The Time Traveler's Wife
was a re-read for me. I don't usually read books more than once, but in this case I had the urge to check the book out from the library one more time. The first time I read it, I really loved it. The second time through I still liked it, but I realized I had a few issues with the book.One thing I really love is how Niffenegger uses Henry's time traveling to foreshadow later events in the book. Henry's jumps through time are well thought out, I know if I was the author they wouldn't make any sense, but Niffenegger manages to keep them all straight.
The issues I had with this book are really a matter of taste and not so much a reflection on the author (I think). I had a harder time buying Henry as a punk rock listening librarian (can you say oxymoron?) reading this book for the second time. I also thought some of the sex scenes were unnecessarily graphic and seemed out of place. I'm no prude, but they just seemed a little weird.
Regardless, I still thought it was a fun read and would recommend it if you're looking for a love story with a unique twist.
I started to read this book once and got really bored and put it down. I picked it up again and once I restarted it was better. But I agree there was still something off. I wonder if the movie was even better?
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite book of late (ie: the last few years)
ReplyDeleteAnd I can totally buy a punk rockin' librarian. stodgy librarians are largely an urban myth. They're usually on the front lines of new material, and very forward thinking. And they're all the ultimate first amendment upholders!
Jenny - I still haven't seen the movie, I really want to though.
ReplyDeletedm - lol, I stand corrected about the punk rock librarians!
I really, really like this book. I even use some of the descriptive paragraphs (not the sex scene) to model descriptive writing for my students. Though I haven't read it in a couple years, and I'm partial to all the Chicago mentions because it's fun to read about places I really go. I heard the movie wasn't so good...
ReplyDeleteim reading The Kite Runner right now. Have you read it?
ReplyDeleteKari - I have read it, I really liked it. I haven't read A Thousand Splendid Suns though (also by Hosseini Khaled). Are you liking it so far?
ReplyDeleteI probably have no business writing here because I haven't read the book and have only seen the movie (which I heard wasn't nearly as good), but I'm actually scared to pick up the novel. The movie was so sad that I'm scared an even better book would put me in a funk for weeks.
ReplyDelete*Spoiler alert to those who haven't read or seen the movie,* but the movie ends with her daughter and her being visited by the younger Time Traveler from the past after the current one has passed away. I'm just thinking what a horrible life this must be for her. She can NEVER move on because she has no idea when he might pop up again unexpectedly. And how can she ever heal emotionally if she keeps coming into contact with him for a few minutes at a time? It's kind of torture, really. She'll never get him back to where they can continue a relationship, yet she can't be with another guy when he might show up at any time in her back yard. Just awful!
Meg - (and again this is a spoiler) that happens in the book as well, but it does sound like it ends a little differently (although I haven't seen the movie). In the book though it does sound like she knows how many times to expect to see Henry (even if she doesn't know the exact date). I read an interesting analysis of the book that talked about how she was always waiting for him. In the beginning of the book she makes a reference to always waiting for Henry and the book concludes in a similar way. I thought it was an interesting insight into how she viewed their relationship and their life together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you though, knowing that he was going to show up eventually - without actually having him with her everyday - would be emotional torture.
some books have to be re-read...I saw the movie and we'll likely end up reading the book - I'm backwards like that watch movie read book
ReplyDeleteKate, I really need to read this book. We have the movie from Netflix, and I'm looking forward to it. :)
ReplyDelete