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The time traveller's wife - is it any good (40 pages in, not convinced)?

96 replies

CristinaTheAstonishing · 05/10/2006 11:44

I know it's had good reviews. I think the idea is interesting. I'm 40 pages in and it's just very samey. Does it lead to anything, is it worth persisting? Thanks.

OP posts:
riab · 16/10/2006 20:33

yes and got better after the first 70-80 pages

earlysbird · 16/10/2006 20:32

really enjoyed it myself, and the lovely bones too. Anyone read Middlesex? Weird but enthralling, suit similar tastes to the other 2 I'd think

Eeek · 16/10/2006 20:02

sorry haven't read thread - took me around 100 pages to start enjoying it. then I loved it

wherethewildthingsare · 16/10/2006 20:01

I'm about half way through and increasingly liking it - I'll get back to you...

spykid · 16/10/2006 19:35

Looooved it.
Haven't been able to re -read it as Iwas too traumatised the first time!

Human Traces is good. I didn't enjoy it as much as Birdsong or Charlotte Gray. A lot of pschological facts to trawl through. Worth it though He is a fab writer IMO.

charleypopspreviouslyntt · 16/10/2006 16:58

I didn't like it. Lucky Bones I did, read it in about 2 sittings though - not very long.

earthtomummy · 16/10/2006 16:45

I loved TTTW, also liked The Lovely Bones, but was pg. at the time and v. hormonal and couldmn't stop crying. The Accidental is on my bedside at the mo. but I'm not getting past page 5. Is it worth psuhing on with. Read Short History of Tractors.. instead which I loved. I've got Human Traces too (Sebastian Faulks). Anyone read that - good reviews??

diNOLOOKINGOVERYOURSHOULDERsau · 16/10/2006 16:41

I didn't like TTTW but did like TLB.

Californifright · 16/10/2006 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suzywong · 16/10/2006 10:09

In response to OP
No, it's a bag of sh*te
Since you asked

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 16/10/2006 10:08

I'm 3/4 through it and spent most of last night weeping buckets. I think the timetravel is well-thought out and I'm enjoying the fact that it is such hard work and mindbending to comprehend.
I've found it really easy to become the characters in my head, hence all the crying . My only problem so far is that the characters are a bit too cool, him with his 007-style and black hair, her with her fabulous art and stunning redhead looks. Why do you never get mousey-haired heroes and heroines?

janeite · 12/10/2006 20:14

I think most people who I know who liked "The Time Traveller's Wife" also liked "the Lovely Bones". Imho TTTW is better - I enjoyed TLB but there is one godawful sex scene in it that really spoiled it for me.

MissyBabee · 12/10/2006 14:09

thought this was really lovely, wept buckets at the end but then, i wept huge buckets at the end of philip pulman's trilogy . think you have to be a romantic to enjoy this.

also, do not believe you should persevere if not enjoying. i've not finished loads of books - life's too short.

is lovely bones really depressing then expat? as someone told me i'd love that if i liked timetraveller's wife.

porpoise · 12/10/2006 13:39

Yes, what WAS the point of all that? Did it really matter that he was a genetic 'freak'? Didn't add anything at all to the plot. And I think it would have been just a moving/interesting if his ability to time travel had never been 'explained'.

pianomummy · 12/10/2006 13:31

Yes - the anticipation of death was moving, i agree porpoise - esp. the scene when he sees her as a v old woman for the last time.

Just really got hacked off with all the genetic tests on mice!

porpoise · 12/10/2006 13:25

Oh, I actually LIKED the end of it best, pianomummy!
Not the genetics stuff (agree with you about that) but I thought the stuff about death and anticipation of death and grief was really very moving.
MInd you, I am a bit of a soft touch

pianomummy · 12/10/2006 13:20

I liked it until the last third, when it starts trying to scientifically explain the time-travelling with lots of genetics...that completely killed it for me.

An interesting idea in terms of story-telling, but once you've finished it you think - and...so what? the fancy plot structure doesn't really add anything, it's just a gimmick imo.

expatinscotland · 12/10/2006 12:41

The Lovely Bones made me lose the will to live.

FFS. The world is a depressing enough place as it is w/o that tripe in it.

diNOLOOKINGOVERYOURSHOULDERsau · 12/10/2006 12:32

Think hatwoman puts it very well.

expatinscotland · 12/10/2006 12:30

I couldn't get my head round that Jonathan Strange thingy, either.

UnquietDad · 12/10/2006 12:28

Actually, neither for me - I got my head round the idea perfectly well, I just didn't find it made for a particularly compelling narrative. It seemed a lazy and bitty way to tell a story.

And it's ironic that such a "literary" work should rely on such a sci-fi premise, when the literary world is normally so scornful and scathing about SF and fantasy.

Clary · 11/10/2006 00:17

I adooooooored it.

But lots of people I know did not.

I think by 40 pages you've got the idea. A colleague of mine said she just coulnd't get her head round it.
Basically she meets him as a child and he's her husband; then when she meets him in real life he has no idea who she is (because he hasn't gone back to meet her yet). Head spinning? Give it up. Fascinated? Keep going.

expatinscotland · 10/10/2006 23:50

I went to 50 pages.

The 50 pages rule.

It's a good one.

I scammed it off an amazon.com reviewer.

Kif · 10/10/2006 23:39

It does get more exciting - but if you;re not convinced by the style and concept by 40 pages perhaps youre just not that into it? I loved it - but in your postioin I'd give up.

UnquietDad · 10/10/2006 23:31

I gave up on this book after about 40 pages too.