The Time Traveler's Wife

by Audrey Niffenegger

Book Overview

Now a series on HBO starring Rose Leslie and Theo James The iconic time travel love story and mega-bestselling first novel from Audrey Niffenegger is "a soaring celebration of the victory of love over... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 015602943X
• ISBN13: 9780156029438
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Harvest Books
• Length: 546 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Glad I kept reading

The first half of the book was a little rough to get through but once I got half way I couldn’t put it down. This is the first book I’ve read in a long time and it has definitely jumpstarted me into becoming the avid reader I used to be 5+ years ago.

Disappointed

I am surprised by all the good reviews the book received. I myself did not enjoy it. It was hard for me to finish.

Beautifully written

This book is amazing. I watched the movie first, so when I got the book i knew i was going to like it. But by the time I began reading it I was so pleasantly surprised. It is so well written and beautifully crafted. It is hands down my favorite book now. I highly recommend to everyone I meet.

Beautiful book

One of the most beautifully written books, and a tragic but amazing love story. A must read.

I loved it!!

It was such an amazing story. You fall in love with characters so easily because it was so beautifully written.

Love IS Immortal.

"The Time-traveler's Wife" is a real treat for time travel genre lovers! It is not an easy book to read. A complicated space-time frame (similar in some aspects to the one used in "Bones of the Earth"), may dishearten some readers. Still if you persist you'll be gratified! The story starts with what will be the general pattern of the novel. WHAT is a "first date"? WHEN is "the first time I saw her/him"? Henry is subject to a genetic disease that makes him "jump" into time (forward or backward) without his control. Each jump is dangerous because Henry is ejected nude into whatever time-place may result. Day or night, cold or hot, desert place or crowded places he has to start running for shelter just on arrive. In this context a love story emerges full of sentiment. Clare is always waiting for his lover to show up. Henry always fears to leave her alone forever. Clare is a sensitive artist and is in touch with Henry's "jumps" since she is a little girl, yet for all her training, she will never be able to "get used" to it. Ms. Niffenegger plays sagely with time displacement, examines many different situations and takes maximum advantage from them in a way that will leave you thinking about more than once. Even though, the heart of the story is a love affair with all its condiments: family relationships, jealousy, fidelity, children and above all this are the mysterious bond between Clare and Henry. Gripping and thought provoking. Time-travelers: do not let pass this trip! Sensible souls: do not miss this heartbreaking tale! Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Realized I loved it by page 8!

This is a love story with the science fiction of time travel blended in wonderfully. I've read a LOT of scifi, including lots on time travel. But the author totally blew me away with some of her concepts of time travel here. The love story was terrific, with lots of unique characters, ideas and plot developments. And the author's unique method of telling this story was totally successful, even though it requires the reader to flip pages to keep track of the story line. I had real trouble putting this book down and enjoyed it to the end because she continually kept it intesting, exciting, unique and loving. I can't recommend this highly enough. Update 9/19/07: Two years later this is still my favorite book of all time.

Beautifully written!

I stumbled across this book by mistake and hesitated to read it simply because it was 518 pages. To my surprise, I devoured this book in a few days and felt a pang of sadness when it was finished. The author crafts a story of something that is quite unbelievable and yet deftly makes it so very believable. I was hooked after the first chapter. Niffenegger managed to suck me in to this story so that I felt emotionally bound to the characters and their plight. It's a tragic story that weaves so much love/pain/joy/disappointment that it fairly bursts with emotion. Read it!

An Interesting and Unique New Voice In Fiction...

I was very intrigued by The Time Traveler's Wife when I first saw it announced as the Today Show Book Club pick for October. The story seemed so unique and fresh. I find it amazing when an author can come up with an inventive, new concept to base a novel on. It seems to me that in this day and age many authors "borrow" ideas from their rivals, or simply just recycle an old plot to make it seem fresh. That's not the case with Audrey Niffenegger. This first time novelist manages to create a unique character with an unheard of medical condition. Henry is a CDP, Chronologically Displaced Person. Henry spends his life with the constant fear that he will suddenly time travel to another era of his life. His wife meets him in an orchard when she is 6 and his 36. He doesn't actually "meet" her until years later when he is in his twenties. Doesn't make sense? Don't worry, read the book and it will all come together.This book is thick, with a very complicated story. You will find yourself slightly confused at times, wondering where in life Henry's disorder has placed him. Keep reading. Although it may feel as if you are trying to fit together some strange puzzle of time and places, they do connect, creating a beautiful and absolutley exceptional novel. The prevailing concept that I took with me from reading this book is that love can stand the test of time. In fact, in the case of Henry and Clare, love is absolutley timeless.

Surprisingly wonderful book!

I picked this book up, ONLY because I read a few good reviews; I really thought it sounded like the typical romantic "fluff" novels that I despise. SURPRISE! This book was remarkable, I thoroughly enjoyed it - I didn't want it to end. It is different - fantasy, fairy tale, horror story, but most of all, a truly touching love story. It makes you realize that we need to treasure life's joys, because those moments can be fleeting. Also, it shows that in a loving relationship, we must be willing to compromise to accomodate each other's weaknesses and strengths, and to adjust our expectations to the reality of the situation in a truly loving relationship. A wonderful book, very touching! I highly recommend it - I borrowed this book from the library, and I am going out to buy it tomorrow, I HAVE to own it!