How can I relate how much I loved this book? The love story between Clare and Henry is simply hauntingly beautiful. I sat in an airplane reading it and it made me cry. The author writes each segment, each meeting between the characters with a stark honesty. I related to both characters and felt both of their joys and pains. It's an amazing story-telling experience and it's written in a witty and non-expected way. I just loved it. A pleasure to read...I just wish I found it earlier.

My book group selected this book. I didn't really know much about it going in.

I was quickly impressed by the way the author was able to take such a complicated plotline with characters interacting with each other at different ages throughout their lives and make it easy to follow.

It was a really different take on time travel than I had ever read before---not a scifi "go back and fix history" book, not about paradoxes and alternate universes--and I enjoyed the fresh view of the idea. This vision of time travel is much more believable to me.

I really liked parts of this book. The concept is great, the first section of the book was really good, and there were some really nice moments through out.
I also disliked some parts of this book. Its really sad, probably too sad. I actually almost stopped reading the book after the first part because I could tell that it was going to become really depressing. I put it down for a day but decided it would be worth finishing. I didn't regret my decision until the end, which was not at all pleasing. I was really not happy with the end. Two minor problems were ethnic stereotyping (it doesn't come off as racist but is sort of comical in a bad way) and an overabundance of sex.
I would probably recommend this book to others because I was really grabbed by it emotionally BUT I would be wary of doing so because there is a real possibility that a person wouldn't like this book at all.

I can't say I had high expectations for this book, but I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately I can't count the times I nearly threw it against the wall in despair and almost gave up. I don't give up easily though, and continued to torture myself with finishing this awful book. I read quite a bit, and was sooo disappointed that this book ended up rising to the very top of my 'never recommend/never read again' list.

As some others have said, the characters were so out of well..'character' with their useage of the "f" word and even the "C" word. I was completely put off, and I'm no prude....However, nothing felt loving or romantic about this book AT ALL. I was under the impression that this was a love story that spands time,etc..But I only felt slightly sickened by the two main characters interactions. He always came off a tad bit pervy...and she seemed naive and manipulated....when she wasn't using the 'f' or 'c' word or having sex....which they had lots of. Too bad we never had a chance to see what the rest of their world may have been like. There were no romantic encounters....the most sentimental moments happened when Clare was a child...and even those were a bit ruined by the fact that Henry is NUDE a majority of the time. I couldn't quite figure out what the author was trying to get across. The premise of the story is a unique and interesting one, but the actual story was not worth reading. I felt it could have been written so much better. It's a shame.

I absolutely loved this book. I abandoned all of my responsibilities for two days so that I could read The Time Traveler's wife without stopping. I have now recommended it to everyone I know. It's a little confusing in the beginning, but a good confusing, because the author makes you want to keep reading to find out how everything will work out. You read bits and pieces of this man's great life at the times that he his experiencing them and it's very suspenseful. There is enough of both suspense and romance to appeal to all audiences.

SPOILERS: A totally disturbing, offensive, and unwarranted present day ending scene left me wondering where the hell was love in this story to start with.. Was love really there? A love story that had been building for at least 12 years was spoiled in an instant, which ripples throughout the story until the finale. One wonders how much love was really there..

I am not one of those people who hate a book because of its ending. I also welcome tragic endings and don't cry for happy endings. Strike two stars out.

I was going to give this book a 5 as I very much enjoyed reading it. However, all was gone when I got to the last 10 pages. What I would have been left with was going to be a very memorable love story. Then in the last 10 pages, the story that has been building from page one collapses, and I see Clare for what she really is, an idiot - to avoid using much more colorful words ...

I hated the Gomez character from the first time I read him. Thank you for ruining an other wise great read.

I really tried to give it a chance. I reread the last 20 pages three times. I also listed to it on Audio CD, which is done very well. But I was always left with an overwhelming feeling of being cheated of my time and investment in the story. I felt I was lied to, without an excuse or proper setup.

I am going back to Kin Grimwood's masterpiece, "Replay," which was spinning in my mind non-stop for days after I finished reading it. Replay was balanced and comprehensive. It brought me to tears. The Time Traveler's Wife, on the other hand, offended me.

I LOVE books. I will read anything I get my hands on and appreciate all books. Even one's that aern't my favorites can take me away somewhere even for a short while and entertain me. I personally don't think I could write a book either, so I commend anyone who can :) I also very rarely review books, but felt so compelled to after reading this to write one.

This was the author's first book, and frankly it was obvious in reading it that this was her first book. She had an AMAZING concept, the book sounded like a lot of fun... I REALLY wanted to like this book, but I cannot... at all.

The book is very poorly developed. The author obviously took a lot of time outlining the book to coincide dates, etc... so in that way it was developed, but her character and plot development was very poorly done. Also this book has so much useless information put in it that I can't understand why it was there! I feel like the author could have written 3 or 4 WELL written novels with the information she tried to cram into one book. It ended up being a book that DRAGGED on and had little development on many pieces of information put out there. This probably would have even made a great series book.

This book was like watching a 4 hour movie that really only needs to be 2 hours. I have no problem with a long book, or a long movie if it keeps me entertained or turning the pages in anticipation or interest. This book however didn't do that. Easily a third to half of this book could have been cut out and it would have lost nothing, in my opinion would have made a better book.She wrote in a way that every single detail of every single time and place was described.

Also, I want to add this: I am a reader of erotica novels as well. I have no problem personally with graphic or foul language, but her sex scenes in here were COMPLETLEY out of place for the book, unnecessarily graphic, poorly written and frankly appalling and well foul.It's like pouring a glass of milk and once you take a sip you realize it has curdled, horrible!! I would have been really upset if I had let my daughter read this book. There's no reason or indication of why this book should have sex scenes like that or as many 4 letter words as it did. Even a romance novel with scenes like that gives indication that they are there by indicating that it's "steamy" or "sensual" or "erotically charged" etc...

All in all I give the book a thumbs down. It is an overall shallow book, with MANY MANY MANY undeveloped sub-plots, needless information and poorly edited information. All the characters speak in the same manner and say the same things (except Kimy and Nell which were racially stereotyped)so there is not even diversity in that aspect. For me it's like this: If you go into bath and body works store you may like 15 of the scents in the store and the may all smell good on their own, but they won't smell good all mixed together and used at the same time!!!

Highly disappointed, but wish the author luck in her next book should there be one.

I'm surprised that there are any negative reviews of this book. I loved it! Yes Henry and Clare are intelligent, artsy types who go around quoting foreign poets and philosophers but it's a fiction book, it's not based on real people. Never once did I find the dialogue forced, it flowed wonderfully. The reviewers who take issue with Henry reciting German poetry didn't take issue with him being a time traveler?
Anyway, don't let the bad reviews keep you from reading this book. I loved it.

The premise of this book is intriguing, but alas, the execution is prosaic. Although curious about the plotting, by the time I was halfway through it felt contrived, and I cared very little for the characters. I fear the author opted for cleverness rather than insight into the longing of the heart. I don't know how old the author is, but if she is young perhaps she will mature into human understanding. Experience sometimes rewards talent in that way. This effort, however was disappointing.

This is a fantastic time-travel book with a glorious
ending! At times a bit hard to keep track of, but
a wonderful audiobook!

Like another reviewer, I, too, ended up having a love/hate relationship with this book. The writing is very interesting. I liked the way Niffenegger handled the going back and forth in dates (after getting accustomed to it within a few pages).

I didn't feel that the characters were too underdeveloped. The details left out were just as important as what was not. I appreciate her concise writing on certain events, such as the 9/11 events. Yes, they COULD have been expanded, but did we really need them to be? I think the event was publicized enough not to have the horse beaten some more in the story.

The only (and big) problem, for me, is that the novel is incredibly depressing. Almost all the characters had intensely sad events in their pasts, to such an extent that it seems unrealistic and puts a bad taste in your mouth. Finishing the novel was honestly a beating, and on top of that, the ending was not very satisfying. Had some of these heartbreaking events been left out, I would have definitely recommended this novel. As it is, read at your own risk.

I picked up this book on whim from a must read list and was not disappointed. It is a story of patience and lost, of love on it's most enduring levels. It does jump around a lot, but everything comes full circle and blends harmoniously.

It is the story of Clare and Henry. He meets her as a little girl and stays in her life while he jumps in time, all without a definate purpose or a way to change the outcomes. He is the ultimate voyeur, one that he would trade anything to change. The books unravels to show the ultimate commitment and sacrifice of their love, which truly is a beautiful thing.

I let myself down, and I didn't have to travel through time to do it. If I could go back in time, I would tap myself on the shoulder and say, "Find another book." That's not entirely true. I did take some things from the tale.

I was so excited to dig into the concept. I couldn't wait to find out about this love affair which wouldn't be tamed by time. I was even interested in the concept of being a "close" friend with one's self. Most of the hiccups readers complain about in this book didn't faze me.

I believe I set myself up with such a high expectation for Ms. Niffenegger's execution, perhaps something no one could fulfill. I'll take the blame for that one.

However, I put all of the blame on the author for delivering a betraying conclusion. I have no problem with real life over fluffy love, but don't sell me fluffy for 97% of the book and then bait and switch me.

I was so betrayed and hurt by the ending, I carried the bitterness with me for weeks. You can ask my wife.

If you are still intrigued to read this story, let me warn you of Ms. Niffenegger's abuse of one-liners, a cheap reference to 9/11 which had nothing to do with the plot, and ethic characters who portrayed racial stereotypes - such a weak effort.

It's a shame a different author couldn't have gotten a shot at this plot.

The only reason I didn't give Time Travelers Wife one star is because it was an interesting and unique plot line and at the end of the book I didn't feel as if I wanted my time back.

That said, I didn't enjoy this book. I think the author spent more time trying to make her plot contrivances work rather than developing the characters. The characters are flat. We span several decades yet the characters don't grow at all. This is unfortunate because the character (Henry and Claire) are not likable in the least. They are self possessed, Important, dullards, who pride themselves on how very Different and Unique they are. In a word, they are douche bags. Urban, yuppie, douche bags. Who have lots of sex. Yes, we know H and C are in love because, they get it on All. The. Freaking. Time. Other than that their chemistry is not greatly developed.

Not only is there no chemistry, I don't even believe that Henry actually loved Claire as we are supposed to believe. He controlled every moment of her life by his prophesies and he left her in heartbreak and worry every time he disappeared. When he dies, he keeps her life in even more aggrieved suspense by saying they will meet again decades later! I think Henry was very selfish in this respect and one of the main reasons I could never sympathize with his plight.

Claire is equally annoying. She is beautiful. She is sexy. Everyone wants to be with her. Her hair is golden like the sun. Her body is amazing. She is an artist. She reads French poetry. But she has absolutely no personality outside of Henry. Henry defines her. She never questions anything he tells her. She takes the fact that they are to marry at face value. This type of character is boring.

The other characters, if possible, are actually worse. They are only around to showcase what a beautiful love, what a charmed life, H and C have. Appallingly, the author gives all racial minorities in the book racially stereotypical mannerisms or speaking patterns or professions. The way the author makes Kimmy speak almost made me throw the book in disgust. It's like the author doesn't actually know anyone in real life who isn't white and her only concept of non-white people is from 1950's media.

So for me, it's the characters, not the plot, that made me dislike this book so greatly. You can't write a love story where the couple I am supposed to root for are so very unlikeable and the side characters around them are just foils to their love or worse, racially pegged.

This is a book of parts. Tasty parts that spread nougat goodness across my tongue and tender parts that swell in my chest.
This isn't a book about love, though it couldn't have been written without it. It's a book about abiding and about seeing the truth of things when even the best truth is another lie.
It's a very, very good book.

I refused to read this book for ages because it was a trendy book with a trendy name. But now I understand everyone's love for it. I suppose that the way to get a sci-fi book to succeed is to not market it as a sci-fi book. This book is 100% a time travel novel, and it's done quite cleverly. The time traveler in question has a genetic mutation that makes him spontaneously time travel, so he lands in various times and places quite naked. He often runs into himself, but he also meets his wife when...more I refused to read this book for ages because it was a trendy book with a trendy name. But now I understand everyone's love for it. I suppose that the way to get a sci-fi book to succeed is to not market it as a sci-fi book. This book is 100% a time travel novel, and it's done quite cleverly. The time traveler in question has a genetic mutation that makes him spontaneously time travel, so he lands in various times and places quite naked. He often runs into himself, but he also meets his wife when he's an adult and she's a child. While she has known him all her life, he only knows her during his adulthood. It wasn't difficult to figure out where the book was going and when the roller coaster was going to plunge downhill. However, the process of reading the novel was quite satisfying. The author is able to create a world and quickly bring the reader comfortably inside it to be a watcher in the shadows. I'm definitely glad I finally broke down to read this book because it's certainly now among my all time favorites.

Obviously I'm used to the old classics and "nice" books. I bought this book on the recommendation of a fairly like-minded friend, and thought the plot looked good. I wasn't prepared for it to be smattered throughout with the "f" word, oral sex, and brief graphic violence. Also I thought the end was rather depressing. There was little about living life, and mostly about life being wrapped up in this one person. This would make a better movie than book in my opinion--and I very rarely choose movie over novel. I'm sure this book will be wildly popular, but if you're like me and enjoy a good read that makes you feel like a better person at the end vs. feeling brought down a moral notch or two, choose another book.

I love the idea of time travel and have enjoyed similar stories from movies and books such as "Somewhere in Time" and "Wrinkle in Time".

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my all-time favorite books. The author did a wonderful job weaving the different time sequences together and I thought she did a great job developing the characters.

It was a great read, and a bittersweet love story. I would highly recommend this book.

This is a copy of a post I made in the discussion forum, just thought I would expand it into a larger review. Spoilers, of course.

It's interesting how Henry meets Clare for the first time, sleeps with her, then decides he's "overcome with happiness" (page 16) and breaks up with Ingrid less than a day later. If you want to argue that it was love at first sight (which I don't believe in myself, personally) you might want to just ignore this comment entirely. I understand that his relationship with Ingrid was a troubled one, and that it would have ended anyway, but I just felt sorry for Ingrid. She's a sad character who has problems, and is, I think, far more interesting than Clare, who is about as bland and uninteresting as a wet dishcloth. Henry defends himself, saying that Ingrid was "patient. Overly patient. Willing to put up with odd behavior, in the hope that someday I would shape up and marry her...And when somebody is that patient, you have to feel grateful, and then you want to hurt them" (Niffenegger 161). Gee, does this remind us anyone in particular? Either this is sloppiness on the author's part, or Henry is just a hypocrite. Also, we don't really know how much the other characters know about Henry's condition. When did his father find out? When did Ingrid (who finds him in her apartment after he loses his feet and asks "When are you from?") find out?

Of course, some readers think this premise remarkably original. It's not! It's been done before. Read (or watch) Slaughterhouse Five if you want a similar premise written much more professionally.

I tried to like this book, I really did. Aside from my complete dislike of the characters, I think it would have been a better book if she had just cut out the second half entirely. Of course, considering all the drama and teeth-gnashing included in the second half, that might be why this book is so popular.

(+)
For me, a gripping read
Character flaws (realism)
Emotionally engaging
Entertaining
Interesting character development

(-)
inconsistencies in the theory of time travel of of changing the the future

I'm omitting many details as to not give away too much of what the book provides.

Many of the reviews I read before actually reading this book alluded to the idea that it was about love. The back cover even calls it a love story. However, after reading it myself, I tend to gravitate more towards the idea that this book is really about loss: how we process it, how it tends to dehumanize us, how it simultaneously warps and reinforces what we consider as reality. Niffenegger does a wonderful job at tying the theme of love and loss throughout the pages of her book which is particularly why I was so consistently engaged while reading it.

The Time Travelers Wife is at times graphic, at times very terse and very raw, but never lacking in appeal. You won't be pleased if you're looking for a heroic and solid sci-fi drama. However, if you're looking to read a fiction about how imperfect people deal with the realities of relationship, of death, of growth, and of mystery then you'll neither be disappointed.

Henry and Clare's relationship isn't so static as to impose insincerity, but changes even as they change. There is an intercourse of ideas and mystery as both retain knowledge that the other cannot or will not possess. The fact that mystery tends to be interwoven even into our own lives is very prevalent in their story. This animates them in such a way as to make them more real to the reader. Selfishness, deceit, and unhealthy attachments stay paradoxically close to sacrifice, trust, and love.

Buy this book, it's definitely worth your reading!

This is the type of book that makes images of cold windy days, the color of fall leaves, and big cups of coffee pop into your brain.

It's just beautiful. It's hard to put into words how lovely it truly is.
I actually couldn't really process it once I finished, and I know that opinions are very different in regards to this book. One of my friends even told me not to waste my time with it. Still, I think it was completely gorgeous, lush, breathtaking, and...just wonderful. I know I'm going on and on but it's that type of book that just hits you in the face and makes you feel like running out and finding a man/woman to experience a life changing romance with.

I don't usually rate books that I read, but this one really got to me. I absolutely loved this book. I plan on reading it again actually. It's a little hard to follow if you don't have time to sit and read it in one day, which I don't, but it's not so difficult that I didn't want to read it. I am a lover of all different authors and different styles of writing and I really enjoyed this and I recommend it to everyone!!!

The Time Traveler's Wife is a heart-wrenching account of a time traveler, Henry, who spontaneously "travels." He cannot control when the time travel happens and it leads to a very unpredictable life. Henry meets Clare and thus begins a love story of two people who can never be completely together.

The Time Traveler's Wife will stay with you well after you've read the ending. I read the ending over and over again wanting to relive the last moment these two lovers were together. Melancholy follows the two lovers and propels you to keep reading. There is deep symolism in the novel; though the circumstances around the two main characters is outlandish, the feelings behind it are real. How do you truly be 100% with someone who can never be there for you? It's a question a lot of relationships face and Niffenegger answers it beautifully.

The movie is coming out this November and is starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. I hope that the movie lives up to the book, though it will be hard.

Magical and tragic. Painful and frustrating. You have to really open yourself up to fiction to really enjoy the whole concept of a character who has a genetic disorder that allows time travel. There were a few times that I felt the plot was dragged out too far, yet there are characters that could have been given more depth (Kimmie, the marriage of Gomez and Charisse). Overall, I really enjoyed this story however, it left me feeling bereft with sadness and frustration. We learned the fate of Henry, I don't understand why the author could not leave us with what happened to Clare. We know she lived at least until the age of 82 - but what happened inbetween? Did she remarry? Did the several pairs of golashes allude to grandchildren, a husband??? What happened to Gomez and Charisse (Charisse feared that Gomez would leave her for Clare when Henry was gone)? Did Clare live the rest of her life in the present like Henry asked her to? After investing so much time into this book, the ending was unfair to the reader.

I have a few things to say about the book. One, I was very excited to read it when my book club voted on it. I loved the show Journeyman and love time travel topics; however, I was not thrilled with this book.

First - As a mother, I felt very uncomfortable with Henry popping into young Clare's life naked and too close for comfort. I felt like where were her parents and why didn't they ever see him. I also agree with another reviewer about telling her they are married in the future which made it to where she was saving herself for him. Her one experience with a boy her age was brutal.

Second - I felt it was way too uselessly descriptive. I didn't learn what Henry looked like until later. I knew more of other things like the surroundings which I like, but I also felt like there was more of that than about the real world or them.

Third - How did no one see him appear? I think a naked man just appearing out of thin air would be seen at least by a few. Especially when the author makes it seem like a spectacle of lights when he appears and disappears.

Forth - Why is it that he can change the future only when convenient, for example winning the lottery. I would have saved my mother personally.

I felt it was a lot of pages of not very good information. Happy reading!

Great love story, terrific paranormal idea, but ridiculous. By ridiculous, I refer not to the time travel part, but the idea of a woman (Clare) just pining her entire life away waiting for a guy to show up or appear. Let's be realistic here... At first I felt sorry for Clare who spends the entire first half of the book as a child that is madly enamored with Henry, an old dude that has time traveled to her childhood. She then proceeds to wait for him the rest of her life, either to meet him, or after they are married, for him to come back to their life together. By the second half I no longer felt sorry for her, but wanted to tell her to get a life. It was romantic and emotional, but lot of baby obsession and quite a lot of sex. Every time I picked it up they were having sex again. This book was good but may not be for everyone. Also, the author contradicts her rules of time travel. Henry is not able to change what happens (his death...9/11..) but he can tell his doctor what will happen to his first born child and he can make sure he wins the lottery. Between that and there being two Henry's at a time at moments, and different ages it was very confusing and I had to read some of it twice. Decent enough book but I will not read it again.

I read this book with high hopes mostly because of the great review on Amazon. I'm very confused by the five-star reviews. Did Oprah recommend it or something? Personally, I didn't care for it very much.

The characters were not likable (except for Kimmy), and so much of the story was flawed. Also I'm not a prude, but some of the language just didn't fit in with the tone of the rest of the story (explained in the Spoiler section).

When the dates and ages are given, some of them are off. I know this because Claire's birthday and mine are very close...when they gave her age on certain dates, I immediately recognized that they were off. She wasn't the time traveler, so it made no sense. I know this is a minor thing, and if the story was really good, I would never bring it up.


**** SPOILERS ALERT******

There were some other weird inconsistencies. Claire and Henry are out Christmas shopping in Chicago. Claire is sitting in some store resting her feet. Henry takes Alba off somewhere to see Santa. Now, if your husband is known to just disappear and go off time traveling with no power to control it, would you really let him out with your young daughter alone in the middle of Chicago?

Claire has "baby rabies," which just gets downright annoying. Henry is just plain creepy. The detailing of completely mundane things was exasperating. For instance, in once scene Claire details every single item that Henry takes out of the grocery bags....every. single. item. Do we really need to know all of this? Also, the time they spent figuring out baby names was just ridiculous. I know some people go through this, but it seemed overboard.

The use of the words c*nt and c*ck in relation to the female and male genitalia just didn't fit in the story. It sounded completely coarse and unnecessary. Also, some of the sex scenes were just strange. It seems like this couple had sex constantly. Nothing wrong with that, but it really seemed unrealistic. Of course, this is a story about time traveling, so realistic kind of goes out the window. The scene with Henry having "relations" with himself was also kind of disturbing. Also, what was the point of Claire having sex with Henry's best friend (her best friend's husband) right after he died?

******END OF SPOILERS**********


Overall, I thought the book was a disappointment. However, the ending brought tears to my eyes, which tells me that at least at some level, the story touched me.

"Why is love intensified by absence?" asks Clare DeTamble in the first few sentences of this moving debut novel by erstwhile Columbia College professor Audrey Niffenegger. "The Time Traveler's Wife", a tale of the aforementioned Clare, an artist, and her husband Henry, an unpredictable time traveler, seeks to answer this question in most unusual and fascinating ways. Told in first person narrative which alternates between husband and wife from childhood to old age, Niffenegger has crafted a daring and unconventional love story that avoids the fluff of most literary romances, yet still manages to be beautiful in its vunerability while gently exposing the souls of its patient lovers.

Clare gets her first introduction to Henry's unusual gift when she is merely six years old, his involuntary sojourns into the past leading him to her childhood home. As she becomes accustomed to his comings and goings, she prepares for his arrivals by always having a change of clothes and food at the ready. Often times she is baffled by his physical and emotional states when he arrives agitated or vexed and/or cut and bruised, which he rarely ever explains in the effort to avoid upsetting her with future events. Eventually Henry confesses he is her future husband and Clare readily falls in love with him but he refuses to consummate their love, telling her to wait until they meet in real time (which isn't until she is 20 years old). Though the Henry of the present has no idea who Clare is when their paths inevitably cross, their courtship is quick and intense and they marry soon afterward (just wait until you read about the wedding and how Henry swings that one). The rest of the novel sees them through the difficulties of any typical marriage, including Clare's fears of Henry's frequent absences, their struggle to have a child and the desperate research and experimentation that a doctor conducts to try to keep Henry in the here and now.

Niffenegger writes with an engaging style and keeps the story moving along, despite many retreats into the past as well as the future; the author does her utmost to avoid confusion by always stating dates (month, day, year) and the ages of her protagonists so that the reader knows where and when in time Henry is. Niffenegger pulls from her own experiences as an artist and judging by her dedication of her novel to Norbert and Elizabeth Tamandl (DeTamble is nearly an anagram of this name), probably pulls from their relationship and Elizabeth's sense of loss as well as her own.

The story does leave some questions about Henry's condition that will go unanswered, such as the reason for his time travel (the book claims it is a genetic mutation called chrono-displacement) and the nature of it. Why does he transport with all major organs intact but no clothes? I have to wonder if this was done in order to create some comic relief and give Henry the humility needed to make him a character worth sympathizing, since he's a hard-drinking womanizer before he officially meets Clare. How was a middle-aged Henry able to find Clare in her childhood if he never officially met her (in real time) before he turned 28? Why didn't Henry end up in places he didn't even know, miles from where he grew up (e.g. a different country altogether)? Niffenegger offers no answers for these circumstances and it can frustrate those who want all their facts laid out on the table. The story avoids taking too strong a scientific approach (H.G. Wells, this is NOT) but it is riveting fiction and can be appreciated for Niffenegger's excellent storytelling capabilities. I eagerly look forward to her next novel and it will be interesting to see how a film version of this book plays out (supposedly due out this year starring Eric Bana as Henry and Rachel McAdams as Clare).

Bottom line: If you're looking for a good love story with some interesting quirks, "The Time Traveler's Wife" should be at the top of your "To Be Read" list and will warrant repeated readings for it's anti-sequential chain of events.

This was a wonderful book. It was a page turner throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the characters and the plot all the way through. I highly recommend this novel.

Sweet and well written. Easy to read. Loved the characters.
There are certainly flaws, but I easily forgave them because I was so engrossed by the story. Like many other reviewers, I was sad it ended and could not stop thinking about it for days after.

I may be too old for romances (I'm more in love with grandchildren than lost loves these days} but I read this book upon a recommendation from a friend and I appreciated the emotional power of this book. It reminds us of love found and lost over a life time. I would recommend it to anyone with an open heart. It is very moving.

I'll say it up front; the book is not perfect. There are a few moments of deus ex machina that stretch credibility - even for a time travel story - and a few sections where I wondered just where the author was going with the story. However, in spite of its flaws, I finished this more moved by anything I've read in a very long time. I fell in love with Henry and Clare early on, as the author's delicate prose sucked me in. I thought at first the 1st person/present tense, switching back and forth between the two characters, would be distracting, but it took no time at all to forget that was what she was even doing. Her voices at Clare's different ages were clear and distinct, and while I sometimes lost track of all the Henrys, I wasn't that bothered by it since frankly, Clare did, too.

I was entranced by the first two-thirds of the book, but the last third came with an ever-impending sense of doom, as the ending hinted at came barreling closer and closer. I read faster and faster, desperate to get to the full disclosure. I can't say that I regret it, either, in spite of the heartbreaking last few chapters. A keeper for my shelves, most definitely.

I'm not sure what to say about this book. It's multi-layered and leveled--and so are my feelings about it. I would say for about the first 400 pages or so, I considered this novel something analogous to an old pair of comfortable shoes. I enjoyed it once I picked it up and got into it but it was rarely anything to which I looked forward....and it was always around and comfortable to go back to but certainly nothing flashy or exciting. That being said, the last hundred pages are terrific and you can't turn the pages fast enough. What impressed me the most is that the author did not, at the end, go for the cheap emotional fall out. It would have been very easy to manipulate the last pages into a tearjerker but it was handled in a very dignified way. To say more would approach "spoilerdom".

I'm not a science fiction fan at all and the whole concept of time travel is difficult to fathom. I guess I'm too much of a realist. I must say, however, the subject matter, time travel included, was handled very matter of factly and that speaks to the author's skill. In other words, I was not put off by it at all. I see almost no way one can come away from this book not caring about Henry and Clare and their circle of significant others. Actually, if the truth be told, I think a little too much of the book was spent on what was going on with different people at different times and probably could have been edited down a bit. I say this because at several points the novel started to ramble--although never boringly.

The one beef I may have is with the "Bridges-of-Madison-County" ending. To me, it seems highly impractical, if not unrealistic, that someone will remain so fervently in love with a person who is not around for many, many years--almost to the point that they exist only to worship at the "shrine".

It is my understanding that a movie of this novel is being made. It will be most interesting to see how they handle the time changes without confusing the audience. I will probably be the first one in line. Good book...and by and large, very well done.

AMAZING! AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. You will not regret buying this book. It is now my all-time favorite.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time! It is an inspirational love story that made me laugh hysterically and sob uncontrollably. The story is unique and perfectly crafted with witty dialog, unforgettable characters, and a message that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a powerful story unlike any other that will completely touch your heart.

*** Contains a major SPOILER.

Wow. This was the most romantic and imaginative book I've read in a long time. Unlike some people, I didn't find the time shifting confusing. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it was a little bit to sad for me. I'm a happily ever after kind of girl. I'm glad she didn't sell out with the ending though.

Page-turning, beautiful novel. The characters make an imprint on you that seem to reappear and assist in gaining clarity and understanding in relationships.

I will start by admitting that I can be excessively critical of female writers. I often want them to transcend gender stereotypes and push their readers to think critically. I generally give free passes to those who are simply writing beach novels because they aren't claiming to be groundbreaking. However, I get the feeling that The Time Traveler's Wife was intended as an epic saga of love and loss amid a world that just doesn't understand. Gross. Audrey Niffenegger disappointed me on so many levels.

Let's look at the book from a distance (spoilers abound!). Imagine yourself at age six as a member of the opposite sex appears naked in your presence and urges you not to call the police or tell your parents. Why? Because this person is your soulmate and the two of you are destined to be together forever. Now, I don't know about you, but I watched a fair amount of children's programming as a child and the whole "don't talk to strangers, especially if they're naked" thing is drilled into you pretty hard. Yet, Claire pretty blindly believes Henry and anticipates his visits. But, as we're told, Henry is sexy and is remarkably forgiven quite often because of this. Also, he has no sense of humor and a wicked anger management problem.

But here's the part that really got me: Henry is dominant to the point of controlling (read: emotionally abusive). He tells Claire of their future marriage so early on in her life that she never really has the chance to experience other relationships. She sees all interaction beyond Henry as pointless and as a result, spends her life doing absolutely nothing. Way to make the title character as boring as possible, Ms. Niffenegger.

There were times that I imagined Niffenegger setting Claire up as an anti-hero. That maybe, just maybe, she is the epitome of what the reader should strive not to be and by the end she will have this profound realization that she let some magical disappearing man control her life even after he dies. She doesn't. But, lest we forget, Niffenegger often reminds us how brutally hot Henry is.

Moral of the Story: Denying yourself the freedom to make your own choices will ultimately cause you to have sex with your best friend's husband on the kitchen counter.

The End.

It took me about two days to read this one, and I must say I am blown away. I have read many, many books-this is by far one of the best. I understand why a few people may not enjoy it; however, I believe that everyone should give it a try (most of you wont walk away disappointed). Five stars.

I applaud all of you who gave this one star. I think, hands down, this is the worst book I've ever read. I was given this book by three different people. Each time, I passed it on, another copy was gifted to me.

I forget where it's located but there is a blog that states, "It was so bad, I threw it at the wall." Well, personally, I think the copy should be burned and the ashes mailed back to the author.

I thought the characters were flat and uninteresting. I also found the guy slightly creepy.

Please, don't waste your time!

This is the kind of book that stays with you....I finished it last night and can't get it out of my head this morning. It is a beautiful love story yet real (even though the guy's a time traveler). It is a clever story that will touch your heart and warm your soul. It was a little confusing at first, jumping around all the different periods in time, but once I got tha hang of it I was hooked - I couldn't put it down! I give the book four stars because although it touched me deeply, I was not moved to tears - I save five stars for those works of art that can squeeze a tear from my emotionally hardened self...LOL. I.E. - 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. I highly recommend 'The Time Travelr's Wife' - Bravo Niffenegger!

I read this book a few years ago and absolutely loved it. The characters were easy to connect with and I felt a little empty after finishing the book because I cared about the characters so much. The story is very compelling and I found myself turning the pages to find out what happens next. The ending definitely did not disappoint. This book is a gem. Read it and then watch the movie when it comes out in December 2008 (starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams).

I l-l-loved this book. The form and structure of this book is unique and moving. Now that I am finished with it I feel like there is a void in my life that Henry and Clare once occupied. Other books that I am reading now are leaving me feeling unfulfilled and unsatisfied. I can't wait to find another book as good as this one.

Oh, as a side note: Male friends have read this and have enjoyed it but it tends to be a book that is aimed more to the feminine gender.

I loved this book. It takes a while to get the hang of the writing style but once you've figured it out, the book is a wonderful read.

I find myself disagreeing with many of the previously posted negative reviews. I really thought she did a wonderful job of pulling the ideas together. In the beginning I was a bit skeptical because of how the time traveling element made everything jump around so. It was a complicated dynamic...(I cant fathom trying to write a book like this) but she really did a great job with it.

I thought this book was written in a refreshing way. The story was very touching. And it really got me thinking about possible metaphoric relationships between this fiction novel and real world ideas. Henry, the time traveling husband, is often absent from the present life of the couple. Could he have really been a soldier? Henry incurs health complications due to his time traveling gift which is referred to frequently in the story as a "chrono-imparment." I found myself looking at that aspect as possibly one of the ailments or diseases that have, in the past few decades, become all too common. While, I dont find myself usually the one who would be attracted to a story that many of you are terming "Sci-fi." I was able to draw many of the more fictional elements into something real.

The story also encompasses alot in the way of friends, family, and relationships which are anything but "Sci-fi." This book has been a great place for me to escape to during my reading. I would say it's anything but boring. If keeping track of the decade mobile story plot was too much for many of you reviewers offering the label "Boring"...I suggest you seek something on a lower reading level. And for those of you seeking a griping, inspiring love story out of time; this one's for you!

I save my 5-stars for books I truly love and this is one of them! I couldn't put it down (which is hard to do w/two kids under 5!) - thanks for such a great escape - I was completely engrossed from start to finish.

I usually prefer historical fiction. This book really surprised me. I was not sure I would like it. But, I was soon hooked. I liked the back and forth narraration between the two main characters and understanding their varying viewpoints. I was crying by the end because there were many twists and turns that I did not expect. Suspense was great. The author let you figure things out on your own but had you guessing about certain events. I did not like some of the language and I felt one event (hard to say w/o giving away too much but had to do with a stange sexual encounter in the main character's teen years) was repulsive...and yet... what would we do in this character's shoes being placed in the same circumstances? Interesting. There were a few "sappy" sentences throughout such as "then we laughed and danced under the trees" that sounded so cheesy & contrived. Overall, the book has an unusual premise that I really thought would be difficult to believe but this author really pulls it off. This book will remain a favorite for me. I spent days after finishing it going through all the events in my mind and I really could not quit thinking about it. Loved it.

I had heard great things about this book. However, I struggled a bit as I began reading. The concept of time traveling can be a bit confusing. (I heard this comment from several people who have also read the book) After 60 pages or so, you begin to accept Henry's ability to time travel and really get involved with the story. I think that Claire's entries provide some insight/clarification on Henry's time traveling.

It really is a wonderful love story. The connection between Claire & Henry is one of a kind. Their bond is captivating and engrossing. You just want to keep reading.

As a Chicago native, I found the local references to add to the story. Niffeneggers descriptions of the city and the surrounding areas are vivid and accurate.

Overall a great read. I highly recommend. It's well worth the wait.

I knew they were making a movie out of this book so I thought I would read it and I also bought it based on the Amazon reviews. I wound up loving this book so much that I read it very slowly towards the end because I just didn't want it to end.

I already miss reading about Claire and Henry. The characters were really well developed and I quite like that the characters are flawed, especially Henry. In fact, it's what I loved about him.

I would get a little confused at times with the time travel aspect of the book, but I didn't care because to me, it was all about the relationship between Henry and Claire.

After I read a few more books that I've been wanting to read, I may go back and re-read this one because I loved it so much. It is my favorite book so far - if you are in love with love, then you will want to read this book.

I personally really like the writing style of the author. I have also read The Kite Runner, Marley and Me, Love in the Time of Cholera, The Namesake - all different, all great -but I LOVED The Time Travelers Wife.

"The Time Traveler's Wife"

So many stories are based on the life and experiences of the author, as this story is, in a roundabout way, is, but, oddly enough, it is not the focus of the story. It is refreshing to read such an unusual story. The author is a paper maker and sculptor, as is the wife in this story. The really interesting part is the husband is a time traveler. His body goes places and times he has no control over, though he does seem to end up in places that are, eventually, familiar and comfortable to him.
Top start reading the story, you need to realize that it will jump around from places to people to times. It takes a bit to realize that the chapter headings are a guide to where and when the chapter is happening.
The characters are folks you would like to share a beer with. They are normal and nice and neighborly.
It is a sad story, but, hey, life is essentially sad: people live, people die, it happens and you go on. The fun is in the love the husband and wife have for each other. I am lucky to be so in love (like Tom Hanks said, "I won the lottery.") as well, so I can relate. In the end you realize there is a lot that the author did write in or chose to leave out, it would have been extraneous. There was a lot of joy and sadness, but you enjoyed reading about it all.