Time is more precious than gold, more precious than diamonds, more precious than oil or any valuable treasures. It is time of which we do not have enough; it is time that causes the war within our hearts, and so we must spend it wisely. This was my first title by Cecilia Aherne and I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and am now keen to discover more of her writing. Beautiful, moving and unexpected, In a Thousand Different ways is an unforgettable story. This is Cecelia Ahern at her very best’ Louise O’Neill In 2007 I was promoting the PS I LOVE YOU film and republished book, working on SAMANTHA WHO?, preparing to publish THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES and starting work on my first one woman show and as exciting as it all was, I felt I was being pulled in so many different directions. Life's rhythm was beating faster and faster.

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern | Goodreads The Gift by Cecelia Ahern | Goodreads

The novel follows her life from a difficult childhood to self-discovery and the happy ending that the reader anticipates throughout. Interestingly, while at the Bull and Bear bar, the live show ran late and there wasn’t enough time for my interview. We had to record it at the end, to add it into another live show on a different day. I’m not sure if that ever happened. So we ran out of time in the exact moment I came up with a novel about time. Timely, wasn’t it? There was a kind of panic in the air that month, I felt it from a lot of people. Alice initially wants to isolate herself from everyone; she lives in solitude, which brings her even more sadness and disappointment. Slowly, with the help of true friends and nature, which never fails to heal, she learns to control her gift and live her own life. Cecelia has a rare talent. One that has the ability to draw the reader in without them really knowing it. There isn't a plot as such, it is a story of Alice’s life, but you can't help but be drawn to her and knowing you can't give her a hug (it's too much for her to cope with) I felt protective of her. Anyone having had a toxic parent will sympathise and understand her conflict let alone with the confusion and disruption of colours as she was growing up. A wonderful, poignant at times, emotive story and one that left me with a tear. To quote Oscar Wilde “ Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways”. StunningWhat I wish I had seen more of was her interaction with Natalie, or even Poh. Both women were interesting characters who floated on the periphery of Alice’s world. She sees peoples energy auras every day for everyone...............until one day there's a man with no aura.

The Gift, Cecelia Ahern. Book Review - Raisie Bay The Gift, Cecelia Ahern. Book Review - Raisie Bay

I found all of the characters well rounded. We get to know them well through their impact on Alice. Her meeting with Naomi is a turning point, where she learns that her life can be different. Her relationship with Andy, after an idyllic start, becomes troubled at times, but they learn to deal with each other's idiosyncrasies. Her love of being out in nature and her growing understanding of plants through seeing their moods and colours was fascinating and and, for her, life-changing. I’ve long been fascinated with the subject of auras - how some people can see them and how they can reveal the emotions of a person. I had never thought, however, about the negative impact on someone with this ‘gift’. Cecelia Ahearne tells the story of how Alice’s ability to see auras impacts her whole life. She is immersed in the turmoil of other people’s emotions until she finds a way of existing in society. The end is simply beautiful. Normally it can take me maybe a week to two weeks to read a book, but not Cecelia's latest offering. I have only read one of her other books but like I said something about this drew me in. Wither that was the cover, the description or simply because its Cecelia.Extremely successful executive, Lou Suffern is always overstretched, immune to the holiday spirit that delights everyone around him. The classic workaholic who never has a moment to spare, he is always multitasking while shortchanging his devoted wife and their adorable children. And ever since he started competing for a big promotion, he has barely seen his family at all.

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern | Goodreads

Life goes on, until one day, before Christmas, he meets Gabe, a homeless man - the good ghost from the tale - that changes his cosmos completely.... Alice has a life changing experience when she is 8:years old, she realises she sees colours surrounding people, they vary as to what emotions they are feeling. She has a difficult family life with a mother who is bi-polar, a father who leaves when the children are young, an older brother, Hugh, she idolises and a younger brother, Ollie, who becomes a problem the older he gets.La historia como digo no está mal, esperaba bastante más siendo de Cecelia, sus dos anteriores novelas que había leído me habían enamorado y ésta no ha llegado a ese nivel. Me ha gustado el mensaje de la historia, pero se me ha hecho un poquitín largo y dar vueltas a lo mismo cuándo podría haber sido más directa y haber puesto más Navidad, ese era el propósito de esta lectura al fin y al cabo. A stunning, wonderful, powerful tale: Alice lives with her mother and two brothers, one older and one younger. Alice has synaesthesia (to see or feel in colours)only this isn't recognised until she is older and sadly she is seen as being different and a trouble maker. She sees the anger in her mother and the calm in her older brother. Imagine being able to see and hence make a judgement of someone by the colour surrounding them. When there is a crowd you are overwhelmed, when seeing strangers you can make a call. When Hugo, her older brother, goes to university and her younger brother is on the wrong side of the law it is left to Alice to look after her mother as she is now in a wheelchair. Cecelia shares with us the inspiration behind her character and the lessons she learned while writing The Gift. Like Eleanor Oliphant and Sally Diamond our protagonist Alice Kelly is different. Im discovering I have a love for damaged female protagonists, whether it's down to nature or nurture I love these girls.... Or maybe it's because I have raised a daughter on the spectrum and I see a little bit of her in all these special protagonists...it makes me want to fight the world for them and champion them! In a Thousand Different Ways" is the story of Alice Kelly and her dysfunctional family. Alice's mother struggles to raise her 3 children on her own but, as they grow up, they all leave home for different reasons. Alice suffers with what she thinks of as a curse but some others see as a blessing, not that she tells many people about seeing colours around everything and everyone.