This book
has elicited in me mixed emotions. The story is certainly original. I admit I
bought it for the vaguely sci-fi assumption from which it begins to discover
that it was more like a romance novel with a literary fiction ending.
The way it
is written, mixing past, present and future, the narrative technique of the
double point of view and the perfectly intertwined mechanism of time travels is
definitely remarkable. As well the ability of Niffenegger's prose deserves
praise as to capture the reader and make them empathize with the story. She
could really make me live the story of Clare and Henry, but especially that of
Henry, much more interesting than his wife.
Bad,
though, for the unnecessarily downhill final part, characterized by a
continuous basking in the pain of the male protagonist. I found it sadistic
towards the character itself and the readers. From the moment I knew how it
would end, around page 300 (but I had a suspicion long before), I almost had no
reason to go on. I continued to hope for a twist, because it seemed absurd that
in a novel like that the ending would be so obvious so far in advance. But I
was disappointed. The last scene is really disturbing. I read in an interview
that Niffenegger has written that scene at very first, which is even more
disappointing.
What can I
say? It certainly enriched me in many aspects of the way in which it was
written, but I do not know if it was worth reading, given the prolonged bad
mood that got me in the end. I want to enjoy myself when I read, not bring myself
down.
What a
pity.
The Time Traveler's Wife
on Amazon.
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