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The Time Traveler's Wife cover art

The Time Traveler's Wife

By: Audrey Niffenegger
Narrated by: Fred Berman,Phoebe Strole
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Summary

Clare and Henry have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was 36. They were married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

Clare and Henry's story unfolds from both points of view, depicting the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other. They attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals: steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

©2003 Audrey Niffenegger; 2005 HighBridge Company (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

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Critic reviews

  • Alex Award Winner, 2004

"Highly original first novel....Niffenegger has written a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes....It is a fair tribute to her skill and sensibility to say that the book leaves a reader with the impression of life's riches and strangeness rather than of easy thrills." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Time Traveler's Wife

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Immaculately crafted tale

Would you listen to The Time Traveler's Wife again? Why?

Definitely, because I know I missed loads of stuff. It is so intricately written, with threads weaving through the past, present and future.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Time Traveler's Wife?

Don't want to spoil it by giving anything away!

What does Fred Berman and Phoebe Strole bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narrators are superb, and add loads to the story. The only complaint I have is with the sections in French and German, which I really couldn't understand, probably due to the very strong American accent, and I've taken off a star for that.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. In the abstract it seems unbelievable, but it works superbly.

Any additional comments?

Gorgeous, satisfying read. Loved it.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • c
  • 13-04-13

Amazing story

I absolutely loved this audiobook. I hadn't got around to reading it and had be told how wonderful it was. At first I thought the jumps in time would be confusing, but it flowed so well and I fell in love with the characters straight away. I could be convinced this story was real and never wanted it to end. The two narrators worked perfectly together. I giggled, sighed and cried. I even made my car journeys longer just to keep listening. I will be picking up the book next.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story, wonderfully read.

Don't give up if you find the story hard to get to grips with, due to the time travelling.
Persevere and you will be rewarded.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Very Disappointing

It was a bit of an ordeal, it is far too long, probably about 10 hours too long! I found the female voice very difficult to listen to which didn't help. There wasn't much of a story and it was very chaotic due to the different voices and jumping around in time. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn't. When I eventually got to the miserable and depressing end of the book I couldn't care less about the characters, I just wanted it to be over.

I will NEVER revisit this book, it is the worst and most disappointing book I've ever bought from audible.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and perfect. An exceptional audiobook.

What did you like most about The Time Traveler's Wife?

Both narrators worked together extremely well, the story is so well crafted and there really aren't enough ways to say that this really is an amazing audiobook.

Get it. You will not regret it.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So much better than the film!

If you could sum up The Time Traveler's Wife in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant engaging lovely

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It would be a bit much to listen to all at once, but in my free time I didn't put it down !

Any additional comments?

This book as read brilliantly, I loved the film, but now in comparison it seems week after reading the book with I followed with keen interest a range of emotions and always thinking 'just one more chapter'
I would definitely recommend this read!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • L
  • 24-02-15

Pure brilliance!

I saw the film before realising it had been adapted from a book. The film was good, the book fantastic!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

Would you listen to The Time Traveler's Wife again? Why?

I would defiantly listen to The Time Traveler's wife again, having a beautiful story read out to you as you draw is incredibly relaxing the time just flows by and you find your ideas smoothly flowing along with the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't really have a favourite character I loved the way that they interacted together, it was there togetherness that brought out the best parts of them!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Enjoy is a funny word, I laughed out loud when he first meets Claire in his time stream because it was such a real response! and I almost cried (except for the fact I was on a train) when you realise that he knows when the end is and tries to protect Claire

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I'm time poor and so sitting for 17 hours and listening to a book is something I can't really afford, equally its a very long time! I did listen to it in fairly long stints because once you get into the flow of a story its hard to break off.

Any additional comments?

When I was younger my mother read to me and brought me book and tapes which I wore down through listening to so often. It wonderful that I can still listen to 'adult' books because you get so much from somebody's voice telling a story and this story in particular with two voices is just beautiful.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Imaginative, but too long love story

Reminiscent of HG Wells’ Time Machine and Dr Who, Henry, flits back and forth in time. He is supposedly suffering from Chrono-Displacement Disorder in which his genetic clock randomly resets. Ignoring this biologically implausible explanation for time-travel, the time shift device is an imaginative way to tell the story of his relationship with Clare from when they first met when she was 6 and he 36. In real time their age difference is 8 years.

Clare’s age correlates with the actual date but Henry's increases and decreases so that the age disparity and who is the older varies from meeting to meeting. Gradually the story of both their lives is told, but the randomness of their ages when he re-appears breaks up the flow of the narrative. There are some interesting, thought-provoking philosophical topics buried in this long book but mainly it’s lots of domestic encounters between the couple and at times the story drags.

I felt the book was too long with many of the encounters being repetitive and without much interest. The story did pick up towards the end of the book.

Not a gripping book, but interesting enough for me to finish it.
Having two narrators livens things up, though, at times, the female voice grates.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very human story with a twist

I read the reviews of this when it was first published and had it on my list. I found the concept of time travel fascinating and it added something truly unique to an enduring love story. My only criticism is that I found the voice of the young Claire rather irritating, and initially thought it would spoil the book for me. But it didn't overall, so if you find the same, persevere!

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5 people found this helpful