Book Review: The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

What it’s about:

If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be?

Lou Suffern wishes he could be in two places at once. His constant battle with the clock is a sensitive issue with his wife and family.

Gabe wishes he was somewhere warm. When Lou invites Gabe, a homeless man who sits outside his office, into the building and into his life, Lou’s world is changed beyond all measure…

An enchanting and thoughtful Christmas story that speaks to all of us about the value or time and what is truly important in life.

Review:

I had no doubts when starting this book because in my opinion, Cecelia Ahern is one of the most wonderful and unique female writers around at the moment – all her novels are so insightful and heart-warming. She’s so young but writes like someone who is wise beyond her years as every single one of her novels includes important messages about value, love, life and the magic in the world that we sometimes forget exists. The Gift is set in modern day Ireland and is about our main character Lou, a extremely successful, driven, over-achieving business man. He spends his entire life letting his family down due to his obsessive need to do everything, be everywhere and be in two places at once. He then meets Gabe, a homeless man who resides in a doorway outside his building. Although Lou doesn’t realise it at first, Gabe changes Lou’s life and shows him the meaning and importance of time before it’s too late.

Myself and Clare at AbookandTea was going to do a read along with this book but she very rudely finished it in 2 days and didn’t give me a chance to catch up but here I am 3 weeks later – finally finished! Like all her books, I found this an extremely easy read. It wasn’t hard going and the dialogue flowed very well and I managed to finish in just a few days. It was a good length and a nicely well-rounded story. Our main character, Lou, wasn’t a particularly likeable character. But what I’ve noticed with all her books is that the main characters never are – they’re never perfect but they manage to grow, develop and change throughout – which is was Lou did. Gabe was an interesting character as well and I completely agree with Clare when I say I think he was Lou’s conscience all along.

I always feel so connected to Cecelia Ahern’s books – like I’m the only person in the entire world who has read that story and her writing manages to keep you connected throughout the whole thing. The fast-paced chapters you find yourself reading really fast just to keep up, the shocking moments you end up reading over and over again and the emotional scenes that leave you welling up. This book was no different. Another quite specific thing I love about Ahern’s writing is her descriptions and comparisons e.g. in this book she compares the sea to a stage actor and says, ‘There was a magic about the sea. People were drawn to it. People wanted to live by it, swim in it, play in it, look at it. It was a living thing that was as unpredictable as a great stage actor: it could be calm and welcoming, opening its arms to embrace its audience one moment, but then could explode with its stormy tempers, flinging people around, wanting them out, attacking coastlines, breaking down islands. It had its playful side too, as it enjoyed the crowd, tossed children about, knocked lilos over, tipped over windsurfers, occasionally gave sailors helping hands; all done with a secret chuckle’. The language she uses is beautiful and that’s why I never hesitate picking up one of her books.

About Cecelia Ahern:

Before embarking on her writing career, Cecelia Ahern completed a degree in journalism and media studies. Her first novel, PS, I Love You was one of the biggest-selling debut novels of 2004 and a number one bestseller. Her successive bestselling novels are Where Rainbows End, If You Could See Me Now, A Place Called Here, Thanks for the Memories, The Gift and The Book of Tomorrow. PS, I Love You became an International box office success, starring Hilary Swank, was a box office hit. Cecelia has also co-created the hit American television comedy series Samantha Who? In 2008 Cecelia won the award for Best New Writer at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. Cecelia lives in County Dublin.

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