(im)perfect love
right now i’m reading a book called the time traveler’s wife. it’s about a couple named henry and clare and the unusual life they lead due to henry’s propensity for time travel. the friend who lent it to me has a thing for beautiful love stories (hi holly) so i had some natural assumptions about this one. i embarked on the book, thinking it was some epic classic love story, about a perfect couple upon whom the world throws impossible odds.
so i was surprised to find that in fact, the characters aren’t all that saintly (read: it ain’t nicholas sparks). in fact they’re pretty ordinary, with scars and secrets and plenty of skeletons in the closet. but their love for each other is deep, like a flowing well in which all their mistakes and betrayals get lost. it is beautiful in a way that transcends the human.
i thought about this for a long time, in the context of why i personally am constantly attracted to the flawed. i wondered if maybe i have a superhero complex. or if i just really like pain. but.. perhaps i just think it’s an incredibly beautiful thing for an imperfect person to be capable of the divine–messy, but true, love.
oh, i know it’s idealistic. that’s hard-wired in me.
i wants to borrow that book sometime!
Comment by mike — January 6, 2009 @ 11:59 pm
wow crystal, siiiiigh. i’m actually thinking of not watching the movie if/when it comes out. if the book was THAT good, the movie just has to suck right?
and give it to mike when you’re done!
Comment by Holly — January 7, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
hi crystal :) i was at home watching TV today and randomly thought of you. i hope you’re doing well! are you still working in pasadena? i’m glad you finally got the chance to read the book :) sounds like you are enjoying it so far!
Comment by Theresa — January 20, 2009 @ 10:47 pm