The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I need to get one more post out about this book because there was one theme that stuck out and didn't seem resolved. The reason for the unresolved feeling was probably due to the nature of this theme since it was unrequited love.

The two main instances of it were between Ingrid and Henry and also between Gomez and Clare.

To start with Ingrid, here's a brief background. She is the girlfriend of Henry (the time traveler) until he meets Clare at the age of 28. During his relationship with Ingrid, he wasn't yet a very good person. He was a brawler, a womanizer, he felt lost and hopeless with his condition, etc. After meeting Clare this all changed of course (awww). Looking back, I can't understand what exactly was so bad about Ingrid. He narrates that she waited patiently for him to one day settle down and marry her with mild amusement. As if the notion is ridiculous.

Okay now there are some spoilers ahead as I continue to discuss Ingrid. She definitely didn't deserve her fate. What happens is that Henry accidentally time travels to her apartment one night, and they have discussion covering the fact that in Henry's present, he is married and has a daughter. She then mentions that she wanted kids one day, and that she loved Henry. After this, she shoots herself. How are readers supposed to justify that in their minds? Are we supposed to be on Henry's side for up and leaving Ingrid in favor of Clare...just because he felt like it? Unless you're willing to believe in undying love (which is kind of the whole point of this book I guess) Henry and Clare kind of seem like a pair of inconsiderate jerks that leave pain and heartbreak in their wake.

Now take the situation with Clare and Gomez. Later in the book (another spoiler for the book, so don't read this if you have any intention of reading this book, which I highly recomend you do) it is revealed that Clare's faithfulness to Henry slipped just one time between the age of 18 and 20 when she could not see a future-Henry or a present-Henry and his 26/27 year old self at the time didn't know that she existed. If you can't follow that, don't blame me. It's complicated. Anyhow, she gets drunk at a party and goes home with Gomez, feels terrible the next morning, and leaves. Not too big of a deal except for the fact that Gomez is and will remain in love with her for the entirety of this novel. He never comes close to getting Clare, despite his attempts to get her to not date Henry (who is known for his bad character). It's not like he deserves her any less than Henry does. The only consolation is that he doesn't end up killing himself but instead gets married and has a bunch of bouncing babies.

So in conclusion to this inconclusive topic, I think it's incredibly...brave and realistic of Niffenegger to include these two characters in her love story. It shows that no matter how "right" her audience is supposed to feel about the bond between Henry and Clare, there are these totally innocent casualties that will never be happy. Nothings clean cut and black and white. Yes, this book was very good.