The Time Traveler's Wife

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE
Audrey Niffenegger
MacAdam/Cage Pub., 2003. 518 p. Fiction

Henry (time traveling Librarian boy) and Claire (a Boticelli look-alike paper artist) simply want what everyone wants—love. But Henry has a rare disease known as “chrono-displacement disorder” which makes living a normal life impossible. His disorder causes him to time travel involuntarily and there is no cure. Sounds kitschy? Not even close. ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ is both a mathematical and literary work of art. The intricacies of constant time travel could be confusing, but Niffenegger handles the back and forth of each chapter with genius and melds past and present situations with elegant ease. It has everything a great work should include: comedy, drama, humanity and tragedy with characters of endearing and enduring substance. One of the most thrilling and disparate love stories I’ve ever read. Beautifully written.

It might be hyperbole to say this is a romance to rival Romeo and Juliet, but it's close. And yet, I cannot recommend it to any but the more liberal readers. Use of strong language and frequent love scenes make it a mature selection. I didn’t want to love it, but I think I do. Can the forthcoming movie ever do this novel justice? Unlikely, but here’s hoping it comes close.

DAP