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Avg. Rating: 4.16
Quirky urban love story
Quirky urban love story
I don't know how author Audrey Niffenegger managed to make this bizarre and highly original premise work, but somehow she pulled it altogether and created a real winner. Henry Detamble has a real problem: he's stuck in the loop of a time warm, a veritable prisoner of the past who is swept from one era to another with absolutely no sense to the timing of his travels. He's married to Clare, works in a library - but swoops into different eras, usually somehow managing to lose all his clothes during the trip, and sometimes even runs into himself in passing, so to speak. The central problem is that, as time passes, Clare ages along the expected continuum while Henry's age shifts forward and backward, depending on where he is at any given time. Watching how this unique couple cope with the difficulties this produces in their tender and often passionate marriage is what makes this an unusual urban love story.
Don't miss it; all the hoopla is well-deserved.
All Bark, No Bite
While the author does a good job at helping her readers stay sane while her character Henry jumps around in time (meaning it's not that hard to keep up) and it IS an intriguing science fiction concept, as put forth in the Publisher's Weekly review, it is NOT a "touching love story," nor is it a "realistic character study." The characters aren't fully drawn, physically or otherwise for the reader. A huge part of the story is dialogue, and a good portion of the dialogue at the beginning is only on the page to explain to the reader how the time travel works - it's a poorly used, thinly disguised device.The question looming largest in my mind regarding the storyline was, "If you jumped back&forth in time, wouldn't you AT LEAST ONCE try&change the past?" But Henry never does. The issue is skirted once (and Henry's not even the one who brings it up!)&then forgotten about. (Granted, this particular critism was based on my expectations of the book, so maybe not important to other readers.) Overall, I was very disappointed by this book. Yes, the subject matter is extremely intriguing, which is why it was published&why so many people have picked it up. But it just doesn't deliver. Definitely all bark and no bite. Trust me, in 50 years, no one will remember this book. I wish I'd checked it out from the library instead of shelled out $25 for it.
I loved this book
This is a truly a masterpiece. The characters and the plot is simply astounding. It tells a story about the lives of two people through a series of episodes. I found this book entertaining, and a good book to pick up on a rainy afternoon. Any day as a matter of fact. A wonderful journey, which is recommended for anyone to enjoy.Also recommended is "Don't Call That Man", and "He Never Called Again". Back to the book, "The Time Traveler's Wife", read it, it's quite fascinating.
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