The Time Traveler's Wife ~ Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler's Wife
By Audrey Niffenegger

Henry first met Clare when he was 28 years old and Clare was 20, but Clare first met Henry fourteen years earlier when she was 6.  He was 36 years old at the time.  You see, Henry suffers with Chrono-Displacement Disorder.  He suddenly disappears out of his timeline and can be dropped down anywhere, at any time, without clothes or money to sustain him. 

Henry isn’t a saint.  Being dropped down anywhere and anywhen without anything to wear has led to some skills at theft to clothe and feed himself.  This, in turn, has led to multiple arrest warrants being issued.  His saving grace is that he has no identification so if he is caught, he simply waits until he is pulled into a new place and time.  Houdini had nothing on Henry.

Henry’s first experience being displaced is when he is 5.  He finds himself back in the Field Museum of Natural History, which he had not wanted to leave earlier in the day.  Luckily, he has a wonderful guide, himself!  Though he doesn’t know it. 

How would you act if this happened to you?  How would you explain things? To strangers?  To people you love?  How would it affect your relationships? 

This isn’t an easy book.  At one point Clare is abused by a male classmate and Henry helps her to teach him a lesson.  I picked up this book expecting somewhat of a fluffy romantic comedy but found much more.  I highly recommend it.