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Does anyone hate The Time Traveller's Wife?

61 replies

CreeperBoom · 21/10/2023 15:59

I have just read this for the first time after noticing that it was available on kindle, and I am so annoyed at the characters I need to speak to someone about it!

Henry was just so selfish and self-absorbed. He loved Clare best when she was a child who worshipped him, and was irritated when grief meant he wasn't her only focus.

Clare's only personality quirk seems to be not being able to cook. She is desperate for a baby, but then doesn't seem to bond with the child. She sleeps with her best friend's husband, and encroaches on Henry's ex's friendships, after stealing her boyfriend.

At one point, I hoped she was going to walk away from Henry. I think that would have been a more satisfying ending - she should have learned to set her own path in life, and Henry should have learned to form relationships without having manipulated them with future knowledge.

I was expecting a similar feel to the film Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, in terms of the out of sequeuence relationship aspect. But no stage of this relationship was relatable to me. When I got to the end of the book, I thought that I must have been mistaken and there is no way that Clare could have been written by a woman - but no.

That's not even getting into the age gap ick.

The general opinion on this seems to be positive though. Am I the only one who feels like this?

OP posts:
Echobelly · 21/10/2023 16:12

It was entertaining but I didn't think it was very well written and couldn't really feel much for the characters.

PangramAddict · 21/10/2023 16:12

Nope, I hated it. It was weird and creepy. I didnt find it romantic at all!

ElleLeopine · 21/10/2023 16:11

I absolutely loved it, and still do!

saltnpepper2000 · 21/10/2023 16:09

Sorry - no - I absolutely loved it 😂

undery · 21/10/2023 16:08

I felt uncomfortable with the fact he befriended her as a child then became romantically involved later on. Not quite grooming, perhaps, but didn't sit comfortably either.

IncomingTraffic · 21/10/2023 16:07

I hated it. Everything about the relationship is awful.

Neilsfavouritechilli · 21/10/2023 16:06

I got as far as two of him in his teenage bedroom and it broke my brain enough to have to stop.

Tilllly · 21/10/2023 16:06

Tellmeallthestories · 21/10/2023 16:01

No, I didn't like it either. Regret even being reminded of it tbh!

Same

MyBedIsMySpiritualHome · 21/10/2023 16:05

Yeah I hated it. Weird and uncomfortable power dynamic.

sunshineandshowers40 · 21/10/2023 16:04

I read it years ago; I didn't enjoy it, took forever for me to finish it.

Tellmeallthestories · 21/10/2023 16:01

No, I didn't like it either. Regret even being reminded of it tbh!