Miss Ahern wrote about today's everyday person living in a modern world where careers are so very important and spun it into a magical story that I had no idea that it was headed in the direction it did. As Christmas draws closer, Lou starts to understand the value of time. He sees what is truly important in life yet at the same time he learns the harshest lesson of all.

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

Plus, there's still some unanswered questions. Who's Raphie's daughter? Is it Ruth? But Lou would've surely recognized his own father-in-law if he was. What happened to Jessica's husband? I get it, Turkey Boy and his family weren't important, but it kind of bothered me that his story was left out in the open as well.

Cecelia Ahern is a very clever, creative writer. I really admire her work. It's pretty awesome. When you look at her covers, you don't expect much (At least that's how it was with me). You expect just another romantic comedy with all the gooey, cheesy, lovey-dovey romantic parts. Trust me, that is FAR from the case. I suppose it's easy to be cynical about the character of Gabe in his mysterious guardian angel role, and I understand the whole point of this story is to emulate a type of Scrooge story in the city; a man who goes through an experience that forces him to see the world differently and prompts him to want to turn over a new-leaf. You have to introduce an element of magic and suspend disbelief to achieve that, that's fine. It's even set at Christmas time! It only narrowly avoids the cheesiness of a Hollywood Christmas movie by its ending, but by that point, I actually wanted to see the new leaf pan out and the characters to live happily ever after. I really enjoyed this book, if mostly for the narrator. The story was based around Christmas time and we get a look at the joys of Christmas celebrations Dublin style. The imagery is just right and although the minor characters are not written in too much detail, it doesn’t really matter. The focus is mainly on Lou and Gabe.

The Gift Quotes by Cecelia Ahern - Goodreads The Gift Quotes by Cecelia Ahern - Goodreads

THIS book caught my eye with its silver wrapping-paper effect hardcover of shiny snowflakes and bright red ribbon tied in a bow to look like the perfect gift. This story is about people, secrets, and time. About people who, not unlike wrapped parcels, cover themselves with layers and layers until they present themselves to the right ones who can unwrap them and see inside.”People who constantly looked over their shoulders bumped into things. Paths are so much clearer when people stop looking at what everyone else is doing and instead concentrate on themselves.” I enjoyed this book, it reduced me into tears, I was on a plane and had to contain myself not to sob loudly in front of everybody. An enchanting and thoughtful Christmas story that speaks to all of us abut the value of time and what is truly important in life. I really really really enjoyed this book! It was definitely perfect for the holiday season, you can feel the Christmas vibe in this book! I hope you can give this book a try!

Behind The Books: The Gift - Cecelia Ahern

Gabe keeps challenging Lou to spend more time with his family, and eventually gives him some tablets that split Lou in two for a day so he can be in two places at the same time. Ahern είναι ελπιδοφόρα βιβλία. Είναι βιβλία που μέσα τους κρύβουν μαθήματα ζωής και αλήθειες πασπαλισμένες με δόσεις φαντασίας και μαγείας. Είναι βιβλία που άλλοτε είναι χαρούμενα, άλλοτε νοσταλγικά, άλλοτε θλιμμένα. One thing of great importance can affect a small number of people. Equally so, a thing of little importance can affect a multitude. Either way, a happening big or small can affect an entire string of people.” I went to The Bear and Bull Bar in the Waldorf Astoria in NY to do a TV Business & Finance show and I distinctly remember a woman asking me - off air - if I could attend a specific event. I recall saying "If I can clone myself I'll be there" and then BAM there was my idea. It was December 2007, I’d just attended the LA premier for the PS I Love You movie and had moved on to NY to promote the film and the re-released book. NY was covered in Christmas decorations, a fast busy noisy city that’s always vibrant and alive, and so the location and the timing inspired the time of year, the setting and the rhythm of The Gift. I was also working on Samantha Who? and was preparing to publish Thanks for the Memories. I was also preparing to work on a one-woman theatre show called Mrs Whippy and there were other shows I was developing at the same time. Despite the excitement and the huge joy all of these projects were bringing me, it was impossible not to feel pulled in so many different directions. I was living off schedules and deadlines, which is the norm for me, but there were many schedules for different projects at the same time and I was really feeling it. I also felt that the rhythm in Ireland was particularly intense, that a certain population was living life to the max, moving at a crazy pace. Without wanting to sound weird, I’m sensitive to energies and I felt the fast pace intensely.The protagonist is fallible, something I always think makes a book interesting, and all the characters are somewhat believable, but it was very hard to find anything warm or likeable in them. The people and the settings made me feel uncomfortable somehow. Perhaps they was supposed to. I found that book today on a bookself and it reminded me of some great time I had during reading it... The ending of Lou’s story gives a twist that you may be expecting, or not. It all reminded me a little of ‘Tales of the Unexpected.’ Verdict