In which I share vague recollections of books I read long ago that have stuck with me.
I read Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife years ago and loved it so much it instantly became a favorite. But it was also such an incredibly heartbreaking story that I can't bear to read it again.
It's a love story about Henry and Claire, who are star-crossed in the worst way. Henry is a time traveler and he has no control over his travels, nor does he even understand why it happens. So he meets Claire at many times during her life but they're not always age-appropriate for each other, and he doesn't necessarily get to stay for long. You can see how difficult this could make a relationship. I just felt so awful for Henry because, well, what a way to live. And I felt bad for Claire too, because she never knew when he'd be there and when he'd suddenly be ripped from her with no warning.
Don't watch the movie, by the way. I did, not on purpose, but because it happened to be on, and I wish I hadn't. It made me want to read the book again just to cleanse the badness from my head, but as I said I just can't read it again.
Audrey Niffenegger has published one other novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, which was only ok. But she has also published some illustrated novels which are quite good, my very favorite of which is The Night Bookmobile.
I do hope that someday I will find it in myself to read this wonderful story again, but even if I don't I think it might just stick with me forever.
2 comments:
This is one of my all time favourites too! It's one of the only books that has actually made me cry. I would love to re-read it one day. I'm not worried it will be too moving, but I am worried it might not stand up to a re-read and I might spot flaws I didn't notice first time round. I'd hate for this book to not live up to expectations. Hopefully it will :-)
I always have that concern about re-reading favorites!
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