Time Traveler's Wife-Audrey Niffenegger
You might classify this as a science fiction book but then again you might think of it as a love story.Either way , this book is fabulous!
Clare (6 yrs old ) met the love of her life Henry (36 yrs old). Claire married Henry when she was 22 and Henry was 30. Confused?!
Well.. Henry is a time traveller who suffers from a genetic condition where he finds himself pulled into his past or future. Henry's favourite place is visiting Claire in the meadows behind her house in her younger years where they first fell in love.
The story follows how the couple cope with Henry's condition and how they try to lead a "normal" life . Claire grows up waiting to meet Henry in "real time". When Claire met him, Claire knew parts of Henry's future of which he did not yet experienced.
Henry becomes older and learns more about his condition and enlists the help of geneticist Dr Kendring but it proved to be unsuccessful and we find out how he copes with his condition.
Time Traveler's Wife touches on many issues:
Firstly, the idea that as humans we often wonder what if we could turn back time and experience things we wish we could. Henry's mother died when he was a little boy in a car accident and he would often time travel into the past to see his mother when she was still alive. Although he can travel into the past he could not change destiny and prevent his mother from dying in the accident.
Secondly, the idea of religion and believing in God. In the story Claire was brought up in a Christian family who practised Christian values but she starts doubting the idea of God as she grew older as events start to unfold around her...e.g. her mother's death, her miscarriages.
Thirdly, can people ever move on with their lives after the loss of a loved one? We learn about Henry's dad who never recovered from the loss of his mother.
Lastly, we can't help wanting Henry & Claire to have a happy ending in the story. Claire spent her whole life waiting for Henry knowing perfectly well that Henry may not be around forever. She was willing to take that risk in order to spend the precious little moments she had with Henry.
I couldn't help wondering whether we can ever find love this strong in our real lives today? How do you know when you meet someone that he will be the one you would like to spend the rest of your life with? And how do you cope with life when that certain someone is gone forever?
Love conquers all.
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