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Summary: A Meditation on the Nature of Time and the Human Soul
Review: The title of this review may sound pompous, but I've been thinking about what other reviewers have mentioned -- that it's hard to classify this book. It's more than a love story, although it is indeed that. It's not quite science fiction, nor is it a fantasy, although there are elements of both those genres in this novel. And it's not traditional fiction, although that may be the closest thing to it overall. In the end, it seems to me that this story is a musing on life -- what is it really, and can love overcome the death that we will all experience? And if it can, how does it work, and does it work for everyone, or only for those who truly manage to see beyond their own concerns to those of the beloved?For me, this book raised a lot of philosophical questions -- about destiny and fate, about love and memory, about living in the moment rather than the past or future. And it's a lovely story in the bargain. Buy it, read it, and don't let niggling questions of rationality or logistics discourage you so that you stop reading before the novel hooks you, which may not happen until you're well into it. This is a truly great read, highly recommended.
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Summary: ~~~Nothing Like I've Ever Read Before~~~
Review: Difficult to give a book five stars, yes. But then again, this book made it difficult NOT to give it all the five it well deserves.
General category of this novel would have to be fiction, but yes, it transcends many: fiction, sci-fi, romance.
So touching & poignant, I believe my favorite thing about this book is the variety of dialogue. I was immediately charmed by the amazing amount of wit within this little treasure. I was often smiling, giggling, & furrowing by brow throughout.
I saw another reviewer mention there could've been more character development for the other main characters. I must disagree. You lose the intimacy between Henry & Clare when all that's thrown in.
This is really such a sweet, unusual book. It makes you constantly think & wonder, bringing out a variety of emotions.
A brilliant start for this novelist!
Rating: 
Summary: difficult to get into....but....
Review: After you understood the flow of Ms Nifenegger's writing, it was almost addictive. However, in reading this book, I found it sad and more than a little disturbing. To me it had a sense of a purposeless life where people were travering time to find and keep that one final love in that life. With no real conclusion or closure. They just keep moving thru the same life. I think a story on finding loves in reincarned lives would be better. GM 2:11am 03-07-04
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Summary: Once you get into it.....
Review: Those reviewers who decided to give The Time-Traveler's Wife up after 200 or so pages are not much different from me.
I had this inclination myself. But then I said to myself, "Give it a chance."
Once I did.... wow. Clare and Henry are wonderful characters; characters that transcend literature and feel absolutely real.
Be prepared for what you're getting into here. You're about to experience two lives and the love that connects them through all time.
Take the plunge!
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Summary: What would you classify this book as?
Review: 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.
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Summary: A love story with a magical twist
Review: This is one of the most inventive, beautiful, and innovative books I have read in years. I'm tempted to call it the novel of the year, but 2004 has hardly begun.
Niffenegger takes what could have been a prosaic contemporary slice-of-life and gives it vigor and pizzazz by making the male protagonist a time traveler. It's not a magic trick he does for fun--it's grueling, horrible, and leaves him naked and pennilesss for hours or days at at time. Eventually he learns to pick locks, steal clothes and somehow put up with his "illness," but he doesn't turn into the kind of man you'd want to meet in a dark alley, either.
Then, in his chronology, he meets Clare, a beautiful young artist. He follows her growing-up period and falls deeply in love. By the time they meet in real time, Clare has taught Henry how to be human and their love story is as magnificent as it is painful.
By the end of the book, Henry has changed so much, become so kind and caring that we forgive his past, and mourn for Clare when she eventually loses her soul mate--that is, if anyone can lose anyone in a time-traveling world. This is a book I shall treasure always.
One extra note: as a Chicagoan, I had great fun identifying all the places where Henry and Clare hang out. The author creates an powerful sense of place that keeps the love story grounded in the reality of a 21st century city.
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Summary: A Wonderful love story!
Review: Really a great book- even though some people have ragged on this- I really enjoyed this book. Wouldn't it be great to meet up with yourself at different ages and times of your life....and maybe make things change. The story was very original and a real delight. I have reccommended this book to many people, and if you are looking for a book to cozy up with someone on a rainy day in front of fireplace- this would be it!
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Summary: Groundbreaking and Avoids Cliche
Review: I am THRILLED with "The Time Traveler's Wife." It is really like no other book I have ever read before. Author Audrey Niffengger uses all the hooks associated with the separate realms of romance, drama, and science fiction writing all in one book and never resorts to easy clichés. The writing is inspirational ground breaking; arguably on the scale of "The Da Vinci Code," "My Fractured Life," and "Middlesex."
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Summary: Uug
Review: I really wanted to like this book, but as it went on I found myself really disliking Henry. I really had to force myself to read on...and I never did enjoy it.
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Summary: Pretentious Book Club Garbage...
Review: ...masquerading as science fiction. It is every OTHER "book club" book out there. Written soley for the purpose of people getting together so they can say they are in a book club. She just happened to throw time travel in as her gimmick. But if you are going to explain an unexplainable plot device such as time travel, either think it all the way through or just let it remain a mystery. A chromosomal defect? Just another way to throw some angsty miscarriages on to the already angst-overloaded plot containing such apparent favorites as "drunk father," and "died from cancer mother." Oh, and don't forget "horrible, tragic, and dramtically ironic death!" She could not have insulted the reader more with Henry's demise and her forshadowing of it. I couldn't even bring myself to finish this book. I quickly skimmed ahead making sure the author didn't do a complete 360 and somehow redeem this trainwreck - but no. I could go on, but my (at last count I believe it was three) comrades (see, I can use that term too, Ms. N. It isn't just for your pretentious underdeveloped characters!) pretty much said enough of what I've wanted to say. I will remember to stick to my rules and just say no to anything that has any sort of "Book Club" seal of approval on it, even if it does try to lure me with tales of time travel. To sum it up - what a piece of crap.
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