Review - Cecelia Ahern – “The Gift”

Publ: 2008
Pensby Library
ISBN: 978 0 00 728497
Genre: General fiction;
Pages: 305p
Recommended by a fellow blogger (not sure who – sorry!)
Rating: ***** ****


What led you to pick up this book?
I have read two Cecelia Ahern's before and thoroughly enjoyed them. This was reviewed well on someone’s blog. And I liked the jacket.

Describe the plot without giving anything away.
If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be? Lou Suffern, high-powered Dublin business man, always had two places to be at the one time. Unfortunately his juggling act was beginning to go astray until, in the run up to Christmas, he gave a job to a homeless man. Uncharacteristically there was nothing in it for Lou. Or was there?

What did you think of the characters?
Brilliantly drawn with the daggers of office politics all to real for folk who’ve been there. From Lou to Gabe (the homeless man), the garda, Smug Man and the Turkey Boy, all are credible and bring the story to life.

What did you think about the style?
First class. Apart from the easy flowing style of the narrative some of the little gems that creep in are worthy of the very best writers around.

What did you like most about the book?
The last page. You have to read it to appreciate that.

Was there anything you didn't like about the book?
No

Thoughts on the book jacket / cover.
Despite (or because of) its simplicity it is ideal.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.

Totally irrelevant side note:
If I had read this a couple of weeks back it would have been in a few people’s Christmas stockings.

Quotations:
I would quote the last couple of pages in their entirety but that would spoil the book – you’ve just got to read it.

They’d shared a single bed in a box-bedroom so small that they had to walk outside for a change of mind...

The sight stole words from his mouth and ran off with them under its arm, cackling.

And the entire point of Gabe telling Lou Suffern about people like Lou Suffern, was to warn him that people who constantly looked over their shoulders bumped into things.

CECELIA AHERN see A Place Called Here