The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

I first read The Time Traveler's Wife shortly after it was released in paperback a few years ago - but I almost didn't. I had bought the book at an English language bookstore during a trip to Japan - I was loving our time there but I was feeling quite disconnected from the comfort of my English speaking world and I was looking for a reading experience to take me back into it while I was still travelling. The Time Traveler's Wife was not the book for this task! I brought the book back to Australia unread and passed it on to my best friend who devoured it, loved it and told me I had to read it. So, I tried again - this time on home soil and with the advice of my friend - to just read the story, don't worry about getting caught up in the time travelling and the different times and places.

She was so right - because this time the book stuck, I couldn't put it down, it made me cry and I loved it.

I re-read the book last month as it had been chosen as the book for the new book club/group I have joined with another one of my friends.

I am sure so many of you are familiar with the story - Henry is a time traveler - through some genetic trait that he cannot control he finds himself slipping through time periods and it is during one of these journeys that he meets Claire - the love of his life. On their first meeting Henry is aged 36 and Claire is aged 6. The book moves through the different paths of their lives as they eventually meet in "real" time and begin to build a life together.

I have to say that, if possible, I loved the book even more on my second reading of it. Despite the unreality of the situation I find this book to be one of the most real explorations of a human relationship between two people - I can connect so easily to both Claire and Henry.

This book is now tied for 1st place in my most favourite of novels with Persuasion by Jane Austen - and to think I almost didn't read it!

2009 - My Favourites

These lists have taken a lot of thought, I have been pondering them for a few days now as I have read all of your lists - each one has added another book to my list! These books are not necessarily literary masterpieces - they are the books I have enjoyed reading the most this year - the ones that have stayed with me and the ones I would recommend in a heartbeat as great reads. As I have compiled the lists I have been really happy to see that a few Australian authors are represented - I am ashamed to say that I have previously stayed away from my local authors - a mistake that I won't be making in the future.
I have decided to take a leaf from Simon's blog and write two lists for my favourite reads from 2009 - my ten favourites published in 2009 and my ten favourites published prior to this. I have included links to my full reviews if you would like to check them out and a key thought from my original review to give you an idea of what I was thinking about it at the time.

Favourites Published in 2009:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of The Pie - Alan Bradley - The actual mystery plot was neither here nor there for me - I just cared about hearing more from Falvia about her adventures! I am pleased to hear that Alan Bradley has at least 2 more Flavia books on the horizon - can't wait!! A pure delight to read - I only wish those other books were out now!

The Lost Life - Steven Carroll - This book is simply gorgeous - I read it over two nights but could have finished it quicker if I didn't need sleep! A quote on the back of the book from The Australian newspaper declares this "A writer worth cherishing. His prose is unfailingly assured, lyrical, poised" - I could not possibly put it better myself.

Brooklyn - Colm Toibin - The writing flowed beautifully - I really felt as though I was sitting down with a good friend listening to the story of their life. I will definitely be looking out for more of Toibin's work.

Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout - If you enjoy brilliantly written books centred on character development and introspection than this is novel for you - just wonderful. I will be thinking about Olive for a long time to come.

The Taste of Sorrow - Jude Morgan - I found the writing throughout absolutely stunning - without wanting to sound cliched - the writing was like a beautiful piece of music - it flowed and carried you along with it.

Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel - I have to say I am very, very impressed! This is my first Mantel read but if this is indicative of her writing style in general and her connection to her characters and the story she creates I will be reading others.

The Glass Room - Simon Mawer - The narrative of this novel flows beautifully and I felt that the way that the author captured, described and demonstrated the many different relationships (including different characters relationships with the house) within the novel showed an amazing capability for understanding people and their motives - and just how complex these are.

Lovesong - Alex Miller - There is a lot of pain and tragedy to their story - I was completely absorbed in this - it felt real and honest and even though it had the potential to be quite melodramatic this didn't happen.

Howards End is On The Landing - Susan Hill - I really enjoyed being a part of Hill's reading world and I was sorry it had to come to an end. Maybe there will be a sequel??

Valley of Grace - Marion Halligan - I would recommend this book if you enjoy reading about characters inner lives - their thoughts, dreams, hopes and fears. I loved this one and would love to see a sequel developed as well so I could follow the characters some more.

Favourites Published Before 2009:

44 Scotland Street - Alexander McCall Smith - I loved this book completely - totally gorgeous is how I would describe it! I'm already on to the sequel - Espresso Tales.

The History of Love - Nicole Krauss - I have to join in and echo Claire's (and many others) thoughts about this book - it is simply stunning. As I was reading it I was actually trying to find flaws in it because I thought a book just cannot be this good - every word and sentence was perfectly placed and constructed - and yet nothing seemed forced or contrived.

I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith - My only sad point is that there is no follow up to I Capture The Castle - I would have liked to have read about Cassandra as she continued to grow into adulthood - although maybe that would ruin the magic...

Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates - This book is extremely powerful – the language, the scenes, the relationships and the choices the characters make, even the moments of silence and contemplation all hold you – you aren’t going anywhere once you have started this book.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice has never been my favourite Austen novel - don't get me wrong, I still love it, I have just never connected with Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy the way so many other readers have. Having said that though, I really enjoyed reading the book this time around

The Making of a Marchioness - Frances Hodgson Burnett - The storyline, the writing style, the detailed descriptions of fashions and scenes and the characters themselves (in particularly Emily) all enchanted me - there is no other way to describe my reaction to this book - I was completely enchanted and charmed by the whole thing!

Almost French - Sarah Turnbull - Almost French was a book I was always going to be drawn to - although I think I enjoyed reading it even more the second time after having now been to Paris (however briefly!) myself.

The Art of the Engine Driver - Steven Carroll - The Art Of The Engine Driver felt seamless to me - the writing, the story and the characters just flowed. I didn't want the story to end but at the same time I just couldn't stop reading it.

Affinity - Sarah Waters - The writing is evocative and enticing - I felt like I was walking through Victorian London, particularly the scenes set in the prison which felt disturbingly real at times.

Wanting - Richard Flanagan - Wanting is a haunting book - there is really no other way for me to describe my reading of it. I felt mesmerised by the story being played out in front of me and the characters that were playing it out.

Such fantastic reading in 2009 - I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring!

Favourites - again, and again and again...

I am in the middle of a glorious long, long weekend and I am flying through my reading - might actually take a bit of a break today to get some other things done!
When I am on breaks from work I always feel drawn to not only reading great new books but also revisiting the old favourites - the books you keep going back to and can read numerous times without getting sick of.
For me any Jane Austen book fits into this category - I could read her books over and over again and never tire of them. I also find that I discover something new in each re-reading - depending on my mood, the time at which I am reading it or what is happening in my life at the time. Persuasion is always my favourite Austen novel but I find I "save" this book for special re-reads - I don't want to wear it out! I'm more likely to re-read Pride and Prejudice for some reason.
What about others - what are your favourite re-reads??