The Time Traveler's Wife

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE

by Audrey Niffenegger

 

Nomination: Orange Longlist 2004

 

Date Read: December 13, 2021

 

I read for many reasons, but perhaps the primary reason is to discover beauty – in language, in story, in characters. And I found beauty here. Although I am still trying to wrap my head around the flitting in and out of past, present and future, this is a beautiful story masterfully told. And just about everything can be found here – profound love, desire, intellectual curiosity, humiliation, the art of letting oneself down, appreciation for the moment. All of this and more are woven into these pages.

 

I found the ability for Henry to meet up with himself bizarre and relieving. He can warn himself, guide himself, and help his younger self acquire the skills he will need to survive his bizarre life. And, yes, he can alleviate the all-encompassing desire for sex every teenager has by – having sex with himself. This was quite a brilliant point Niffenegger made since Henry wasn’t violating anyone but himself and since both Henry’s were consenting…

 

Parts of his time with Clare were worrisome in that he meets her when she is so very young. I appreciated that Henry waited until she was old enough to give consent before approaching her from a sexual perspective. But how incredible to have known her in every stage of her life – from a very young child, to early adulthood, to middle age and even as an elderly woman. If you love someone that profoundly, being able to share in all those seasons of being is an incredible gift. I have recently been marveling at this same thing with my husband. He has known me since I was 15 and now I am a 46 year old woman. And, God willing, he will see me as an old woman. It’s an incredible journey and one that I’m grateful to be on.

 

Therefore, this story resonated deeply with me, even the parts of their life that appeared mundane. All of those moments add up to a life lived. Their child being able to time travel as well made Henry’s leaving so much more tolerable for Alba, their daughter. Clare, however, was very much left alone and I ached for her.

 

Perhaps it’s just me or where I’m at in my life, but Niffenegger so beautifully captured everything that is meaningful about love and life here. Yes, some of it was obvious manipulation but who cares? She made me feel all the feels anyway. I would actually read this one again.

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