The Time Traveler's Wife

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audry Niffenegger


ISBN: 978-0547119793

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copyright: 2003
 Plot Summary: This story tells the tale of Henry, who has a genetic disorder causing him to involuntarily time travel when he gets stressed out. Clare meets Henry at the library where he works at, but that is not the first time they have met. Henry from the future had been going to visit Clare since she was little and Clare even made love to him on her 18th birthday. They get married, but Henry continues to time jump. Clare wants to have a baby but Henry's genetic disorder causes many miscarriages. Clare finally has a baby who can time travel on purpose and Henry learns something that he may not want to hear.

Critical Evaluation: Niffenegger does an amazing job writing a plot that would be a confusing mess by any other author. Even though the book follows Henry through time, the characters are given time to develop, the plot line continues throughout and the love story is never lost.


Reader's Annotation: Henry involuntarily time travels, can he continue the relationship with the love of his life despite his disorder?


Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Crossover


Author Information: Niffenegger has written one other traditional novel entitled Her Fearful Symmetry. For more information about this author visit her website at http://www.audreyniffenegger.com

Book talks: Love, Marriage, Children, Death, Time traveling

Reading Level/Interest Age:High School/Adult. 14+
Challenge: Miscarriages and premarital sex. This book was written for adults, so it has adult themes. The miscarriages and a vasectomy are mentioned within the book and Clare's loss is felt. However, the miscarriages leading up to the healthy pregnancy are key parts of the. Also Clare has sex with Henry on her 18th birthday before they are married. The sex scene is not that explicit and she choses to have 'premarital' sex because she knows that they will be married someday.
 
Why was this book chosen?:Well-written, beautiful love story.