Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Time Traveler's Wife (Today Show Book Club #15) by Audrey Niffenegger ISBN: 1-931561-64-8 Publisher: MacAdam/Cage Publishing Pub. Date: 17 September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (273 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Half perfection, half deeply flawed.
Comment: For a first novel Audrey Niffenegger has done a wonderful job of creating a new and interesting perspective on time travel using a love story as the foreground.
The first half of the book was absolutely stupendous. Niffenegger sets up her premise and you get pulled into her world. It was at this point that I thought I would be recommending this book to everyone and buying extra copies for my friends for Christmas.
And then things began to fail to add up or were just disturbing. (Spoiler alert.)
Niffenegger creates certain rules (as required by most sci-fi/fantasy) for her world. Henry, the time traveler, can't really change things, he can only really observe. Then, when the plot requires it and Clare needs more space in their house, he wins the lottery. This brings out several problems. One, if he can do that, why can't he do other things? Two, if he can be rich, why can't he affect things outside of his life such as people who are destitute, charities or political causes? And why don't these issues even come up - does he even care? And three, the lottery is brought up and then . . . forgotten.
This pattern occurs again when Henry seeks medical attention. We're drawn in as he convinces his doctor (who smokes in his office - give me a break!) to treat him and study his DNA. And then we have to wait 100+ pages as Niffenegger follows Clare's obsession with having a baby over several years. What's Henry's doctor doing to treat Henry? We don't know because we're not shown.
Both Clare and Henry, in the latter half of the novel, are presented in a rather flawed manner.
Henry is confronted with his own mortality, more so than most humans. But does he discuss it, think about it, reveal the details to his loved ones as he should do? Not really.
Clare on the other hand becomes downright selfish and obsessed in the second half. She betrays one of her best friends not just once, but twice. There's an annoying scene where she tries to "protect" Alba, her daughter, from medical assistance against Henry's wishes when he so obviously knows what's best far better than she does. And then there's the ending in which we are given nothing about Clare's life after Henry's departure. It's as if her life was nothing without him. She did nothing, accomplished nothing.
The book reminded me at the end of "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. A compliment of sorts. But like "Heights," "The Time Traveler's Wife" is about an unhealthy expression of love and obsession.
One of the things that felt so odd about the book was it's lack of involvement with the outside world. It seems unlikely that Henry's actions would be so ignored by the government. Wouldn't someone catch on, start investigating, and then want in on the action? Wouldn't Henry's friends be more persistant about getting help, especially about money? Wouldn't both Henry and Clare be interested in helping others with Henry's knowledge? It's as if Clare and Henry are living in their own cocoon because none of these issues are really brought up.
Overall, Niffenegger makes the mistake of having "idiot plot" devices control her story. Why is something there? It's there because the plot demands it, not because it fits with the characters or the real story.
All of this is such a shame given the book's first half which just glowed with promise. Despite all these criticisms, it's still a good read. It's just not going to be a classic.
Rating: 4
Summary: What would you classify this book as?
Comment: I'm not sure I know myself. Is "The Time Traveler's Wife" science fiction? If so, it's one of the most unique science fiction stories I've come across in quite some time - but the premise is somewhat outlandish, even for science fiction.
Is it a love story? That's a bit easier to answer - it's definitely a love story, but not like any love story I've ever read. There are stories of love across time - Diana Gabaldon's series, for one - but the people in her stories stay put for the most part. Audrey Niffenegger's main character, librarian Henry De Trimble, jumps back and forth from present to past, and in some cases from present to future, at what seems like the drop of a hat. Niffenegger maintains her chronology, though. She never varies it or suddenly changes it; her only deviation, if you can call it that, is to present several incidents throughout Henry's life from different points of view.
Her main thesis - that Henry's time travelling abilties are somehow genetic in nature - is really sheer nonsense, but if you let go of your scientific assumptions and believe in her premise, this is a wonderful story that is sure to become a classic. Henry is a librarian who apparently travels along the timeline of Claire Abshire, the woman who is destined to be his wife and the mother of his child. He visits her as a little girl, as a teenager, and as a woman grown.
And there is definitely room for a sequel, since it's no secret that Henry's daughter, Alba, has the same ability as her father - except that sometimes she can control where and when she travels to.
This is definitely a story worth reading, and it has the potential for being a great movie - if the right person can be found to tell it.
Rating: 5
Summary: IF YOU LIKE LOVE STORIES
Comment: This is one of the best love stories I have encountered so far in life. The love between Henry and Clare is the same as any other people; it is the way they go about it that is so different. Henry can travel through time. He cannot control it but is aware of some things that trigger it. When he travels he usually goes to the past and to points of emotional significance. He describes it as kind of like emotional gravity. And so, he frequently visits his wife in the past while she is growing up. This situation of course leads to many interesting encounters and begs many, many questions. The author deals with many inquires and problems that are associated with time travel through out the book. She actually does this in such a fantastic way that this is one of those awesome works of fiction that I find myself believing. Structurally it is organized very well and keeps the reader from too much confusion that can be caused by two Henrys in one place! Also, it is easy to tell the author is a reader, there are many fun references to books and music that make the characters so alive. All in all I do not wish to speak too much on the plot except for it being a love story. It is a fantastic read and I would rather not spoil it for you. It is not too difficult but entirely engaging. This is the first book in a long time that made me cry, and I am going to read it now for a second time! Other Amazon quick-pick recommendations: THE LOSERS CLUB by Richard Perez, [email protected] by Tom Grimes
 |
Title: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ISBN: 0385504209 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 18 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
 |
Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Today Show Book Club #13) by Mark Haddon ISBN: 0385512104 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 31 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
 |
Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom ISBN: 0786868716 Publisher: Hyperion Press Pub. Date: 23 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
 |
Title: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown ISBN: 0671027360 Publisher: Pocket Star Pub. Date: 26 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
 |
Title: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd ISBN: 0142001740 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 28 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
