The Gift by Cecilia Ahern (2009)
When I picked up this book, I was actually hoping for a light chicklit read. I think it does look like it thanks to the book cover, and the author’s previous books I’ve read (P.S. I Love You, Where Rainbows End, Thanks for the Memories) kind of falls into that genre.
I like Cecilia Ahern’s previous books and I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised to what I found reading it. I couldn’t. The good part is the story was easy to follow and it does flow nicely. The problem is I couldn’t get pass the cliché in the story and most of the characters. To me, it felt too much like I was in a classroom, being taught a lesson of what I should and should not do in life by a teacher who likes to point fingers.
I do like inspirational books and I read quite a few of them. This one just doesn’t deliver it. It’s simply not inspiring to me. I found myself finished the book and thinking… what’s the point? Even if a lesson of finding out what is important in life is what you’re looking for, there are better ones out there. Ones that truly inspires you and touched your soul.
No, I couldn’t get myself to recommend this book. But if you want to read it, by all means read it. And if you like it, please let me know, maybe there was something I missed.
Thanks for the review, it’s very frank and honest, and I like that!
I would like to know which books you’re referring to by the “better ones out there”, sounds interesting to hear if you had any special ones in mind.
I like Veronica Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Or for a quite similar tone, movie: The Family Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218967/).
I’ve been wondering about trying this book for a while – it’s prominently displayed in the supermarket! – but you’ve made my mind up for me. I’m not a huge chick-lit fan, which put me off anyway. After reading your review, I think there are better books to spend my time on!