Looking for Love in all the Wrong Times

Every now and again one of those stories comes along that just grab ya, and The Time Traveler's Wife is one. Nonlinear is the word that bounces around in my mind, for as I read, the story pings from one lobe to another 'til it finally finds that little bit of gray matter (or is it the white that matters?) that begins organizing the vignettes presented in this book.

Beyond the mind-bending physics, this is one of those love stories that sucks you in, grabs hold and makes you wish the author could somehow do that same time-travel thing into your life with these characters. I found myself wanting to know Claire and Henry, maybe just sit around and smoke a cigar together and just get to know each other a bit. Maybe they should start a blog - you know, just keep us filled in on their chance rendezvous. Aubrey Niffennegger's characters are so richly drawn, that the characters come to life, right there on the page. And, as I hinted at as a possible future post, these characters are introduced to us in a way that would be so foreign to the great Victorian authors, yet every bit as effectively!

I recently saw the movie and, no spoilers here, but I will say this - the movie will definitely bring a tear to the eye, but the book will just break down every ounce of machismo and leave you bawling!

Wilkie Collins and Me -OR - Where Have I Been?

Ever since the first time I saw Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol when I was a little kid (probably about 8 LOL-inside joke) I have loved the great British writers; Dickens (the spirit who haunts these walls), Keats, Wilde, and I always loved reading the sermons of Charles Spurgeon. Now let me say this before I come across as a complete idiot - I have heard of Wilkie Collins. Probably as long as I have known of Dickens, I have known the name. Over the years I could easily spout off at least a few of his works and what they are about. Given context and a line-up of mugshots I could even point out his picture! But this summer I had an epiphany, ok, epiphany's a little strong, but this ranks pretty high on the wake-up-and-smell-the-roses scale, - I realized I have never actually READ any of Collins' stuff! Fo' shame! Yikes! Ugh! Where have I been? I mean really! I read A LOT, no really, trust me on this one - I read A LOT, but I have never read a single work written by a contemporary, nay, a friend of Charles Dickens!

So, long story short - I have finally read some Wilkie Collins!! I started out with The Dream Woman and Other Stories. Like any author, I didn't care for every story, but a few were really outstanding: The Dream Woman, Nine O'Clock, and others. I liked these stories so much that I just had to run down to my library (another post for another time) and pick up a copy of The Woman in White, which is at the bedside right now.

I have just started The Woman in White, and I'm not sure yet what it's all about, but so far I am loving it! There's just something about the vintage authors that grab me and keep me coming back for more! So, when I finish this book I think we will have to discuss the Victorian writers and see what makes them different from emergent literature... nothing too heavy, I promise! 'Til then...