The Time Traveller's Wife

[poliphilo]

On reflection I hate this book. Two wealthy, beautiful, American, white people fall in love and get married. They are supported  in their idleness by life-affirming people of colour.  He and she claim to be punks and class warriors whilst  sucking up to her big corporate daddy, wallowing  in privilege and growing rich through what can only be described as insider trading- because- see- he's a time traveller and he's got the dope on the coming dotcom boom. Ah, but  there's the rub! Time travel isn't all fun: for one thing he never goes anywhere interesting (Wot, no ancient Romans? wot no, spacemen?)  and secondly its dangerous and embarrassing.  Sadly, he can't control it- it's a genetic aberration (yeah, right!)- and what  if he disappears in the middle of the wedding ceremony and embarrasses daddy in front of his powerful friends? The ending is tragic- long drawn out and dripping with molasses (Oh, just get on with it!)- but not to worry, because they have a perfect child and he (the traveller) isn't entirely dead because earlier versions of him keep popping up in his family's future.

I'm sure there's a film in the pipeline- probably starring a soulful Jim Carrey. There has to be.  Perhaps it already came out and flopped. 

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Yay! Someone who affirms my opinion. I did NOT like this book. (I also remembered their child as a daughter, but as I say I didn't like the book.) You can bet if they make a movie of it, it will be well received - it's just the kind of pap that most people seem to love.

I like the Outlander books, when it comes to time travel. They aren't historically accurate, but they're fun, even if my Scot professor refers to one of the main characters as 'Jamie with the Laughing Thighs'.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You're right; the child is a girl; the "he" refers to the Time traveller; I guess I'd better go back in and make that clear :)

My favourite time travelling fiction is Michael Moorcock's Dancers At The End Of Time.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I"ll have to look that up, thanks!

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

That's a good one - JWLT, hmmm I stopped ready when they switched location to Virginia but wallowed in the Scottish episodes.
For reasons I couldn't fathom I've been avoiding the The Time Traveller's Wife. Now I see my presentiments have been accurate. Thank you for saving me from wasting time and money.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Actually, he called him 'Jamie with the rollicking thighs' but I couldn't go back in and change it. I've continued reading because I want to follow the saga to the end. And I'm very glad you avoided the Time Traveller's Wife.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

At least I didn't spend any money on it. My copy was a hand-me-down from my sister.