Time Traveler's Wife (Book & Movie)

The fun thing about re-re-reading a book is that each time (if it's a good book), something different will strike me. I'm always amazed by this - Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book to read over and over, but TTW is giving it a run for its money.

The theme that's really standing out to me this go-round on TTW is the difference between young and old Henry - as differentiated by long hair on the youthful, immature and selfish Henry and short hair on married, committed and loving Henry. The idea that Clare loves the older Henry more, misses him and can't wait for young Henry to become older Henry is kind of interesting. I don't really ponder it much, but do we all have a turning point at which we become a more perfect version of ourselves, before which we were a person we might not care to hangout with? Or that our spouse would spend a few hours with and miss the older version of us?

I also am completely obsessed with the idea of spending time with loved ones out of time. Henry would go back and watch is parents take care of him as a baby, and spend time with a younger version of himself. How *cool* would that be, to meet the people important to you in your life back before you knew them? Or yourself, before you really became the you you are now.

I finally finished the book last night, but after the Pillars of the Earth, I feel like I read this in a few hours. It is everything a book should be - totally absorbing and un-put-downable. EVEN knowing what happens and how and when, etc. It's just such an involved book that I could honestly read it again right now.

And now... the movie. I'm disappointed, which I knew I would be as I've acknowledged multiple times that my expectations were pretty unrealistic. I was disappointed that they left SO much out. Yes, it's a movie and they're never going to include it all, and some things were included but kind of modified which I was ok with, but it was such an intricate and interconnected book and I was disappointed they didn't really do much w/ that in the movie. It seemed like there were NO characters but Henry and Clare. Gomez was just a passing role, which sucked bc Rob Livingston was great in the role! I think the overarching worst thing about the movie in my opinion was the melodrama. I felt like the whole time it was either *sad* acting or *we're so in love, let's talk about how in love we are*. Not very realistic, sorry. Also not how the book is. I will say the ending was MUCH sadder to watch than it was to read. I originally really liked the casting of Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana as Clare and Henry, but now I'm kind of lukewarm about it. The movie was mediocre at best, and I don't think I'll ever feel the need to watch it again. Which makes me sad, but I do have the book forever and will most likely read it again and again. :)