The Time Traveler’s Wife

Every so often a book falls from the sky - a happy surprise filled with such a compelling world you can’t put it down. Audrey Niffenegger’s book, The Time Traveler’s Wife, is just such a novel. Despite the fact that the LSAT is just around the corner, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s that good.

On one level it’s a science fiction story about Henry De Tamble - a Chicago librarian with “chrono-displacement” disorder. At random times, he suddenly disappears without warning only to find himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of emotional importance in his life.

On another level it’s a love story about Henry’s relationship with Clare, who leads a chronologically normal life. The two of them meet in “real time” when Clare is 20 and Henry is 28; however, she’s known him - a much older-version, that is - since she was a little girl. For years, she’s known he was her future husband, so by the time she actually meets the real-time Henry (who’s a little befuddled at this strange girl rushing up to him in the Chicago library), Clare practically has their wedding already planned out.

The story follows the lovers across a timeline shaped like a Mobius strip, alternating between their viewpoints. They do their best to live normal lives, going after the American Dream of steady jobs, witty friends and children of their own.

As you can imagine, The Time Traveler’s Wife has the potential to bend your mind with cosmic philosophies that pretzel-twist logic and reality. It’s probably the only novel I’ve ever read which turns discussions about free will and determinism into page-turning entertainment.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is not a Christmas story, but it is the perfect read for the holiday. Like the emotions of the season it will leave you laughing, crying, and babbling incoherently to your family and friends who will, no doubt, attempt to steal the book away when you aren’t looking. Be warned. Buy that special someone their own copy - now.

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