Dec 20, 2007 11:56 AM
1662 Views
How difficult is it to live with an abnormality? And how disturbing and remorseful could the thought of unintentionally inflicting pain & hurt to your loved ones be? And what about the woes of the ones who put up with an abnormal person? These things may seem inconsiderate for people experiencing blissful & unconditional love.
The line in the front cover - "International Best Sellers" doesn't generally coax me enough to go for it, especially when I do not have others' opinions about the book. But on reading the back cover of this book, I was intrigued by the unique perspective dealt with, and I didn't think twice before picking the book. And even after a couple of days of finishing the book, I'm yet to put the memories left by this touching tale, behind.
Henry is a chrono displaced person, having difficulty staying in the present, whenever he is stressed out or anxious. He time travels back and forth in his life. This weird ability(well, disability) enables him to have a peek into his future, and also presents a reminder(mostly a sad one) of his past. In one such time traveling venture, he meets Clare aged 6, who would be his future wife. Their secret rendezvous happens at the picturesque meadow at the backyard of Clare's house. She grows up looking forward to and listening to Henry, and is fantasized by the whole thing.
When confronted by Henry's dad, as to how she is willing to marry him, knowing his abnormality, she says: "Its better to be happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be'just ok' for the whole of your life.". What do you call this thought of hers? Do you dismiss this as absurdity or applaud her bravery? Perhaps, its the divinity of love, where huge discrepancies seem trivial!
Henry and Clare get married, and after a series of miscarriages they are blessed with a girl child. Alas, she inherits this time traveling gene from her father. And the story doesn't just end there. The ending is heart rending & poignant. The author does give a hint about the last few pages much earlier, through a couple of Henry's time traveling ventures, but that doesn't reduce the charm of the book even a tad bit. Afterall the narration is splendid.
The love the couple have for each other is brought out beautifully by the author and it would hover the mind of the reader for long, much after finishing the book as well. Henry's unpredictable disappearances hurt Clare, and the author makes the reader feel the pain:"In the mornings, he tells me where he's been, the way other husbands might tell their wives the dream they had". Didn't I have a block in reading books beyond 350 pages or so? This is over 500 pages, and I didn't feel restrained. Maybe we can put off a book which tickles the bone, but not one which touches a chord and makes us cry. So what if its just fiction? Feelings aroused eventually, in the minds of the reader are genuine!
The conversations between Henry & Clare, in the meadows are the strongpoint of the book. While I was wondering why the title centers on "The wife", I later understood that I had conveniently overlooked the difficulties that a person(whose lover suffers with a disability) has to undergo. Isn't waiting, that too an inderterminate one, very painful? When Henry is in the vicinity, Clare's thoughts are thus:"This is all that matters:He is here, I am here, it doesn't matter how, as long as he's with me". The passion is indeed disturbing and reaching out both at the same time.
Though Henry is understandably unreliable and volatile Clare is never shown worrying or annoyed with repentance. And Henry, is caught between the pleasure of knowing things ahead and the terror of coming across happenings that can't be averted. And Clare, has an overwhelming sense of deja vu, (understandably so, as Henry gives her glimpses of their future) after their marriage.
The prologue would hook the reader onto the book. Though the initial chapters might seem to be a bit confusing, the author eloquently unfolds the characters in a lucid way. The date, time and age/ages of the characters are given before every chapter, and her narration is simply flawless.
The book is not just a science fiction novel, though the author touches upon genetic studies/medicine off and on. It has LOVE as its base, and emotions like anxiety, panic etc are weaved and blended in a commendable manner. Let not the melancholy dissuade anyone from reading this gem of a novel!
- quote from The Kiterunner
