The time traveller's wife

This book by Audrey Niffenegger had received good reviews in several magazines, but looking at the main story plot I was not very convinced that I wanted to read it. I do not know the exact reason; it just did not appeal to me. However, at a time when I hadn't read anything for a long while because I did not find anything interesting, browsing in the book store one day, I finally decided to buy The Time Traveler's Wife. I read it over the last few days.

This is the story of the life of the time traveler, Henry, and his wife Clare. Henry meets Clare for the first time when Clare is 6 and Henry is 36, while Henry is travelling back in time. The story moves as Clare grows up according to the laws of nature, while Henry keeps moving back and forth in time, regardless of his own wish.

Although this core of the story is time travel, it is not science fiction, or even about time travel, in fact. It is about people. The entire story is related by Henry and Clare, taking turns at narration. Although I have read quite a few books in first person narrative, I found narration by two main protagonists a novel idea, quite an interesting one. Initially I had some difficulty following the story, as it brings in Henry from some future time, talking about things that have not yet happened. But after a while I got the hang of it. Also, in the beginning, I felt that the story was rather slow, but after completing about one-fourth of it, I was engrossed. I liked the book, though I cannot say I enjoyed reading it. The main downside was it was very sad - for a couple of nights while I was reading the book, I was too depressed to sleep. Some may call it the mark of a good book (or film) if it leaves an impact. But I think that things that move you need not necessarily leave you with a feeling of depression. It is claimed as a story of undying love; but I do not think it is a very strong love story, though the commitment Henry and Clare have for each other is admirable. Then it has content that I do not think is really integral to the plot (I like my fiction to be just that - unadulterated story). My summation : it was quite okay, but unfortunately did not meet the expectaions that had been raised by the raving reviews.