imagine, there are plenty of holes in the logic, but I was willing to overlook them. In fact, I had no trouble at all setting aside my realistic expectations for the plot; somehow the idea of Henry as a "Chrono-Displaced Person" seemed believable enough for me.
The story is told by both Henry and Clare. A heading for each section tells us the date, how old Henry and Clare are, and who's narrating. I think the author did a masterful job of creating these two very believable, likable characters and adding a truly bizarre twist to their lives.
If you start this book and feel confused, keep at it. It will soon make sense to you and you will be rewarded by a wonderful story. Really.
I love love loved that book! It's also a movie (currently in post production) starring Eric Bana as Henry.
Posted by: steve | July 24, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I once got my hands on a whatchamacallit bookseller's freebie of that title, but never got around to reading it. Maybe I should.
Posted by: scott | July 24, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I read it one Labour Day weekend on the deck overlooking the Saguenay in Tadoussac, Quebec, glass of wine in hand. Very good book and very pleasant memories of reading it.
Posted by: the nag | July 24, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I loved that book, and really didn't expect to!It wasn't the type of story I normally read. I have Middlesex in my pile of unread books, along with Kite runner and the Golden compass series.
Posted by: Margaret | July 24, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I enjoyed it but found it a little TOO confusing. I had trouble keeping everything straight about who and what and when.....I wonder what the movie will be like.
Posted by: Lisa | July 24, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Absolutely loved this book. It was excellent! (I also loved Middlesex).
Posted by: Tonya | July 24, 2008 at 07:34 PM
This is on my top ten list of fav books. Adored it and sobbed big ugly tears at the end. Passed it on to hubby who also loved it but did not sob.
Posted by: Sara | July 24, 2008 at 09:31 PM
This is one of my favorite books of all time!! I also put off reading it for a long time. The minute I finished, I turned back to the first page to re-read it. I just LOVED Henry. It does take a little while to figure out the back-and-forth of the timing, but it's worth it. I've been putting off reading Middlesex too, but based on your review, I'll probably read it.
Posted by: Elena | July 24, 2008 at 09:36 PM
I liked it a lot, too, but unfortunately, I had bad morning sickness (baby is 16 mo. now!) two summers ago when I read it and now I always associate that book with nausea. Isn't that weird? I remember lying in the baby pool on our deck and reading it while the then 2-yr.-old took his nap. Thanks for the book memory!
Posted by: Camille | July 24, 2008 at 10:27 PM
My sister-in-law gave me the TTW and it haunted me for years because I couldn't get into it. I took it on a plane, and fell in love with it. I still think about it. I might read it again.
Also loved Middlesex, and have The Virgin Suicides on this summer's list.
I finished Anne Patchett's Run yesterday and wish I could start it again.
Posted by: kate | July 27, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Karen, I was one of the people who INSISTED you must read Time Traveler's Wife! I read it years ago and absolutely loved it, but when I heard Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (then married) bought the rights to the book I nearly cried. Glad you liked it.
Posted by: Deb C | July 28, 2008 at 08:10 PM