The novel starts with Claire waiting for Henry, a predominate theme in the book. Her husband, Henry, travels through time. He believes it’s a genetic abnormality and he can’t control it. The novel takes place between 1968 and 2008. Claire and Henry meet as adults. Claire is twenty. Henry, it is revealed, has been time traveling since he was five years old, after a visit to a museum, that had a profound effect on him. He recalls first traveling through time to visit Claire when she is six. Young Claire soon gets used to a man popping out of time to see her. She develops an eccentric relationship with the time traveling Henry, which to Niffenegger’s credit, works and doesn’t come off as creepy.

Early in the book, there is an unusual scene when Claire is thirteen which her father and brother keep her from Henry. Claire doesn’t know what to make of it, but time marches on in a linear fashion for her, and soon she meets Henry at the library where he works. When they meet, he is twenty-eight.

Henry leaves his girlfriend, Ingrid, for Claire. Claire is used to Henry’s time traveling and accepts him for what he is. After meeting each other’s family, they marry.

The couple tries to live as normal a life as they can. Claire is an artist and Henry works in a library. After seeing their friends, Charisse and Gomez, have children, they try to have one of their own. Henry seeks out a genetic counselor. The reason for his time traveling abilities are given here, which to Niffenegger’s credit, is a creative take on the concept.

Claire has several miscarriages before the doctors realize they have to suppress her immune system to get her to carry to term. Claire finally gives birth to a girl, Alba, when she is thirty. Soon, they learn that Alba can time travel, too.

Henry’s time traveling takes a toll on his body. He gets frostbite on his feet which have to be amputated. Then he involuntarily time travels to the past, and since he can’t run away, he’s shot by deer hunters when Claire is thirteen. Claire is thirty-eight when he dies.

A look at time traveling and Niffengener's unique way that she deals with it in the novel.

The characters. Any of them. I really didn't feel much for them. It was probably due to the upfront writing style of the author.

I was curious about the movie and cruised IMDB. Hopefully the movie will add a little dimension to the characters.

Not much. Sure, Henry got the poor Henry reward for involuntarily time traveling, but by the end I was glad it was over.

Is Audrey Niffenegger. This is her first novel. She has a very no-nonsense writing style.

it has a unique look on time traveling. I thought it was creative.

Niffenegger's writing style makes the characters unappealing.

The plot is tight. Niffenegger’s explanation of Henry’s time traveling abilities is plausible, making the story work. The pace isn’t fast, nor does the story drag. It moves from event to event with concise precision.
Niffenegger writes in a very “up front” style. It’s easy enough to read, but very direct. Her characters are believable. In a way, Claire embodies a very traditional female role in waiting for Henry, while he has numerous adventures as a time traveler, taking on a more traditional male role. Toward the end, Claire sheds her traditional role to become a more modern woman.

The story is told using a journal entry form from Claire and Henry’s perspective, which works well. If anything, the story lags a little since it blends romance and science fiction without committing to either. Henry and Claire are in love, but it seems a given and not a discovery.

What makes Niffenegger’s story a gem, is her creative take on time traveling, making it a genetic condition, thus not conforming to traditional time traveling norms.

“The Time Traveler’s Wife” is an intriguing read that will leave the reader experiencing Henry and Claire’s highs and lows right along with them.

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Created Jul 10, 2009 at 10:25am • Submit your own review...