What is the value in waiting?
Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 10:53AM From my 101 in 1001 list:
16. Read 30 books I haven’t read before and blog about them. (13/30)
I didn't want to read this book. I distrust books marked "National Bestseller" because I don't trust the general public's taste in reading (I've never read The Davinci Code and probably never will). And anything with "wife" in the title makes me wary. Even the cover looked remarkably uninteresting to me. Well, now I've learned a lesson (about judging a book by its cover, how cliche!). The film trailer looked really interesting and when I read the first page of the book at the bookstore, I did not want to put it down - I was hooked in one paragraph, seriously.
It's not often I plow through a book like I did with this one (the most recent memories of doing so involve YA lit - Harry Potter and Twilight). I cannot say enough good things about this book. That's not to say that I don't feel the need to ponder some of the story's implications, but the fact that I want to do so is a good thing in itself. I stayed up until after 2am finishing this last night, and then stayed up even longer, in the end only getting about two to three hours of sleep before having to get up this morning to go proctor an exam. Thankfully, exam proctoring is a pretty passive activity.
There is a film version of this story coming out on August 14th, so part of me doesn't want to spoil the film for the folks who haven't read the book. So I won't give away detailed plot points, but I will warn you that some of my reactions will give away some basic ideas about the plot.
This book tells the story of a man, Henry, who can't help but time travel. He is yanked through time against his will, visiting younger and older versions of himself and his loved ones. The most important person he visits repeatedly is Claire, the woman who later becomes his wife.
There's a lot to be discussed about Claire and the implications of her falling in love with this man she literally cannot hold onto at times. I feel like I really need to sit down with another literary-minded person and hash out Claire's role in her own life. The slowest-moving parts of the book (for me) were the sections that described her art-making, but I also feel like that was such a necessary inclusion considering Henry's job as a librarian (there's an amazing connection, the more I think about it). The teacher in me wants to assign this book in conjunction with Ha Jin's Waiting, a favorite of mine from my undergrad days:
Okay, so here's the spoiler-y part... Turn away now if you want no hints about this book/film...
Are you still here?? Okay...
I have not cried as hard reading a book as I did during the last 20 or so pages of this book in a long time. The last two times I can think of that I cried like that were when I read Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper and Mark Doty's Heaven's Coast. There was a difference there, though. I felt a bit dirty after crying at My Sister's Keeper because the story felt clearly manufactured to manipulate the reader into crying. With Heaven's Coast, the tears were real because it's an amazingly powerful memoir of Doty's loss of his partner to AIDS.
The Time Traveler's Wife is different, though. I sobbed. SOBBED. Like tears streaming, totally whimpering, sobbing. The hubby was out with friends seeing a band play and there I was in bed, all alone, surrounded by balled up tissues. All I could think about was how lucky I am to love the man I married and to not have to worry about him disappearing. After I finished the book, it was a few minutes before I realized that I was lying there with my hand over my heart because my chest actually ached. This book literally made my heart ache - and I hate incorrect use of the word "literally" but I really felt like my heart was aching: for Claire, for Henry, for myself and for the husband I love so much that I can't even bear to think about it sometimes because it runs so deeply.
(Okay, still proctoring the exam and now starting to cry and the only thing I have in my purse to wipe my eyes is a panty-liner. Must pull self together.)
After I finished the book, I sat in bed and cried a bit more. And then I lay there and thought... and thought... and thought... as the clock ticked past 2am, 2:30am, 3am... Finally I drifted off, but then the hubby came home around 3:30am and I woke up and listened to him putter around for 30-45 minutes, just happy to hear him home.
In the book, Claire says something to the effect that sometimes she's happy when Henry's gone because she likes having her alone time, but that she's always happy when he returns. That line hit home, hard. In fact, I could hang up a sign with that quotation on it.
I hope the film gets it right. I really, really hope the film gets it right because now I'm so invested in this book. I love the casting, so I'm quite hopeful for the film. Just have to make sure I have tissues in my purse when I go see it.
Reader Comments (6)
I have watched the previews of the movie and wondered about the book, I am so glad yo posted this, I am putting it on hold at the Library. I love the way you told the story as well, thank you
Happy Sits Saturday Share fest!
Thank you for a wonderful review...
My sentiments exactly!! I did not want to read this book for all the same reasons, but when I finally did, I could not put it down. The only thing better than reading this book, was reading it again for the second time--something I rarely do. Now I recommend this book to anyone who asks for a book recommendation.
Niffenegger has a new novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, coming out on Septemeber 29th and I cannot wait to read it....Oh, and I wouldn't get your hopes up too high about the movie. As I am sure you know, the movie never manages to do the novel justice.
I am looking forward to reading it a second time, which I'll probably do after the film.
I'm always ready for the film to be different, but as long as it still honors the central story and is relatively (90-95%?) faithful, I'm content. I'm always very interested in how people translate novels into film (and it really is a translation). I'll definitely have higher expectations for Niffennegger's new book than I will for the film.
Thanks for the comments! I love sharing books. :)
I'm really glad you liked it! It had become ranked as a favorite for me. I've cried while reading a book before. I actually do it quite often, but I had never sobbed (gasping, heart aching sobbed) due to a book before The Time Traveler's Wife. That exact line about being happy to be alone and yet happy when he gets home, really struck a chord with me too.
I love your writing btw I actually laughed out loud thinking of needed to pull out a panty-liner to wipe away the tears :)
I found your blog via Tara's, congrats on your new internet "home"! I haven't read this book yet, but I've so been wanting to. I can't wait for the movie, it looks fantastic!
i love love love love love this book! one all time fave.