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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Struggling with Time Travellesr Wife

29 replies

maduggar · 18/07/2010 17:51

Have had The Time Travellers Wife recommended to me by many friends, so decided to give it a go. Im about 2 chapters in, and not really enjoying it. Is it worth me presevering, or should I just give it a miss?

I guess Im asking if it gets better, or should I be "feeling" it by now

OP posts:

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 18/07/2010 17:58

Oh I really enjoyed it, despite reading the synopsis/jacket and thinking " this doesn't sound like my usual fare".
Don't remember struggling at the beginning but it was a while ago and I was v sleep deprived so may not remember properly.
Give it another couple of chapters, and see how you get on.
(As an aside, I watched the film - not nearly so good as the book imho)

bigTillyMint · 18/07/2010 18:03

Keep going - I kept thinking it was a bit silly at only 2 chapters in, but then I got right into it and it is now one of my favourites

Original poster

maduggar · 18/07/2010 18:15

I just keep thinking that it doesnt make sense, which is annoying me I take it it all comes together later on in the book?

OP posts:

bigTillyMint · 18/07/2010 18:17

It is difficult to follow the plot and believe in the idea of time travelling initially, but stick with it!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 20/07/2010 17:40

I loved it and don't remember finding it hard to get into, but everyone has an adversion to a book that the rest of the world is raving about! I'd say keep on going, it's a great story and very well plotted, and I became very fond of the protagonists. But if you don't like it, you don't like it!

CreepyFunbags · 21/07/2010 15:08

It's boooooooooooooring. Give up now!

I seem to be the only person who thinks this, but you might be like me, who knows!

crumpet · 21/07/2010 15:27

thought it was overrated

thumbwitch · 21/07/2010 15:30

It's a bit of a marmite book, I think.

I loved it, thought it was a really interesting concept but lots of people hate it.

It takes a bit longer than the first two chapters to get into it, iirc - keep going for a bit if you can and if it doesn't get any better then give it up.

(And don't try Kate Mosse's Labyrinth - that really is shite)

sockmonkey · 21/07/2010 15:36

I wish I would have just put it down. I never really got into it, but I hate to start a book and not finish.

impimum · 21/07/2010 15:37

I had the same thing - gave up after about 30/40 pages and then picked the book up a year later and finished it in 3 days. I couldn't put it down and loved it so much.

ptangyangkipperbang · 21/07/2010 15:42

I didn't like the beginning at all but kept going because so many friends loved it. After about 100 pages (!) I began to enjoy it but not for long! I feel like I wasted my time and really can't understand the appeal.

OrmRenewed · 21/07/2010 15:45

God no! I hated it. Don't bother.

TrillianAstra · 21/07/2010 15:46

YY to not bothering with Labyrinth.

ArcticRoll · 21/07/2010 15:52

I didn't enjoy it at all!

ellasmum1 · 03/08/2010 18:46

god i loved it! one of my all time favs.And it did take a bit to get into initially

teameric · 03/08/2010 18:49

One of my faves, and definately one of those books you either love or hate, am reading her new one at the mo Her Fearful Symmetry, now can't get into that at all.

Vintagepommery · 03/08/2010 19:03

I loved it but then I loved it from the very 1st page - it's not boring it's brilliant!

Ephiny · 09/08/2010 13:43

I thought it was overrated - it was an entertaining enough read, but a bit disappointing given how many people rave about it. I thought the time-travelling thing was a clever and interesting concept, but that in itself isn't enough to sustain a whole novel (maybe would have worked better as a short story?) when there's not much actual plot, and I found most of the characters a bit annoying so couldn't feel much empathy for them.

Agree don't bother with Labyrinth, one of the few books so rubbish (and long!) that I haven't managed to finish them.

MollieO · 09/08/2010 13:46

Completely overrated and one of the most irritatingly structured books I have ever read.

OrmRenewed · 09/08/2010 13:47

It's crap. Don't struggle. Just burn it!

Original poster

maduggar · 09/08/2010 16:54

I did try again, but really cant get into it!

OP posts:

mixedmamameansbusiness · 12/08/2010 15:46

I would put it aside and come back to it. That is what I do if I am struggling. Cant tell you how many times Doctor Zchivago and Captain Corellis Mandolin got shelved.

I actually enjoyed the film and strangely felt it enhanced my reading of TTW, maybe try that. I felt they were both great in their own right.

DilysPrice · 12/08/2010 15:51

I'm with epiphany - it's ok and the plot is well designed, but I didn't love it. If you've tried again and still don't rate it then give it to charity.

crumpet · 12/08/2010 15:54

It was an interesting idea for a book - the writing didn't live up to the idea

Shinyshoegirl · 22/08/2010 23:40

Total waste of time! Badly written and horribly twee. Give it away and put your time to better use.

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