The book

(This is a long one, just to warn you)

So I think it's time that I mentioned some of my thoughts on the book that dominated my free time for nearly a week and has frequented my thoughts ever since – The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I was totally captivated by this book.

1. The love story is central and strong – but definitely not cheesy or over the top. I think the plot and time line seem completely original, yet I know many love stories and novels about time travel have been written.

2. There is a point at which Clare meets Henry for the first time and vice-versa; but one knows the other first. While reading there are continual thoughts about the inevitability of their relationships. Their love and lives together are simply fact, not even fate. But that's not depressing, just thought provoking. The plot seems totally reliant on the wacky time line, and yet it feels more like time is reliant on Harry and Clare. This wacky time line means that it is important to tell the age of the main characters (Henry and Clare) at the beginning of each section of time, but this is distracting at first... the only downfall in my opinion although it's totally necessary. After awhile you just glance at it and refer to eat if necessary.

3. The flitting back and forth in time, affecting the past while old and young, the future while young and old, and the present as normal, young and old lead me to think about the possible inevitabilites of life (not just their relationship). What I am doing now my future self has already done, if time works like that – whoa what a mind trip!

4. At first it seems like Henry knows everything before Clare, but at some point (when Clare is 20) Clare knows more than Henry. There is no chance to feel sorry for one more than the other. Their relationship is completely unlike “normal,” but they are still just trying to do their best. For this I could relate to them. Niffenegger did a great job of making these characters believable despite the improbable timeline.

5. My work colleague said that it was “science fiction for women.” Which I can understand as he's a fan of science fiction but his girlfriend made him read this book. I don't want to agree with him, I don't think it's as simple as that. There is time travel and discussions of “medical science” in it but I don't think the dominating love story has to be just for women, nor do I think the science has to be only for men (yes, I am a feminist – no I will not vote for John McCain just because he has chosen a female running mate). I think the plot and time line are what they are and can be enjoyed by any gender. I do know men who like fiction, not just science fiction... and I also know women who much prefer science fiction to anything else.

6. Niffenegger tells the end of the plot about 100 pages before the end – but like the rest of the book that just made me want to read more because it wasn't the end of the story. This book stresses that life or even just this story wasn't about the beginning, middle or end it was about all of it – including the transitions between each stage, despite which comes first.

It's such a complicated love story. And Niffenegger never seems to get confused by it, which means the reader never gets confused by it either (although I'm sure you all are probably confused by my explination by now). As someone who has romantically dreamed of being a novelist since I was very young, I marvel at Niffenegger's ingenuity and creativity and engaging style. I'm sure I will be reading this again and loaning my copy to everyone I can. And anyone who wants to have a conversation about the book please, please, please comment.

And this week...

Looks like I'm turning into a weekly blogger. I don't want to be, I've discovered there are usually enough things on my mind to blog every day or two. I have been busy, but I've also been lazy lately and one of the victims of my laziness has been this blog.

Last week I was obsessed with reading "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. I'm going to blog about that on another day because my mind is still swimming with thoughts about that incredibly original novel.

This past weekend Neil and I did something totally unusual for us; we rented a car and didn't go to either Ikea or a garden centre. LOL! The purpose of renting the car was to go to Clowne, Derbyshire to meet our new niece. She was utterly tiny and utterly gorgeous. Neil was smitten. He only gave up holding her because she had to feed. We got in the car to go home and both wished that we lived closer so we could hold her and spoil her more often. But we'll do our best to love her and spoil her from a distance.

On Sunday we drove to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk for a bit of seaside walking, sunning and sand castle making. Some pictures:
The sun came out late but was most welcome. We ate too much, although it felt like we didn't eat much at all. I tried my first cockle. It was edible, but too gritty to eat again by choice. That was the best seaside treat I've ever had: a pot of prawns, cockles, king prawns and crab sticks. The only shame was that it was served in a polystyrene cup. The cup was most useful for making the top of our castle though, as we didn't come prepared with bucket and spade. Next on my list of seafood to try is the whelk.

Today I'm trying to focus on my studies by taking regular breaks so I can intensely study in between. Not working so far, but I'm trying. The next break will be to collect the ripe tomatoes from the garden for tonight's pizza making, but before that a lot of reading about collection management.