The Time Traveler's Wife

By: Audrey Niffenegger

Narrated by: Fred Berman, Phoebe Strole

Length: 17 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Clare and Henry have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was 36. They were married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

Clare and Henry's story unfolds from both points of view, depicting the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other. They attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals: steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

©2003 Audrey Niffenegger; 2005 HighBridge Company (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2004

"Highly original first novel....Niffenegger has written a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes....It is a fair tribute to her skill and sensibility to say that the book leaves a reader with the impression of life's riches and strangeness rather than of easy thrills." (Publishers Weekly)

Not sure how to rate this.

I listened to the end hopping for a better ending but it ended by sucking the life out of me. So sad for the life of the father, the mother, and the daughter. Tragedy, loneliness, no control over the life given. Love given to the end but not shared together over a life time. Very sad ending.

Epically more satisfying than the movie

This is a meaningful story about how we affect each other's lives, the dimensions of marriage, friendship, and distractions. Characters are faceted, good and bad, jealous and stoic simultaneously.

Most of all, I’m left with the observation that we know those with whom our lives are interconnected when the memories of which persist past petty annoyances.

There are some passages about sex. The sex scenes are written graphically, just as it is between people in private escapes with each other. It’s necessary for the story just as depictions of being drunk or high are salient.

Like the movie much better

The movie was perfect. But I did like how it went over his childhood and her childhood. The vulgarity about her private parts was difficult to listen to. The vulgarity about him, and himself as teenagers was disturbing. The movie was a better than the book.

Can't say I enjoyed it

I found the age difference in some scenes to be too much of a distraction. In one scene I think Claire is 13 and Henry 36. The emotional undertone and vibe is just too much like grooming Claire for my liking. For an adult man to be tickling a 13 year old and allowing her to develop such a strong emotional romantic attachment is just too creepy.

Deeply sad but wonderful!

An amazing book. So well written, such a beautiful love story. Nicely performed. I would highly recommend it.

Second time through

I rarely read books twice. I went to read/listen to this for the Read It / Watch It mini challenge for the 52Books challenge. My records said I had already read and listened. i had no recollection; then realized it was during the grief after my mom died. Glad to have had this redux. Also glad I had seen the movie before reading/ listening. Some things about he plot were much more clear with visuals. Felt like I could really get into the details in the book once I had the overview of the movie! Highly Recommended!

Amazing Writing-Absolutely Beautiful

This was not what I was expecting. I expected a mediocre slapstick kind of time travel story but I was so completely engaged with this book that I read it twice! The writing is gorgeous, with richly described places that create the feeling of being in the room, or the car, or the park, or wherever the story is unfolding. The story is beautiful and complicated, and the author did a superb job at keeping timelines straight. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story told through beautiful writing.

genius in writing

the detailing, depth and continuity built into this story exceeded all in my past 5000 or more books. Truly an outstanding novel!

Innovative angle on a beautiful love story

I enjoyed it a lot. The idea of a love story going backwards and forwards in time was very unique and interesting

Life and Times of a Reluctant Time Traveler

As a kid growing up watching The Time Tunnel and reading stories like HG Wells' The Time Machine, I often thought how cool it would be to travel back into the past. This book shows the darker side or at least the inconveniences and marital struggles of a little girl who befriends and later marries one such time traveler. Caution to parents: This book contains some language and sexual situations that may not be appropriate for younger listeners.