Book 09-05: The Time Traveler's Wife

Normally, it would take me eons to finish a book. But with The Time Traveler's Wife (TTTW), it didn't take me too long. Two weeks is not bad for someone who could take months reading just one book... I would have to say that the story's very, very interesting. I always wanted to know what happened next. AB commented that I like weird stuff, etc. that's why I liked TTTW. Well, I guess there's some truth to that but I like it also because it gives you hope that everything's possible and probable.

AB complained that she had headaches while reading the book since the setting kept changing from one time period to another as the main character, Henry, has a rare condition where he time travels to differrent periods in his life, the past and the future. Thanks to AB for the heads up, I've easily gotten the hang of the shifting time periods.

It's hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he's okay. It's hard to be the one who stays.

The story started out all pretty when Clare met Henry for the first time. She was 6 and he was 36. However, Henry first met Clare when he was 28 and she was 20. Yeah, it gets pretty messed up with the numbers changing every time. Anyway, as I was saying... Clare has known Henry almost all her life and I thought what a wonderful thing it was to have known the love of your life at an early age. But at the same time, it somehow robs you of the life's little surprises. So which do you prefer?

I think I'd rather take life as events unfold little by little. Aba, mahirap ang maghintay. Come to think of it, it could get pretty frustrating when you keep waiting for things. At least when you don't know that something or someone's about to happen to you, you don't have to spend every waking moment wondering when that time would be. It could happen to you at the time you least expect it to happen, while you were going about your daily life. I could relate this to my phone marathons with Juno. Juno's landline has a 10-minute time limit. Every time I call her, we'd spend 9 or so minutes then she'd tell me that their phone already sent out a beep, warning us that our conversation would be cut in a while. So for the remaining time, we won't be able to talk about anything since we're anticipating for the cut-off. I think the same goes for the story, it's hard to get on with life when you know something's supposed to be happening soon. You tend to get stuck in the moment just waiting. I initially thought it was harder on Henry's part but as I went further the book, it was actually harder on Clare's part.

But then again, maybe waiting isn't so cruel after all. If you're sure that there's this one good coming your way even if you'd be too focused on that one thing coming to be able to turn your attention to other things, at least that's one thing sure to make you happy.

"But do you think that it's better to be extremely happy for short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?"

Ang hirap ah. That's like choosing if you'd have just one perfect day with the love of your life, talking about anything under the sun and knowing that your feelings are reciprocated but he has to go away the next day -or- be beside that someone all of your life but you can NEVER be with him under any circumstances. It's tempting to choose scenario #2. Imagine, you'd be near him almost all the time but I'm thinking maybe the "so near yet so far" drama would be too much for the heart to handle, right? I think I just might hear my heart shatter into a million little pieces.

Anticipating how the events would unfold kept me glued to the book. I always wanted to know what's happening next. I'd shut up already so I wouldn't spoil it for other people who hasn't read the book yet. I'm excited to see the movie soon. I wonder how'd they condense 500+ pages into 2 hours. I have many favorite parts in the book but one of my most favorite parts isn't part of the story. I read the acknowledgment part where the author thanks the people who have made her book possible and in the very last line she wrote: Last and best, thanks to Christopher Schneberger: I waited for you and now you're here. Awww....

I love it when little puzzle pieces drop into place like this.

I hope my puzzle pieces would drop into place soon...

P.S. Alba and I were born on the same day. Niiiice.