Chapter 45 - Time and Again

Boy, I can't believe November is here already and the countdown to Christmas has begun! While this is usually a beautiful time at the beach, this year we are traveling to be with our son and his family for Thanksgiving. I have always loved this holiday as it is one of good cheer, good food, and no gift expectations. I also love Thanksgiving because it has always been a long weekend where you can slip a book in or two.

As I started to think about how fast this year has gone and how I'd love to go back and repeat some of the months (not all, mind you), I started to think about all the good books I have read about time travel. Some are funny, some poignant, and some have social commentary but there are lots of good ones out there. They are, by their very nature, science fiction novels, a genre I usually don't read.

So, if you want to time travel with a character here are some good ones to check out.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - Henry and Clare seem like a match made in heaven. In fact Clare has known Henry since she was a child. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that Henry has a disorder which makes him a time traveler. This has recently been picked up as an HBO series so you should read the book first!

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley - Grieving her sister Katrina, Eva takes Katrina's ashes to Cornwall, a place where her sister was happy as a child. Catching up on her childhood acquaintances and memories, Eva realizes that she periodically drifts back into the past - the way past! As Eva becomes more and more embroiled in life in 1700's Cornwall, she realizes that she doesn't want to come back. Kearsley is a popular Canadian author and, while I had never read anything by her before this book, I would definitely pick up another.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - The series came in at second place in The Great American Read. Claire goes on a post-World War II vacation to Scotland with her family history seeking husband. While there Claire is transported back in time and meets the love of her life. It is not her husband! Does she stay or does she go?

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor - A new recruit, Madeleine Maxwell, joins the staff of St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research. She finds that one of their projects is to observe history to make sure that what has been written is true. But, by observing, does the group actually change history? Of course, there is always a bad guy involved somewhere. This is a terrific series.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain - Even in the mid 1800's people were thinking about time travel. In Twain's book, Hank Morgan wakes up one day and finds himself no longer in the 19th century but suddenly in the 6th century. The cultural clash which ensues is comedic and social satire.

Do you have any good time travel books you want to share? Are there any times or places you'd like to go back to? Let me know.

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