Time Quotes in The Time Traveler's Wife

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

[Henry:] "Bobby and his girlfriend ought to be listening to The Cure if they want to dress up. But instead they've stumbled into this thing, punk, that they don't know anything about." (1.9.438)

Henry makes an interesting observation here. Why is it that some people grow up with music that was popular way before their time?

Quote #8

[Clare:] "If you could stop, now… if you could not time travel any more, and there would be no consequences, would you?" [Henry:] "If I could stop now and still meet you?" [Clare:] "You've already met me." [Henry:] "Yes. I would stop." (1.9.449-452)

Henry admits to Clare that time travel has no luster, no exciting appeal for him now that he has met her. What's most important to him now is to stay with her in the present.

Quote #9

[Clare to Richard DeTamble:] "But don't you think […] that it's better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?" (1.11.107)

Clare believes that the short, fleeting moments of happiness are what life is all about, even if they leave you with sadness when they're gone. She poses an interesting question here. What might be the advantages of never allowing yourself to fully experience moments of happiness in life? The disadvantages?