The first time Claire met Henry was when she was 6 years old and he was 36. The first time Henry met Claire was when he 28 and she was 20.
This is a story of love above, beyond, through and surpassing time. It shows how the two will find each other time and again and capture fleeting moments of happiness before Henry's genetic condition pulls him yet again to an unexpected alternative timeline. It's a struggle for normalcy where fate throws them towards chaos over and over again.
It is a question of determinism vs free will as Henry is forced to watch his life over and over through time and is unable to do anything to change his life, or Claire's. Reading this book made me wonder if either one of them had a choice to walk away from this insanity. When Claire met Henry he was already married to her in his own time. And by the time he meets Claire, she is desperately in love with him...or rather who he will become. This infinite loop and paradoxical fate was so tragic at times. What was interesting to note was the title. The main character is not Henry even though the story is mostly from his point of view. Rather the very beginning makes you realize that its about Claire; who got a very raw deal and there was no way that it could have been any different.
I have not seen the movie as yet. I doubt I will. It wont be able to capture the emotion of the book. The book is too subtle to be portrayed as a movie. The poignancy in the book is not the plot...but the subtext that connects you to Claire's life, her dreams and her waiting...always waiting.
I do not get pointless grief. and there I disagreed with so many concepts in the plot. It was nicely written and certainly appealing, but I don't know...I feel let down by the author.
Read it. Let me know what you think because despite it all; it's a book that begs to be discussed.
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