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

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

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.

definitely!

I might try again after reading this. I only got as far as the first 40 pages.

charleypops are you referring to Time Traveller's Wife or Middlesex? Both are great!

I liked the Lovely Bones and Middlesex.

Evilannie - TTW, haven't tried Middlesex, but I'll look out for it now. Just got back into reading after a frightfully tiring year and hate wasting time reading rubbish.

This thread prompted me to recommend it to someone on Friday, then get it out of the library again on Sat. I read it from start to finish by Sun night. How I managed it despite all the housework, childcare, etc etc I don't know. I liked it even more the second time though I thought the sex bits were too rude for my liking. I didn't mind the mouse genetics bit as otherwise it would be hard to explain another of the characters - not saying who in case I spoil the story for someone. I found some of the arty stuff a bit boring and skimmed over a few of those paragraphs, I have to admit. All in all, a good powerful read, I thought.

Have to say I am a sucker for a pair of doomed starcrossed lovers though. Is Middlesex along those lines?

Loved the TTW - but did take me a third of the book to get 'into' it and then I couldn't put it down.

I loved it. Took me a while to work out the order, when I gave up and just went with it I completely lost myself in it. Recommeded it to friends who hated it tho'. Guess it's a personal thing

I think it's a really good book (tttw). A bit strange but good. The Constant Gardener is also a really good read, just finished it and just about to start a wedding in december by anita shreve.

i agree with buckets, the main characters are a bit too cool. i couldn't fancy the main bloke, something about his hair put me off! BUT, it was still great and if you like a weepy, it's an absolute must

Middlesex is quite unique really, bit of an epic, read the reviews on amazon here

didnt do it for me

I read it a while ago, it's very odd which is a prerequisite for me. It is quite samey and a lot like the TV programme Quantum Leap. I did enjoy it though, quite a 'beautiful' story.

Just finished TTTW today. Did not really "get it", but struggled to the end.

Did not cry at all, and I cry watching nappy ads!

Am going to read Left Bank and The Historian next!

The Historian is very boring if you're not into painstaking research procedures. Utterly humourless too and I don't think vampires should be.

I just started TTTW last night and think I'm going to enjoy it, though am a bit confused with the time travel - I don't 'do' sci-fi stuff. I didn't like TLB at all though. And I also have Middlesex sitting on the shelf waiting to be read.

Suedonim, don't let the timetravel get in the way. I had a dazed expression for a while trying to wrestle with it but eventually I gave up and let the story do its stuff and by the end of it you do understand it without trying because she has done all the thinking for you.

That's good news, BOBD! I'd wondered if not getting the time travel bit would make it all incomprehensible.

I loved it so much, had me in floods of tears for most of the book - was pregnant while reading it. I think it's one of the best things I've read since university days.

Finished it! I never did really get to grips with the time travel stuff but enjoyed the story anyway. Someone said on here that they thought the characters were boring - I agree, they are a bit one-dimensional whereas I thought some of the other characters were well drawn. I could envisage Charisse and Gomez, Kimy and Ingrid. Maybe the main characters were deliberately made to be rather flat, to enhance the time travel aspect?