the time traveler's wife - Page 3

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by alaskaberry

is it better to know what the future holds? did henry make the right decision to not let clare in on most of her future before it happened? if i could, would i choose to be told what was in store for me?

I would like to know some things...so I could see if I could change them. Other things, I'd prefer to be left in the dark.

I didn't like the theme in the book that the future is set in stone, and it is unchangeable. Because if our future is going to be what it is going to be - then what does it matter what we do? I do think that Henry was right to not let Clare in on what was to come (most of the time he didn't anyway). I don't think he was right to stop her from trying to change the future.

It's been a couple of years since I read this book. I also read it for a book club. If I hadn't been reading it for a book club, I would never have finished it. It took me until halfway through to start enjoying the book. Once I got halfway through though, I did enjoy it. It wasn't one of my favorite books, but it did have a certain quality about it that just drew me in. I want to see the movie. It's been long enough since I've read it, that I will have forgotten enough of it to not be overly bothered by the changes they make with the movie!

[teale]

Also another fan of this book. It's definitely in my top 5 books.

I'll need to read it again before discussing it. I definitely can't wait to see the movie!

[bandyr]

I loved reading this book, although it isn't incredibly good lit. It had enough appeal to get me out of bed late at night while the kids were asleep. I hadn't done that at all since before they were born!! Discussion would be fun!

[midnightwriter]

Anyone is still up for discussion?

I searched the forum, because I still can't figure out the logistics of his time traveling / the nature of time in this book.

I started reading it, and am not very drawn to it, but today DD wouldn't let me get up while she nursed / napped, so I read some of the book (it was by the bed). I didn't read in order, though I read the ending, and the opening, and quite a lot from the middle

[samstress]

Originally Posted by midnightwriter

Anyone is still up for discussion?

sure! the book's actually been on my mind lately (i saw the movie last week).

[schoolmom07]

I am new to any book clubs but my mother and sister have utilized them forever. I love to read and my 7 year old DD does to. How does a book club work? I would like to read The Time Travelers Wife and I read every night. Can you explain the basics to me? Thanks so much!

[felix23]

Okay, I just finished reading this book and one part has me totally confused. Why was Henry standing in the meadow with Clare's dad and brother?

I really liked this book and I'm mailing to my sisters so they can read it too.

[HappilyEvrAfter]

Originally Posted by felix23

Okay, I just finished reading this book and one part has me totally confused. Why was Henry standing in the meadow with Clare's dad and brother?

I really liked this book and I'm mailing to my sisters so they can read it too.

You mean when he got shot?
Did he just happen to appear when they were out there hunting in the early morning or something?

I don't have my book within reach, but I think that's what I remember....

[felix23]

Originally Posted by HappilyEvrAfter

You mean when he got shot?
Did he just happen to appear when they were out there hunting in the early morning or something?

I don't have my book within reach, but I think that's what I remember....

I am going to flip through and try and find that part, but I thought he was talking to her dad and brother and he hadn't been shot yet. Did his dad shoot him on purpose, I thought it was a hunting accident?

ETA:
So I looked it up and Clare run's down to find Henry, her brother, and her dad all standing in the field looking at something. Henry motions for her to not say anything and her dad tells her to go back home. They were dressed in hunting clothes, but Henry isn't shot yet. So I'm confused about what was happening.

[inkedmamajama]

i was really disappointed with the film interpretation of this book, anyone else?

[Nitenites]

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

There were 2 Henries: the one who got shot (who is the one w/o feet, who traveled back to the party to die, leaving a blood stain in the meadow), and the one who was standing in the meadow, talking to Clare's father & brother. So Henry knew - sort of - when he was going to die.

---

[Nitenites]

To post a spoiler, post the word spoiler in between brackets:

[ spoiler ] without the spaces, of course

and to end the spoiler, add the slash / :

[ /spoiler ] again, without the spaces that I used for my example.

[Nazsmum]

OK just finish the book. I don't understand does the father and brother know Henry?

[mommy212]

he is there twice, they are all standing around looking at the shot Henry on the ground. The Henry standing there is regular, alive Henry. So he sees himself get shot.
 

Originally Posted by felix23 

Originally Posted by HappilyEvrAfter

You mean when he got shot?
Did he just happen to appear when they were out there hunting in the early morning or something?

I don't have my book within reach, but I think that's what I remember....

I am going to flip through and try and find that part, but I thought he was talking to her dad and brother and he hadn't been shot yet. Did his dad shoot him on purpose, I thought it was a hunting accident?

ETA:
So I looked it up and Clare run's down to find Henry, her brother, and her dad all standing in the field looking at something. Henry motions for her to not say anything and her dad tells her to go back home. They were dressed in hunting clothes, but Henry isn't shot yet. So I'm confused about what was happening.

[mommy212]

I loved this book, and did'nt find it hard to follow or confusing at all, like some people seem to. I like to read it and contemplate the circular nature of the whole thing- my favorite conundrum is that he learned to lock pick as a child from himself and later comes back and teaches himself lockpicking. Lol! It's just a  cycle, the knowledge comes from nowhere really... I also always worry about Alba at the end! It says she can only sometimes control it and she is probably still naked when she arrives so I really worry for her! I know I am a silly sap to think of it but hey

[mommy212]

Originally Posted by inkedmamajama 

i was really disappointed with the film interpretation of this book, anyone else?

The film definitely loses a lot of the depth and nuances, but isn't that true of every  book-to-movie ever? I have never enjoyed a movie more than the book it came from

[GoBecGo]

I read this book a long time ago, haven't seen the movie.

i have to say, i found the whole thing a bit creepy.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

would i like to visit a younger version of DP and chat to his child-self/sexually initiate him (however insistent he was) um, no, YUK, the whole thing smacked of grooming to me.

.

The characters, perhaps because of that which seemed to me an inexplicable darkness of being about them, didn't ring true for me.  

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Plus the miscarriage scenes were too graphic for me, i guess i didn't like the sensationalised nature of them - i have held my dead foetus in my palm in a puddle of blood and nothing as dramatic or exotic as time travel put it there.

Perhaps i have experienced too many of the themes in this book to read it and not find it somewhat offensively flippant about them.