(UK Cover)
I decided to do my review of this yet-to-be-released, highly anticipated novel by Audrey Niffenegger, in two formats. A non-spoiler format and a spoiler format. If you have not read the book, do not read the spoiler format. Please. If you have any intention of reading this book then reading the spoiler thread will certainly color your experience with the book in some way. Perhaps the non-spoiler review does as well, but arguably not to the same degree.
In order to read the non-spoiler review, merely click on the “Read More” link at the end of this post. To jump to the Spoiler Review (which I hid a few posts back), click on the image below:
I trust that you’ve made the right choice. 🙂
Her Fearful Symmetry is a contemporary gothic novel, perfectly positioned for a September 29th U.S. release. It is a story about a dead woman who suddenly finds herself haunting her former flat. It is also the story of her left-behind lover, her two twin nieces who come to live in said flat, and a severely OCD man who lives in the upstairs flat with his wife. It is set in and around a very real location, Highgate Cemetery in London. It is a ghost story. But in reality it is so much more, and so much less, than that.
In Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey Niffenegger utilizes an ensemble cast to tell a story that examines the meaning of ‘self’ and ‘individual’ in a variety of coupled relationships. Niffenegger writes about love, selfishness, manipulation, wish-fulfillment, death, the after-life and a variety of other thought-provoking topics that play out in the page-turning actions and decisions of her characters.
The one thing that I can say unequivocally is that within the first few pages of Her Fearful Symmetry it became obvious that The Time Traveler’s Wife was no fluke. Audrey Niffenegger can write, and write well. During the course of reading Her Fearful Symmetry I found myself having to imbibe small portions during stolen moments. Those stolen moments were deliciously agonizing in that I was so glad to be able to read a few pages and yet so disappointed when ‘real life’ interrupted, causing me to have to lay the book aside. My mornings, nights, and portions of my day have been swallowed up with the act of immersing myself in a very small area of London, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. To allay any remaining suspense, I really enjoyed this book, and at the same time have a few significant complaints about it. But we will get to those.
Audrey Niffenegger’s strength, in my opinion, is in creating characters that inhabit the world she creates. The use of ‘inhabit’ isn’t a random choice of words. I mean exactly that. These are not two-dimensional characters. They are not words on the page. They live and breathe and move right there as you hover over every word. Niffenegger also creates a vision of a piece of London–a cemetery, a street, an apartment building–that is so subtle that you do not even realize the moment that these inanimate places become characters in and of themselves. It is a beautiful gift and one that certainly makes me wish that I didn’t have to wait so many years for her next novel. I loved Highgate Cemetery. Very early on in my reading of Her Fearful Symmetry, I downloaded the Google Earth software to get a bird’s eye view of the area. I spent a good long while exploring the neighborhood in and around Highgate, pinpointing where I thought the flat might be situated. It is an exercise I highly recommend for those reading the book.
Oddly enough I had no trouble keeping The Time Traveler’s Wife out of my thoughts while reading Her Fearful Symmetry, and it is equally hard not to compare the two when writing a review. What made The Time Traveler’s Wife one of my all-time favorite reading experiences was the deep emotional connection I made with the characters, having to do largely with the examination of their romance. One of the many places Her Fearful Symmetry shines is in Niffenegger’s treatment of romance, particularly in the relationship of Martin (the man with OCD) and his wife Marijke. Other than small, purposeful comparisons of that nature, these two stories couldn’t be more different, which makes it easy to pick up Her Fearful Symmetry and read it as a novel in its own right.
It is difficult to write a review of any novel within the parameters of not wanting to spoil the reading experience for those yet to begin. That task is multiplied by a storyteller of Niffenegger’s skill, as she weaves a number of interesting, unexpected and surprising threads together to create the fabric of a very unique work.
As I mentioned, I had a few problems with the story. Again, without going into a lot of detail, I realized after finishing the book that there were several characters that I really did not like. Not because they were flawed characters (and they were flawed), but because I as a reader did not ultimately feel happy about some of the decisions the characters made. The other disappointment had to do with endings. As an ensemble piece, Niffenegger admirably gives her characters a closure to various chapters in their lives. In doing so I felt some characters’ denoument were decidedly short. One particular section gave me the impression that the author was ready to simply get that story line over with and some of the true beauty of the scene (and it was beautiful) was marred by a breakneck pace that I just didn’t see the need for.
The previous paragraphs might leave you thinking that I really did not like the book after all. Far from it. Do you know that electric feeling you get when you’ve read something really good? That feeling that you’ll be thinking about this book for several days and that it won’t just easily let go of you? I have that feeling. I have it very strongly. Audrey Niffenegger wrote a story that certainly deserves to become a best seller and will no doubt have people lauding it…and people lambasting it as well. It is a story with a smoldering gothic feeling. The sense of impending doom simmers just beneath the surface. And for me, it was a true page turner from start to finish. As she did in TTW, Audrey Niffenegger weaves interesting pop culture references and real world details into the story in a manner that increases the reader’s enjoyment.
Stephanie, who so graciously lent me her ARC (Bless you Stephanie!!!) and I were just having an email conversation about this book. I agree with her assessment that books like The Time Traveler’s Wife and Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale are MUST READS. In viewing those books in that way I would have to say that Her Fearful Symmetry is more of a PROBABLY SHOULD READ. It is certainly a book that one should make up one’s own mind about. Other than a few personal qualms about rushed endings, I believe it is an incredibly well-written book. It was a true pleasure to read and I am not disappointed by it in the way that I was more recent ghost-centric books like The Mystery of Grace, Ghost in Love, or The Brief History of the Dead. While I doubt I’ll ever re-read Her Fearful Symmetry, I feel quite confident in giving it a 4 to 4.25 out of 5 star rating. I also strongly suspect that this book has already lodged itself in my subconscious, like The Secret History by Donna Tart, and will be a book that stays with me for decades to come.
What about you, do you plan on reading it? Any worries that you might be holding it up in comparison to The Time Traveler’s Wife?
I do of course welcome any comments to this review, but I ask that you refrain from any spoiler-related comments and instead post those in the comment section of the Spoiler Review. And please, after you’ve read the book, come back and leave your thought in the spoiler thread. I’ve spent the evening agonizing over the fact that Mary has not read this book and yet I so desperately want to talk about it.
Hmmm. Interesting? You note TTW and 13th Tale as must read’s. While I loved TTW, I tried multiple times to make it through 13th tale and just could not. I’m now torn since you rate it below both of them and I had such difference reactions to them. I’m glad for the review because it confirmed some suspicions I had on how I might feel about the book. For now something in my gut tells me to take a pass on this one. I hope others love it though because I do respect the author. Cool cover!!!
I am getting ready to shut down the computer to finish this book. I agree with the author’s ability to create such full characters and making the “background” (cemetery, the flat, etc) almost animate parts of the story. I am keeping away from your spoiler post until tomorrow. I have enjoyed this one much more than Time Traveler. I enjoyed it but was not as wowed as so many others.
I do plan on reading this when it comes out here, especially as it is set in London and I’m interested to see what she does with the setting. Thanks for the choice of reviews, Carl, my appetite is whetted!
I certainly plan on reading this the DAY it comes out. I’ve been anticipating this book more than any other book and your review, Carl, frankly has me on sharp sharp pins and needles now!! I’m severely tempted to go read your spoiler ridden review now but I shall not 😉 I’ll wait patiently until the end of the month. Excellent idea to check out Google Earth while reading this one!! I was playing around with the program the other day and checking out Paris! So cool. Can’t wait for it!!
Fantastic review. I was desperate to read it before, now I just can’t bear the wait. You threw me, when you mentioned one of the settings as Highgate Cemetary, as I have family buried there. I didn’t realise I would be familar with some of the settings.
I have my copy pre-ordered and Looking forward to reading it. I am trying to keep my excitement and anticipation to a minimum as I don’t want to be disappointed when it doesn’t live up to the personal hype I’d create (as happened with The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters). It makes me anxious that this isn’t better than TTW, that you wouldn’t reread it, that you were unhappy with some of the endings and yet you still loved it so there is hope…
I am the thumb of the hand .. i could not get into Time Travelers Wife and set it aside. But what little I have heard of this book seems good and I do have it on my wish list..I will judge it more as more reviews come out.
Now.. Jeff is a rare bird also.. one of the very few who did not like 13th Tale.. I’d like to ask him why he thinks he couldn’t connect with it? I am reading it for the third time and loveing it all over again.. I do know everyone can’t like the same books but am curious what it is that turned him off.. and any others who didn’t like 13th tale as well.
Deslily: I’ll be interested in finding out what you think of HFS, especially since you couldn’t get into TTW. I truly suspect though that one isn’t dependent on another, however, because this book is just so different from that one.
Claire: Obviously keep in mind that it is just my opinion that this isn’t as good of a novel as TTW. Despite how much I love a good gothic story I prefer any story in any setting to have a strong romantic element and TTW did that for me more than this one did. I’ve read several reviews of this one already where folks loved it much more than TTW, so I suspect this will be a highly personal thing. And remember, I was disappointed with some of the endings, not devastated by them. I think you definitely have hope.
Vivienne: This will be a very interesting read for you then. I really look forward to seeing how that personal connection affects your feelings about the book. You will definitely be reading this from a different perspective than I did. Wow, I cannot wait until you read this.
Chris: Don’t you dare read the spoiler review. You will enjoy the experience so much more going in cold and just letting the story take you where it wants you to go. I certainly understand the desire to get this and devour it…that is exactly what I did! 🙂
Bride: You’re welcome…and you don’t go read the spoiler one either!
Christine: I certainly think both of these books have the opportunity of being marred by hype and expectations, especially TTW since so many people rave about it, myself included. I can certainly understand how some people will like this one better. As I mentioned to Deslily, these books are so very different that it makes sense that reader reaction is going to be very different.
Jeff: I go back and forth on whether or not you’d like this. There are some really great things about this and I’m saddened that you won’t be able to experience those things if you don’t read the book. Then again I also know that you have an enormous TBR pile and are certainly of a similar opinion to me in that there is no sense reading something that you have a bad feeling about inside. There are too many books out there to have a potentially great time with. You’ll have to let me know if you decided to read my spoiler review once you’ve made up your mind and we can talk about this.
Ooh, I can not wait to read this 😀 I’m going out and buying it the day it’s released here. This is such a well-written review, Carl. Why did I only discover you a week ago?
I have a confession – I’ve never read Time Traveler’s Wife! I meant to, ever since it was published… but things kept happening. And now I think I’d rather read Her Fearful Symmetry first to avoid the comparison thing.
Btw – I could send you a copy of my zine if you’d like! Just e-mail me your PO Box/address and it’ll be on the way 🙂
Marineko: That would be great, I’ll email you my address. 🙂
I suspect that if you end up reading either of these books not long after reading the other that you might have a hard time not comparing them. I certainly think the fact that I read TTW in 2005, I believe, helped the most with not comparing them. But again, they really are such different books that this might not be the case. I know, for example, with Neil Gaiman, I read and re-read his books so much that whenever something new comes out I automatically have an emotional reaction comparing it to the last book and to other works that he has written. Sometimes, though not always, it is on a second reading that I actually appreciate the story more as an independent work, if that makes any sense.
Ceri: I’ve been in hiding! 😉 Thanks, I appreciate the compliments and am glad you enjoyed the review. I look forward to reading yours as well and hope you post the link to the R.I.P. Review Site when the time comes.
I was one of the few people that didn’t care for The Time Traveler’s Wife… not that I hated it by any means, I was just not as taken as, for instance, my husband was. However, that doesn’t stop me from wanting to read this new book of Niffenegger’s so I read the non-spoiler review and not only plan to get the book but will also return to read your more detailed review. Thank you for being so careful about spoilers.
Wow. What a beautiful, insightful review, Carl! Of course, I expect no less from you. 😀 And I so love that you GoogleEarth-ed it! I never would have thought of that.
For some reason, this book doesn’t intimidate me as much as The Time Traveler’s Wife. Which no, I haven’t yet read. (Perhaps one of three people on the planet. Anyway, that means I don’t have to worry about comparing them, huh? 😉 I will read The Time Traveler’s Wife though…everyone keeps reassuring me that it’s not nearly as confusing as I have it made out to be in my head. Besides, I have to read it now because a friend just lent to to me. 😉
Carl – I’m going to hold off on reading the spoiler review for now as part of me still thinks I might want to pick this up one day. The TBR pile is huge but then I don’t ever think it won’t be so that aspect really doesn’t keep from picking up any books I don’t really want to read eventually.
Deslily – me being a ” rare bird ” 🙂 if only my wife would read this. She would crack up and surely agree with you. It’s funny on 13th tale. I really liked the beginning with the dad and daughter and their bookshop. My problem is when the story shifted to author’s estate and when she starts telling the tale of family. I just found all those characters so unlikeable and some of the things they did disturbing. I tried to read the book twice and each time from the beginning but when I read those stories of the kids and what they did to others it just bothered me and I got hung up on it. I probably should have just pushed through past that part of the story but I just couldn’t. Probably just some personnel baggage of my own that I can’t get past more so than anything really in the book. I know Carl and others love it so I’m sure it’s just me. I just have to ask for a ” pass ” on that tale from everyone. 🙂 Great talking with you deslily.
I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife…absolutely loved it! If it were not for my reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon in the same month, Time Traveler’s Wife would have been my favorite read for May.
With that said, I have been debating with myself if I want to read Her Fearful Symmetry. After reading your wonderful review (love how you write), I have decided that I do want to read this book. It does sound like something that I will like and I am ever so curious. I am going to utilize the Google-Earth…thanks for that tip!
Once I am done reading this book, I will visit your spoiler review!
Thanks for the review.
Deanna: Well thank you. I know you’ll love utilizing Google Earth as a supplement to reading this. It probably would have been fun to search out some images from Highgate Cemetery as well, but there was only so much time I was willing to set aside the book between readings. 🙂
I look forward to reading what your thought are after you’ve read it. Please do come back and visit the spoiler review.
Jeff: Is ‘rare bird’ the same thing as ‘turkey’? 😉
Debi: It has been so long since I’ve read it that I certainly cannot remember if the back and forth of the time travel elements would be difficult. I can tell you that my wife loved it and she certainly isn’t a sci fi book nut and many, many readers who are not fans of science fiction have loved it and so I don’t think you’d have any problems with it, I really don’t.
Cath: You are very welcome. I would hate to reveal anything during a review that would ruin someone’s experience. It isn’t always easy to do, but I try.
I am so excited to read this! A few more weeks til it comes out here I think. Great non-spoiler review, thanks!
Gooble! Gooble!
Must. Buy. Book.
I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife.
I just finished watching a show on BBC America called Being Human which is the story of a ghost, a werewolf, & a vampire who are roommates in a house in Bristol. It’s wonderfully entertaining & different & I think of it every time I read a description of this novel.
I can’t wait for this one! Thanks for posting your review. I know a lot of people are waiting until it gets closer to the release date, but having earlier reviews helps pass the time.
oh, you’ve managed to get me all excited to read this now! while i loved ttw, i did have my qualms with it. i’m hoping this one won’t leave me with any!
“Smoldering Gothic feeling?” I’m in! Loved the non-spoiler review – thanks!
Jeff: actually I find that a very valid reason and it sounds as if you did give it a shot, i gave up on time travelers wife withing 20 pages it just was not gabbing me or holding my interest even a tiny bit. you might not care to read my review on how much i love the book then LOL.. I think I read a “bad review” once and their thoughts were that it wasn’t much of a story and was a disappointment. I was just curious, thanks for responding
I am looking forward to this novel… Too good to pass on this. I will order TTW as soon as possible. I need to send an e-mail to the publicists for an ARC.
This is on my wish list – I will pounce on it as soon as I see it in the shops here in Oz 🙂
I’m really looking forward to reading this, and then coming back to read your spoiler review. I’m hoping that since I read TTW so long ago, I won’t be comparing them too much.
Fantastic review, Carl, and thank you for making it spoilers-free! I do worry that my expectations for this one just might be a bit too high, but I’ll do my best to keep them in check when I finally pick it up.
Nymeth: I’m not sure whether or not expectations will play into this one at all. It is a good book. I think in the end whether it is a good or a great read to you will depend largely on whether or not the endings satisfy you or not. I will be interested to see what you think.
Tanabata: I think that will be the case…it certainly was with me. I would not want to be reading them back to back, that would be much too hard not to compare them.
Sally906: Please come back and let me know what you think.
Harry: I look forward to what you think of both of them when you get a chance to read them Harry.
Darla: yep, that’s what it had for me. 😉
Melissa: I hope you enjoy it. Even with the qualms I had with it I think it is a very well written book.
J.T.: I considered myself very blessed to have been loaned the ARC. I think it also ultimately helped my feelings towards the book to not be having this whole month of anticipation building up.
Caitlin: I’ll have to keep a look out for that show, it sounds very entertaining.
Colin: soon, very soon…
Jeff: You’re making me hungry. Good thing I’m going to the festival today and can eat my fill of turkey legs. 🙂
Mariel: You’re welcome.
Really great review Carl. I totally agree when you said: “It is difficult to write a review of any novel within the parameters of not wanting to spoil the reading experience for those yet to begin.” Very well said. I get that feeling almost every time. Sometimes even when I’m just picking a line to quote, it can be a bit frustrating when there’s a line you really liked but can’t put on a review because there’s a possibility that it’ll be a big spoiler (which I experienced in my latest review). So you’re idea of splitting the review in two is a really good one. There were times before when I thought about doing this but I was never really sure that I would get responses from people who might have read them. And I’m not sure how to lay out two different reviews of the same book in one blog. You did it pretty nicely, though, by hiding spoiler review and just making a link. Very nicely done 🙂
For me, this line is perhaps the most enticing part of your review:
“Niffenegger also creates a vision of a piece of London–a cemetery, a street, an apartment building–that is so subtle that you do not even realize the moment that these inanimate places become characters in and of themselves.”
I’m still not sure if I’d want to read this story, mainly because I’m not a fan of ghost stories. But I’m willing to keep an open mind if something is really well written, which you suggested it is. We’ll see if I pick it up when it hit the stores. Thanks a lot for this review Carl, really helpful 🙂
I’m so jealous that you have the copy! To be honest, I didn’t read all your post because I want to know as little as possible about the book before I read it, and have no expectation whatsoever. I will definitely pick it up, because I was completely blown away by TTW. I don’t expect this book to be on par (how can anything be?), but I would love to read another novel by Niffenegger. She got my respect a long time ago.
Hi Carl, I’ve chosen you as one of my recipients for a blogger award. I hope you pick it up from my site:
http://absorbedinwords.blogspot.com/2009/09/gracious-gifts.html
Carl, I just have had a revelation.
I’ve been reading your reviews for some time now. Generally, as for Short Story Sundays, I don’t leave a comment because, to be quite frank, I have nothing to say. I don’t know the authors, or their previous work, and there simply is no time in my life to devote to learning about them all because my time is… well, you know. Limited.
Unlike your reader who agreed that living in a library with a motto of “A book a day”, I’d like to be living in a lighthouse with a motto of “A page a day”.
But of course, I’d be writing, not reading, and that’s where I have to devote the bulk of my time, particularly if I decide to try something more ambitious – like a “real” story.
And that brings me to my revelation. For someone who loves to write, as I do, and who wants to stretch and improve and begin to test the waters of new themes and forms, your reviews are invaluable. Your critique of good writing, your careful delineation of what works and what doesn’t, your willingness to provide a thoughtful context for your judgements, provide enough meat for the chewing to go on for months.
A perfect example is your reference to Niffenegger’s ability to make her characters “inhabit” the page. That’s rich fare, and on the basis of that alone, I went back and did some revision on my current post. Why should I pay good money for a writers’ workshop, when I can come here with my coffee, enjoy, appreciate, and go back to work with a new level of excitement?
So. There’s my answer to the question, “Why should an aspiring writer spend precious time reading book blogs, when there’s no time to read all the books?” It’s because we write for readers, and careful readers are the best guides to writing. 😉 Thanks for this great review, and for all your work.
I’ve been on the fence about this book. On the one hand, I’d really like to read it, but I’m not in any hurry to do so. I thought I’d be fine waiting until the New Year, when I’m free of the TBR rules I imposed on myself throughout 2009. Your review has got me thinking I’ll be rather less fine if I don’t read this good and soon. Even though it’s Probably Should Read rather than a Must Read, it sounds right up my alley.
Also, thank you for doing a spoiler-free review! I think yours is the first I’ve seen. Everyone else seems to have posted spoilerific discussions instead of reviews aimed at those of us who haven’t read the book yet.
How I wish I had found your blog earlier – although I am so thankful to have found it now. Your reviews are amazingly thorough and quite eloquent. I have so much to learn about writing quality book reviews, and I know that I can glean knowledge by following your site!
I have yet to read The Time Traveler’s Wife, although I have purchased the book. I am fearful that my linear brain will not keep up with the time travel aspect of the story. I did, however, absolutely LOVE The Thirteenth Tale and now look forward to attempting TTW in the upcoming weeks.
I am still marveling at the idea of using Google Earth to enhance my reading experience. Absolutely brilliant suggestion and one I plan to implement immediately.
Molly: Thanks Molly. I appreciate the compliments even though I certainly don’t think they are anything special. I try to write conversationally and put my experience down on paper, sometimes more successfully than others.
As far as TTW, I wouldn’t get too caught up in the time travel elements and would just enjoy the story. I suspect you won’t have a terrible time doing that just because the story itself is so engaging.
I’m not sure why I even thought of the Google Earth thing, but it sure was fun. 🙂
Memory: I’m glad that my non-spoiler review worked. I hate having things revealed to me ahead of time and most certainly don’t want to be responsible for doing that to anyone else. I think I can safely say that for many this book will be a Must Read and that you will probably want to pick it up and read it along with everyone else…less chance of spoilers that way as well.
Shoreacres: Thank you so much Linda, I am certainly glad to be of service. And I believe you touched on exactly the reason why I think book bloggers can be valuable sources of commentary on books: we are readers! I cannot imagine many authors are thrilled if their book is critically lauded and yet minimally read. I imagine any author worth his or her salt wants to write something that makes an impact on true readers, not those paid to tear a book down to its base elements. And lest this seem to be me railing against critics, I do feel they have their place. I just don’t believe a critic’s opinion is the be all, end all of whether or not a book is worth picking up. Ideally I’m sure an author would like to have both critics and the average reader raving about their books.
I hope you have your lighthouse some day, but more importantly I hope you have that lighthouse experience each and every day! I enjoy your writing so much, I hope to see something ‘real’ in print some day.
Mark David: Thank you! I’ll be by! I can tell you that this is not a ‘ghost story’ in the traditional sense of the word and the majority of the story is about characters who are alive. The ghost elements are in no way distracting and instead enhance the story. I would encourage you to give it a shot at some point.
Mee: I don’t blame you. I mostly skim reviews before I read a book myself. I hope after you read it that you come back and share your thoughts.
Well, as one of the few people who did not like TTW, when I do read HFS, I at least won’t have to worry about it not holding up to my expectations. Heck, if I like it at all it will be an improvement!
Lesley: Ha! That is certainly true! You’re coming at it from the perfect place, with little to no expectations. 🙂
wow! Actually would you believe that I have NOT READ Time Traveler’s Wife :((
I know – SHAME ON ME! 😀
I am so so glad to hear that you enjoyed this book and I really appreciate the review…. even if I have not read the former book, i very much plan to read it soon and then this one for sure next! I am glad she did a fine job and all the anxiety that a million people had about whether this author will be a 1 book wonder, are rested to peace 🙂
Thank you!!
Great review – thanks for not giving too much away. I do plan to read this in the future, when it comes out in the US. I haven’t read The Time Traveler’s Wife yet (I must be the last person in the world to not read it!). It’s just when I checked it out of the library, my mom took it to read so I never got a chance to read it. Since then, I haven’t been able to get my hands on the book. I guess I should just go out and buy it!
Jennifer: The Time Traveler’s Wife is one amazing book. I hope you get to read it soon. And you’re welcome. I’m not big on spoilers myself.
Veens: This definitely proves she has talent. Although it does not live up to the TTW experience for me personally, it is a well written novel.
Ooo…sounds good. I put it on hold at the library and I’m 103rd in line. Yikes! I might have to reach out to someone with an ARC copy too. Can’t wait to read it!
Hopefully that line will go quicker than you think! I’m in line for some books and am that far back as well. The question with that always becomes, will I still be in the mood to read said book when it finally arrives. 🙂
Jennifer isn’t the last person to read Audrey’s previous book–I am, or I am too. I hadn’t realized what this was about, but after hearing more of the plot it very much appeals to me, so I’ve ordered it and will be watching for it at the end of the month! Thanks for not giving away plot! 🙂
i just read time traveler’s wife a couple of weeks ago. i really really liked it. she is a great writer and does an awesome job of fleshing out her characters. i felt completely invested in them and even felt pain at some of the character’s actions. i have been eagerly looking forward for her new book. now having read your review, i am even more impatient for the 29th to come.