The Time Traveler's Wife, published in 2003, is the debut novel of
American author Audrey Niffenegger (pictured). It is a love story about
a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel
unpredictably, and about his wife, an artist who has to cope with his
frequent absences and dangerous experiences. Niffenegger, frustrated in
love when she began the work, wrote the story as a metaphor for her
failed relationships. The tale's central relationship came to her in a
flash one day and subsequently became the novel's title. The novel,
which has been classified as both science fiction and romance, examines
issues of love, loss, and free will. In particular, it uses time travel
to explore miscommunication and distance in relationships. It also
investigates deeper existential questions. As a first-time novelist,
Niffenegger had trouble finding a literary agent. She eventually sent
the novel to MacAdam/Cage unsolicited and, after an auction took place
for the rights, Niffenegger selected them as her publisher. It became a
bestseller after an endorsement from author and family friend Scott
Turow on The Today Show, and as of March 2009 had sold nearly 2.5
million copies in the United States and the United Kingdom. Many
reviewers were impressed with Niffenegger's unique perspective on time
travel. Some praised her characterization of the couple, applauding
their emotional depth; others criticized her writing style as
melodramatic and the plot as emotionally trite. The novel won the
Exclusive Books Boeke Prize and a British Book Award. A film version
was released in August 2009.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Traveler%27s_Wife>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1138:
A massive earthquake, one of the deadliest in recorded history, struck
Aleppo, Syria.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1138_Aleppo_earthquake>
1852:
The University of Sydney, Australia's oldest university, was
inaugurated in Sydney two years after the New South Wales Legislative
Council established it with the passage of the University of Sydney
Act.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Sydney>
1865:
The Morant Bay rebellion, led by Paul Bogle and George William Gordon,
began in Jamaica, but eventually it was brutally suppressed by Governor
Edward John Eyre.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morant_Bay_rebellion>
1962:
Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council, the first Roman
Catholic ecumenical council in 92 years.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council>
1968:
Apollo 7 , the first manned mission of NASA's Apollo program, and the
first three-man American space mission, launched from Complex 34 in
present-day Cape Canaveral, Florida.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_7>
1987:
Sri Lankan Civil War: The Indian Peace Keeping Force began Operation
Pawan to take control of Jaffna from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam the enforce their disarmament as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan
Accord.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pawan>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
circumspect (adj):
Carefully aware of all circumstances; considerate of all that is
pertinent
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/circumspect>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Your true home is in the here and the now. It is not limited by time,
space, nationality, or race. Your true home is not an abstract idea. It
is something you can touch and live in every moment. With mindfulness
and concentration, the energies of the Buddha, you can find your true
home in the full relaxation of your mind and body in the present
moment. No one can take it away from you. Other people can occupy your
country, they can even put you in prison, but they cannot take away
your true home and your freedom.
--Nhat Hanh
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nhat_Hanh>
Show replies by date