Oh my... I haven't cried so much in a long time! The book I'm "reading" now, actually finished it Saturday night, and re-read it again, yesterday, jumping back and forth between different parts. Cried again upon rereading.
From now on I am going to avoid certain parts in the book when I know I need to maintain an air of presentability. Sigh.
Blissful anguish. Is there such a thing??
The book is basically about an artist, Clare Abshire, who has a lover/friend/husband, Henry DeTamble, who has chronic impairment. His genes enable/force him to travel through time.
The title and background premise is a bit misleading—this is not your standard tome of science fiction. Instead it's set in the present with a time window of 50 years in both directions, past and future. WITHOUT all that tedious jargon and far-fetched technology so common to cheap sci-fi. And the idea of a genetic condition causing time displacement is merely the background context against which the story is set. This book was published in 2003, I think, and was named one of the best books by PEOPLE magazine. Something like that. [We wouldn't have this story without the current scene in genetics, naturally].
The story of Clare and Henry is a heart-wrenching rollercoaster ride between their realities. Imagine yourself as a little kid and this person in your life keeps coming from the future to visit you. Or you might be sleeping with your lover in bed one night, and a younger version of your lover shows up also, and gets in bed with you as well?
Those are trite examples I just put forth. There were so many emotional tangles caused by age issues, chronology of events, and especially the nature of Henry's time travel [he cannot take anything beyond his physical body, so he keeps showing up naked in the realm of elsewhen, and has to resort to criminal activities to sustain himself while elsewhen].
I'm not going to delve deeply into reviewing this book because to say more would ruin a lot of surprises. Just pay attention and read it thoroughly, foreshadowing occurs a lot throughout the story. I was also fascinated by the ideas of free will and determinism, but that may not appeal so much to others, although it is one of the key concepts expounded upon by the characters.
My mom sent me the book. Bless her. We're both sci-fi fans by the way, but this book was such a surprise, because it didn't turn out to be a risky read (lots of crappy sci-fi out there) but one of the best romances I ever read! Now I'll be pulling a yenta fix on her, "nag, nag, nag, READ IT! nag, nag, nag..." :)
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As for good science fiction, some titles that come to mind are:
Dean Koontz—LIGHTNING (this is also a romance of sorts)
Robert A. Heinlein—TIME FOR THE STARS, CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY
Orson Scott Card—ENDER'S GAME, ENDER'S SHADOW, SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON, SHADOW PUPPETS
Ray Bradbury—THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES
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from COMMENTS:
Hey MisterPeeAre, my summer's been quiet for the most part :) Work and some play. Orange yellow feet from Sandy Point's clay-saturated sand.
I agree with you about Dan Brown's books being similar in plot among themselves, but still the action makes for a gripping read!
I think out of his four books, I actually was the most satisfied with the outcome of ANGELS AND DEMONS. It wrapped up nicely, whereas THE DA VINCI CODE's ending pissed me off. It was too abstract--I felt it could've been done better... (but still totally loved the entire story itself, all that rediscovering the goddess business appeals very much to me)
If you enjoy Dan Brown as an author, you would like Clive Cussler's books. Maybe you already are a Cussler fan.
Anybody else reading this and curious? Try Cussler's INCA GOLD or VALHALLA RISING or my favorite, TREASURE. ATLANTIS FOUND is also quite good!
WOOF!
p.s. haven't finished RUSSKA yet... It keeps getting backshelved :) | 
