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The Gift |
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by: Cecelia Ahern |
List Price: £14.99 Price: £6.45 You Save: £8.54 (57%)Prices subject to change. Used Price: £3.89 Third Party New Price: £3.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours |
| Binding: Hardcover EAN: 9780007284979 ISBN: 0007284977 Label: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Number Of Pages: 320 Publication Date: October 20, 2008 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Studio: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Sales Rank: 57 |
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| Editorial Review: Amazon.co.uk Review: So many new novels jostle for our attention that readers could be forgiven for lacking the patience to tackle most of them. But in the case of The Gift by Cecelia Ahern, they would be doing themselves a disservice by passing this one by. As in her highly involving debut novel, PS I Love You, Ahern demonstrates a sure and subtle understanding of the human condition and the pleasures and pains in relationships. Her theme in the new book is the way in which we conceal the truth about ourselves -- many people cover themselves in layers of deceit until somebody with the right motivation unwraps those layers and discovers the truth. Lou Suffern is practised in the art of concealment. He is, also, always overstretched, trying to do too many things at once. His overburdened schedule gives him few moments of peace, even in his sleep. And when he spends time at home with his wife and family, he is always distracted, and, mentally, somewhere else. On a cold winter morning, Lou is on his way to work when he encounters Gabe, a homeless street dweller, sitting outside an office building. Lou is intrigued by him, and contrives to get him a job in the post room. But this act of charity rebounds on him, and Gabe’s presence begins to grate on Lou -- particularly when he discovers that the latter seems capable of being in two places at the same time. Christmas is drawing near, and before the season is over, Lou’s life will be irrevocably change by the casual act of kindness he has performed. Apart from the sheer storytelling skill of The Gift, perhaps Cecelia Ahern’s most considerable achievement is the way in which she has taken a narrative which could easily have moved into rather twee territory, and very efficiently kept sentimentality at bay. That's not to say that the novel isn't deeply affecting, without ever trying to engage our emotions in a synthetic way, Ahern succeeds in involving us completely. In fact, the title could be said to be apposite -- it's a book that deserves to be a gift given by many people to the readers in their lives. --Barry Forshaw |
| Customer Reviews |
Average Rating:  |
Rating:  - Saddened slightlyThis book is beautifully presented, short (quick to read for slower readers)and is well written - however after reading other reviews I was expecting an inspiring, UPLIFTING story. I suggested this book as a gift for my husband to give me, so wasn't disappointed to find it under our tree. Unfortunately although I see exactly the moral of the story (very important) the journey to reach the conclusion is almost depressing. I found the book to be 95% neutral/negative reading and 5% positive and vaguely ... Read More Rating:  - A wake up call to all work aholics like meI gave my wife this book for Christmas. she was completely hooked and read it in just a couple of days. During the last chapter she was in floods of tears and then she insisted that I read it. Humouring her at first I started the read the first chapter and then found myself totally hooked. I read it from cover to cover in just two sittings. I could see so much of the character Lou in myself and could relate to the type of business life style he led and how he neglected what was really important. This ... Read More Rating:  - Not sure about this oneMy local library managed to get this one for me in the week between Christmas and New Year which was nice timing. The story of Lou, the workaholic father of two who spends his entire life letting his family down as he focus solely on his rise up the corporate ladder started out well. As he gets homeless man, Gabe (Gabriel), a job in his office postroom over the festive period things are all happy and fine. Things start to unravel though when Gabe appears at unexpected times and begins to ferret his way into ... Read More Rating: - fantasticAfter reading P.S i love you i wasn't sure if this would live up to it but it did infact it's much better. theres a lesson in there for everyone. very sad story at the end so much so i could barely read the words on the page for tears definatly worth a read and i will be reading it again and again and i think its going to have the same effect time after time!you will not be disappointed and you will also learn something from it so read it !!! Rating: - ceceli ahern the giftThe Gift this book is fantastic !!! it had me sobbing my heart out and i will re-read this many times im sure. Buy it its great |
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