Time Travelers Wife

AMK2009

I saw the movie over the weekend, but I never read the book.  I didn't like the movie too much, it seemed like there was alot unexplained and maybe left out from the book.  I'm kinda interested in reading the book now to see what the movie's missing, but if I didn't really like the movie, then maybe I wouldn't like the book either.  Has anybody seen the movie after reading the book?  Thoughts?

marburs

my book is currently making its rounds around the office, but then you should borrow it.  Its written really well, and explains things really well.  I ahvent seen the movie, but the book was not confusing to me at all.  I didn't ilke the ending tho- it serisouly killed me, I was in a stump for 3 days.

AMK2009

Ya, the end of the movie was weird to me.  I think I was the only person that left the theatre thinking WTF instead of crying.  There HAS to be more to it then what they showed in the movie, at least I'm hoping.

punkNess

Bummer to hear about the movie. I read reviews that said it wasn't that good. I haven't seen it yet. The book was confusing to me at first because it kept jumping around. (what can I expect with a book about time traveling??) After about 50 pages, I couldn't put it down.The ending was sad and sweet at the same time.I would highly recommend the book.

McBridetobe

I've read the book and have seen the movie.  I'm a huge fan of the book - but it is a little confusing, especially at the beginning.  They definitely left stuff out of the movie that helps you understand everything more, so the book will clear some confusion up for you.  But they also left out a few parts of the book that I didn't like, so I liked that aspect of the movie better.  :)I actually thought the ending of the movie was more clear than the book, so you still might be like WTF.

marburs

I hated the ending.  I didnt think it was sweet at all. SPOILER he died when she was 37, and then she spent the rest of her life waiting for him.  He saw her daughter all the time, never her. Only to have her turn old and do the same routine day in and day out just because he wrote her a letter saying this is what it was like when he saw her.  She was 82 and wore a peach sweater every single day- did the same thing every single day- waiting for him. look at the dates of the last two chapters.  I dunno- but that doesnt seem like a very good ending... good book, but the ending was just uneventful. I read that she wrote the ending first- and then filled in the book, you can def tell that this is the case

McBridetobe

Sara and I disagree about this.  :PI do think that it is sweet.  If my DH were to die today and I knew that there was a chance that I might see him again in my lifetime, you had better believe that I would do what I had to do to make that possible - wearing a sweater, doing the same things everyday.  It is the power of Clare's love for Henry that makes it so overwhelming to me. 

marburs

yeah- I can see it in this light.  I just don't think it was portrayed like that in the book.  I just reread the ending and it really doesn't seem as if Clare is happy. I've read a lot of discussion boards about this and many people even go as far to say that the day Henry came back is the day she died.  It's just the way the book reads casts a depressing light. However- I do agree that the concept is 'sweet'. and hopefully they did more to romanticize the movie's ending.

punkNess

KR - I totally agree. That's exactly why I thought it was sweet too.

marburs

I think I really need to see the movie.  Maybe my perception of the book will change...

McBridetobe

Clare isn't old at the ending of the movie, so the ending will be different for you! 

dicer2

I have only seen the movie and have not read the book.  I got the impression at the end of the movie that she sees Henry regularly.  The last year or so of his life they said he traveled a lot, and DH and I assumed it was to see his family in the future.  It definitely had as 'happy' of an ending as possible with one person dead. 

AMK2009

Hmm, I think I'm going to have to get the book and read it.  Ya, the ending is definately different then, they didn't show anything about a peach dress and she was not old.  The part that was WTF for me was how he died.  Like he was shot by the father because he appearered in the way of a deer?  Like that's the best they could come up with?  I just feel like there should be more to that.Does the book explain more about his genetic thing that makes him do it?  It's like the doctor was introduced in the movie, but he never really explained anything.  And it seemed like sometimes he was in two places at the same time at different ages.  Like the first time when he watched himself on the floor bleeding from being shot.  And then the one time he called her in the middle of the night and she went and picked him up (the night Alba was conceived), like wasn't he at the house when he called her?? 

marburs

I love how this turned into a book discussion!  Ang- I'll let you know when my co-worker is done reading it if you want to borrow it.  Are you still willing to give up those vase things? If so- we could meet sometime and do the exchange. lol

McBridetobe

There is more character development with Clare's family in the book.  I think the big issue with him being shot is that he can't run because of the frostbite, like he would have been able to otherwise and escaped without harm.  I think it covers a little more about genetics.  I agree that the doctor was a poor character in the movie.  There are 2 Henry's when he is traveling.  So when Alba is conceived in the car, younger, time-traveling Henry is with Clare in the car and older Henry is at home, knowing nothing of what is going on right then with his younger self.  Older Henry can remember what younger Henry does when he is traveling though - that's why Clare says to him remember that time in the car at the parking garage or whatever. 

AMK2009

Sarah, I still have the vase things for you.  I think DH moved them up to the attic because he was sick of looking at everything wedding related.  haha!  Let me know when your coworker is finished and we'll meet up! KR, so there were like really two Henrys?  Most of the time in the movie it was like there was one, and he would either be in present time, or past or future.  Maybe the 2 Henry thing was more in the book then the movie?  That's probably why it was confusing to me.

McBridetobe

KR, so there were like really two Henrys? Most of the time in the movie it was like there was one, and he would either be in present time, or past or future. Maybe the 2 Henry thing was more in the book then the movie? That's probably why it was confusing to me.As I understand it, the Henry who isn't time traveling (older Henry, in the Alba example) is still there, but we just don't see him...he still exists though in present time.  That's why Henry sometimes can see his time-traveling self, like when they see him after he has been shot.  There are 2 Henrys then - present Henry and time traveling Henry (which isn't always past or future, since sometimes older Henry is the one that is traveling to the present time, like at the wedding...when younger Henry is off somewhere else.)   

marburs

sweet!  I'll let you know! and there's def a good written showing of how there are two Henry's from time to time (pun intended!).  There's actually a part that KR and I were talking about a few days ago- that explicitly shows how there can be two Henrys in the same place and time. And how they can interact with each other...