The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
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“Where were you when I was 18?” he asked me.
“I was 10,” I replied as I wrapped my legs around him.
Yes, I’m in love with an older man, but I can’t imagine having met my future husband when I was just 6 and he was 36. Clare and Henry meet under extenuating circumstances as he time travels through life at unexpected times in The Time Traveler’s Wife
Niffenegger is able to grasp the complexities of many relationships that deal with one partner waiting on the other, all while knowing that Henry will never be able to stay in the here and now with Clare. Henry of course must deal with the guilt and issues that arise while trying to find a cure that will stop him from time traveling.
Having read quite a few time travel and quantum physics books I love seeing how different theories of time travel play out in novels. Most scientists believe that someone time traveling can’t be in the same place at the same time where they have been before, but I truly enjoy how Henry interacts with past and future Henry’s in The Time Traveler’s Wife. The first time he time travels at 5 years old he is greeted by an older version of himself which seems comforting even if young Henry doesn’t recognize he is conversing with himself. As a teen when Henry visits, both Henry’s explore their sexuality. While we have all played with ourselves, playing with what could be considered your clone leads Henry to ask the reader, “wouldn’t you do the same?” As open as I am, I’m not quite sure I can answer that question.
Clare also interacts with two Henry’s on more than one occasion, several of which create pivotal life changes. The interactions often highlight the differences between the older time traveling Henry that Clare grew up with, and the younger Henry she marries, an interesting concept we deal with everyday in relationships where partners change and grow apart rather than together. You wonder if Henry becomes who he is based on how Clare molds him or if he was destined to become the man he grows into. The same can be said of Clare who was tutored by Henry from the age of 6 with Henry’s knowledge of who she is during their marriage.
On a higher spiritual level Henry and Clare begin to wonder if they are making their own choices or if they were destined to be together and had no choice. Knowing parts of the future can make it difficult to know if you are making the choice on your own, while at the same time fearing what would happen if you decided to make a different decision. At one point Clare and Henry attempt to test this issue by including a signature on a painting that Henry has seen in the future without one. You’ll have to read The Time Traveler’s Wife to find out what happens when they tempt fate.
But what about the sex? While Clare meets Henry when she is only 6, Henry doesn’t actually meet Clare until he’s 24 in real life, even though he’s 36 when he meets her for the first time in Clare’s life. Is your head spinning yet? Now imagine how it feels for Clare who knows they will one day be married since Henry is coming from their future together, so she plans to seduce him on her 18th birthday. However, when Clare finally meets Henry in real life, he doesn’t know her yet and hasn’t actually slept with her since that event is in his future, but it’s already Clare’s past. Now my head is spinning! Time travel causes some serious issues, but luckily Clare and Henry have a fabulous time in bed. If you invite them to your bed, you’ll have a fabulous time as well.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a celebration of true love, with enough heartache and difficult decisions to make you think about your own relationships in a new light. How long would you wait for your partner?
The Naked Review:
Novel Whore Rating: 5 Notches on the Bed Post
Wine Pairing: Bouchaine Estate Chardonnay 2006
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