discussion of the book (spoilers)

the hive queen · Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:00 am

Do not read until you have completed the book. Spoilers!

*********

The best way that I can describe this book is a guilty pleasure. I tend to avoid romantic/love stories, but I found this one interesting enough to keep my attention. I even cried at the end.

I loved the 1st person, present tense. It was nice to read a more unusual format. It was an easy, fast, and fun read. I liked the Henry and Clare characters and the chronological complexity of their relationship. Overall, I would give it a "thumbs up" review, however, I think I would only suggest it to other chicks and sensitive guys (due to the book being pretty much a love story).

I would have liked the ending to have provided a little more information: Does Alba continue to enjoy timetravel? Does she get beat up or raped? Does she opt to check out gene therapy? Do Clare and Gomez remain friends? Although the author mentioned that Clare got back into her art (and appeared to be accepting Henry's death), I didn't really get the impression that she was going to find happiness. I would have liked to have seen a little more closure there.

One last thought... I did enjoy the story, but I would have liked to have seen Henry experimenting with changing history a little bit. I can't believe he never once told his younger self to stash clothes and shoes in some of the places that he would time travel to. Henry tended to give up some information to people on another timeline, but then he would say he couldn't change anything. He defended himself saying those things already happened, but that seemed like a lame excuse.

"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching." -- Keller Williams

Mr. Pessimistic · Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:55 am

Quote:
He defended himself saying those things already happened, but that seemed like a lame excuse.

This is one of the problems I had with Niff's writing...she seems to expect the reader to just accept what she is saying and not offer any logical reasons to do so. It was very forced IMO.

Also, and this is not a strong critique but a simple feeling I had, she seems to try too hard sometimes to offer a racy sense. To explain what I mean and what I feel: Every time I came across a dirty word or idea, I would get the impression of her stopping her typing and looking around the room as if she were a little flustered and embarrassed. I am not saying she did this...but that thought would run through my mind whenever I read a racy scene or word. The whole section where Henry was having sex with himself is just odd...and I rarely find sexual content odd or wrong...but here it was...IMO.

It did not seem natural.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Edited by: misterpessimistic at: 6/13/06 11:11 am

the hive queen · Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:28 am

Hey, Mr. P.

I agree that the scene where Henry masterbates with himself was a bit strange. I kept thinking about it after I read it, thinking, would I do that as a 15 year old? It's pretty similar to masterbating by yourself. I mean, you couldn't possibly know another person more than you know yourself. There would be no secrets or embarrassment, and you could trust yourself to keep a secret.

Henry was a very sexual being, though, and he seemed openminded about homosexuality. Perhaps it was a way to live out a gay fantasy without actually having to be gay, or maybe he already knew that he tended to timetravel less when he was sexually active (and exercising).

I saw an Aeon Flux episode some years back where Aeon (main character) was cloned. That is, she was an exact replica of her adult self. Every time she ran into herself in private, they would kiss and make out. I remember thinking how strange this was. I thought of it when I read about Henry.

Strange stuff, but there are sexually deviant behaviors that bother me much more.

"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching." -- Keller Williams

JulianTheApostate · Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:47 am

This was one of my favorite novels. Unlike most fiction I read, the story grabbed me and I cared about the characters. It was cool how the author took time-travel, which could easily have become a gimmick, and built a great romance around it.

One of the marks of a great story is that you wonder what happens to characters afterwards. The "what happened to Alba?" ponderings reflect the high quality of the narrative.

I totally accepted the ground rules of the book's universe, such as the inability to change what already happened. Part of creating a fictional world is choosing what to allow and what to forbid. Besides, after reading numerous time-travel science fiction, I'm fine with an author who states her framework and moves on.

Though I've never tried it myself, mutual masturbation & circle jerks are common behavior for teenage boys, even among those who become completely heterosexual as adults.

FreetobeBeth · Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:16 pm

The most puzzling part of the storyline is why Henry doesn't even have a clue who Clare is at Henry's age of 28. By now he has traveled into the future and seen himself with her.
(logically)

I find it interesting that if he had never met Clare as a child, their meeting at the library would have been insignificant and then he would not have ever traveled to the meadow and be killed by her family. The cycle of the timeline was the most intriguing part of the book for me.

I assume Henry is a literary tragic hero who is born with a power greater than the normal man but time traveling is also his tragic flaw. To me the line about Clare looking like what his child would look like at that age was the first indication of his eventual fall. He does have the tragic death and is unable to reverse any of the events leading up to his death. What provokes such pity for Henry to me is that he is good, yet has to live like a thief.

As for the sexual events during his youth...I think I would do the same thing if I were in his place. He didn't have anyone except himself.

Snowden · Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:40 pm

Am I the only one who found Henry overly puerile? I can't help but think that a man who lived through what he lived through, and survived, would be more wise in reflection. I also got the feeling that the author name dropped Heidegger with having read Being in Time.

Mr. Pessimistic · Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:26 pm

I found the whole book puerile. I found the author puerile. She handled the 'dirty' scenes like an unsure virgin. She did not grab my attention at all.

But atheism is no more a religion than not playing chess is a hobby. - Robert Sawyer - Sci Fi Author

I'm not saying it's usual for people to do those things but I(with the permission of God) have raised a dog from the dead and healed many people from all sorts of ailments. - Asana Boditharta (former booktalk troll)

"The Sentient may percieve and love the universe, but the universe cannot percieve and love the sentient. The universe sees no distinction between the multitude of creatures and elements which comprise it. All are equal. None is favored...It cannot control what it creates and it cannot, it seems, be controlled by its creations (though a few might decieve themselves otherwise). Those who curse the workings of the universe curse that which is deaf. Those who strike out at those workings fight that which is inviolate. Those who shake their fists, shake their fists at blind stars." - Michael Moorcock in the "Queen of the Swords"

Chris OConnor · Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:40 am

LOL Don't hold back, Nick. Tell us how you really feel.

Mr. Pessimistic · Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:37 am

I like the way Vonnegut handled the time travel thing, which was similar to the way Niffy presented it here, with his Chronosynclastic Infundibulum much better.

But atheism is no more a religion than not playing chess is a hobby. - Robert Sawyer - Sci Fi Author

I'm not saying it's usual for people to do those things but I(with the permission of God) have raised a dog from the dead and healed many people from all sorts of ailments. - Asana Boditharta (former booktalk troll)

"The Sentient may percieve and love the universe, but the universe cannot percieve and love the sentient. The universe sees no distinction between the multitude of creatures and elements which comprise it. All are equal. None is favored...It cannot control what it creates and it cannot, it seems, be controlled by its creations (though a few might decieve themselves otherwise). Those who curse the workings of the universe curse that which is deaf. Those who strike out at those workings fight that which is inviolate. Those who shake their fists, shake their fists at blind stars." - Michael Moorcock in the "Queen of the Swords"

docxen · Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:01 pm

Maybe Alba's story will be in book two or at least that was the plan. Personally since we never see Alba above a child perhaps by her teen years she has either done gene therapy or has learned to control her powers. Why would she not go back in time from an older self to train herself. I would also wonder how Henry was able to be born since Clair has so many problems and finally needed medical help. But then i remind myself it's just a book and not to worry about the minor details. However where Clair saw her son outside her body...oh man that was some tough stuff. Also how did everyone come to understand time travel as no big deal by the time Alba was a young child.

Snorkmaiden · Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:42 pm

** Contains Spoilers **
Before Alba is born Henry meets her at the museum when she is aged 10. Clare gets a phone call to come and identify him. Clare (aged 40) speaks with Henry on the phone, then goes to the museum. When Clare arrives Henry is on the floor a few feet away and tells her he loves her just before he travels again.
I found it strange that the book never mentioned this from Clare's point of view after Henry had died. This would be one time where she got to speak to, and see Henry before the time when she is 82. It would be really significant for her yet never gets mentioned. I feel like the author just sort of forgot about that bit (I'm sure that's not the case but it's really bugging me).

rockhavenw · Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:05 pm

This is one of my favorite books! I also "chose" to "go with" the situations in the book, and found them to be very engrossing, and "possible" (even though I saw some of the previously mentioned issues!) With a little imagination, it was easy for me to immerse myself in the characters and situations, and believe it all COULD happen! When I recommended the book to friends, most of them said they found the book's jumping back and forth in time to be confusing. I re-read very few books. This is one of them! In case you're interested: I also downloaded the Audible version, to share with friends on a road trip, and thought it was GREAT!

Forum rules

discussion of the book (spoilers) Tweet This Topic

Who is online

Chat Room Always Open!