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The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler's Wife

by Audrey Niffenegger
  • Critics' Consensus:
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  • First Published:
  • Aug 1, 2003, 518 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 2004, 560 pages
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There are currently 52 reader reviews for The Time Traveler's Wife
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Itiswhatitis

Brilliant story, details, flow, characters (sometimes)
I have to say that the movie and story are on my top picks. There are however areas such as word choice, vocabulary choice of dialogue or consciousness that could be paid more attention to which would elevate the level of this kind of story to the level of a great classic. Sometimes, when I was reading, I was disappointed at word choice which let the story and writer down - in MY humble opinion. I love so much about this novel and the movies, cinematography, taste of clothes, interior design, choice of book titles, oh so many things both in the novel and in the movie but I have to be honest, I think that the editor could have taken this novel to the next level if they just paid more attention to the language used and choice of words. Its really a shame because I expected from everything else given, a classic type writing. This is not only the fault of the writer so I am not entirely critiquing the writing even though it may seem like it, but the editor, whose job it is to polish it.

Some things should be left to imagination and some things more delicately and artistically explained than to blurt everything out. Again - editor. I am waiting for another novel by this writer because I really love her imagination, ideas, concepts and on and on.
Power Reviewer
Cloggie Downunder

Wonderful
The Time Traveler’s Wife is Audrey Niffenegger’s second novel. This is the story of Henry DeTamble (the Time Traveler) and Clare Abshire (the Time Traveler’s Wife). Clare first meets Henry when she is six years old and he suddenly appears, naked, in the Meadow near her home: he’s thirty-six at the time. On the other hand, Henry first meets Clare in the library where he works, when he’s twenty-eight and she’s twenty. Henry has a condition called Chrono-Displacement Disorder, which has him disappearing and reappearing into various times in the past and future. This is ultimately a beautiful love story with a time-travel twist, which adds a different dimension to the story: humour in some parts, horror or heartache in others. Whilst reading this book can be confusing at first, once you realise that Clare’s story moves forward normally in time, and you remember to pay attention to Henry’s age in the headings, it all starts to make sense. Henry and Clare’s ardour and their attempts to lead a normal life, to have a family, in the face of his disorder, make for a memorable and deeply stirring tale. Niffenegger is skilled with prose and plot; the reader is held enthralled as her imagination is transformed into words. This novel has been described as enchanting, moving, extraordinary, haunting, compelling, a soaring love story: I agree with all of those. I laughed and cried. I so love this book: it is one of my all-time favourite novels. Writing this review has made me want to read it yet again.
Dayna!

AWESOME
This book I had to do for a book report, and let me tell you the movie doesn't do any justice!
Camille L.

The Dynamics of Time Traveling!
Since Henry was a boy, he has been different. He has what will be called “Chrono-Displacement Disorder.” This disorder causes him to travel through time; he can go forwards or backwards in time, but often finds himself returning to the same spots. One second he is at his work at the Newberry Library in Chicago and the next he is stark naked in a meadow in Michigan. The downside to Henry’s traveling is that nothing comes with him; he may end up somewhere dangerous, in the freezing snow or in the middle of traffic with no clothes and only himself to rely on.

Clare Abshire is also a special individual. When she was six years old a man appeared in her meadow claiming to have come from the future. At this age she is unsure about the man but over time and through many visits she realizes that Henry is her true love, the man who she would marry in the future. Henry is only eight years older than Clare but he first meets her when she is six and he is 36 in the meadow near her parent’s house. The two get to know each other during Clare’s adolescence with different versions of Henry sporadically popping in.

I loved this book; the author takes you back and forth through time showing you the perspectives of both the time traveler and the time traveler’s wife. As a reader you are able to fall in love with the characters as they struggle with the time they have with each other and see how they deal with it being ripped from them. It is a depiction of how love lasts through a life and how it grows with each challenge faced. Personally I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but there are some who would not like the book. It is especially not written for children or young teens because it is very mature and has some very mature themes throughout the entire book. If people are not comfortable with mature themes, (i.e. swearing, sexual intimacy, and crudeness) then this is not the book for them.
Beetch

WONDERFUL!
Best book I ever read! Next to twilight series. And I hate reading so it must have been a good book to keep me reading! Love it! Can't wait for the movie.
Nicky Head

A fantastic read
I am absolutely hopeless at reading books, I get bored very easily so I usually take months to fully read a book. I read 'The Time Travelers Wife' in less than a week! It is beautifully written and had me laughing and crying in equal measures. I have since bought my husband, Mum and Dad a copy. My husband who often reads books in a week read this one in 3 days and has not shut up about it! Thank you Audrey for such a remarkable read.
Mary

Rich Love Story for those who love to read!
In my book club we all take turn selecting our monthly pick. So when my friend Mary, selected this as her choice, I think I rolled my eyes. However, after the first few chapters I was sucked into Henry and Clare's very complicated life. This story line is so involved that the reader almost has to read it twice to follow Henry's time traveling. However, the read only need read this book once to feel and understand the power of Henry and Clare's love for each other.

I do not believe I would have selected this book to read on my own. I am grateful to my friend Mary for making all of us in our book club read it.
Power Reviewer
Kim

Beautiful book
I read this book early last year and still think about it often.

OK, it's not a model of fine literature.
It's also not a well-crafted work of science fiction.

If those are the reasons you're looking at starting this book, never mind, you probably won't like it.

It's a love story (although not a sappy, bodice-ripping Harlequin Romance kind of thing). It a beautiful, involving, original tale that stayed with me for a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been one of only two books I've recommended to my reading friends in the last year.

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