- In The Time Traveler's Wife, the characters meet each other at various times during their lifetime. How does the author keep all the timelines in order and "on time"?
Hello Cheb and everyone, dissapointed that we don't seem to have got any discussion going on the Time Travellers Wife, but here is my bit anyway, I just finished it at the weekend.
I think it was very difficult to keep order on the story and I found it confusing especially when there were two Henrys present!
- Although Henry does the time traveling, Clare is equally impacted. How does she cope with his journeys and does she ultimately accept them?
I think the effect on Clare is huge, she loves Henry so much, but she can't really share his life, and the worry of it for her when he is gone is devastating. She does I think accept them and gets on with her life when he is gone too, but she is always missing him.
- How does the writer introduce the reader to the concept of time travel as a realistic occurrence? Does she succeed?
Well now, I am not sure I could find it believable, but I did enjoy reading about it anyway, and mostly I felt how bloody scary it was for Henry to be dropped just about anywhere and have to fend for himself. Escaping the cops was the funniest bit, the disappearing act could be useful at times.
I did however find it impossible to believe that he could hold down a job with his condition.
- Henry's life is disrupted on multiple levels by spontaneous time travel. How does his career as a librarian offset his tumultuous disappearances? Why does that job appeal to Henry?
Henry is apparently brilliant at his job and is very well educated and intelligent, it is only his brilliance at his job that saves him from being fired and the fact that a good friend there covers for him. I think the job appeals to him because of all the ages covered in books and his time travelling takes him to so many times and places.
- Henry and Clare know each other for years before they fall in love as adults. How does Clare cope with the knowledge that at a young age she knows that Henry is the man she will eventually marry?
I think she copes very well with this, is there not a great security in knowing who you will marry from a young age?especially as she loves Henry so much even as a child.
- The Time Traveler's Wife is ultimately an enduring love story. What trials and tribulations do Henry and Clare face that are the same as or different from other "normal" relationships?
I think it is an incredible love story, the author conveys so many poignant moments...one in the bookshop when Clare is reading and Henry looks at her with so much love and he wants to touch her so much, and she has also glanced at him thinking the same thing, I just felt they were mad about one another!
Yeah, the baby bit was just like any couple who can't have babies and suffer numerous miscarraiges, and this is a very difficult time for them. Clare is very storng I think. And they survive this. Henry is like any man in this situation, he hates seeing her suffer, wants to give her what she wants, wants to help, is hurt when she pushes him away...
- How does their desire for a child affect their relationship?
This is hard on the relationship, but ultimately it strengthened it I think, they both realised that they love each other no matter what and Clare comes to the realisation that she wants Henry regardless of a baby.
- The book is told from both Henry and Clare's perspectives. What does this add to the story?
This is a good idea, really vital to get both sides as it effects them both so much
- Do you think the ending of the novel is satisfactory?
Yeah, cried buckets! but thought it was about right really, it was never going to be happy ever after.
And also I knew Clare would never fall for anyone else the same as Henry, their bond was so great.
- Though history there have been dozens of mediums used for time travel in literature. Please cite examples and compare The Time Traveler's Wife to the ones with which you are familiar
Don't know anything about this I am afraid!
So please do tell me what you all thought, it doesn't have to be in this format at all, just talk about the book generally if you like. I want to know what you thought!
Love Matty