Lou Suffern is practised in the art of concealment. He is, also, always overstretched, trying to do too many things at once. His overburdened sched...
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reviews
Jan 14, 2012
Fatima
rated it: 
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 girly, cheesy, romantic parts. Trust me, that is FAR from the case.
Her books are wonderful. They deal with serious issues and serious problems. Real-life, every day shit. She also throws in a little bit of magic and intrigue. Her books have this creepy, e More...
Her books are wonderful. They deal with serious issues and serious problems. Real-life, every day shit. She also throws in a little bit of magic and intrigue. Her books have this creepy, e More...
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Jan 06, 2012
Cadiva
rated it: 
I don't often read "chic lit" but chose this for our book club to read for our December novel as it appeared on my Amazon recommendations. With that in mind, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very pleasantly surprised not only by the novel itself but by the ending (which I won't spoil here).
In her main character Lou Suffern, Ahern creates a protagonist that is difficult to empathise with at the same time as he is very easy to understand. A driven, work is priority whi More...
In her main character Lou Suffern, Ahern creates a protagonist that is difficult to empathise with at the same time as he is very easy to understand. A driven, work is priority whi More...
Oct 14, 2011
Julie
rated it: 
I wanted something easy to read on public transport and this certainly ticked that box. I finished it before even adding it to my 'currently reading' on this site!
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 suppose it's easy to be cynica More...
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 suppose it's easy to be cynica More...
Aug 23, 2011
Melissa
rated it: 
What do you get when you combine George Bailey, Ebenezer Scrooge, and Don Draper?
You get Lou Suffern.
Lou's the main character in this Christmas-novel-with-a-timeless-message by Irish author Cecelia Ahern, whose books I tend to enjoy. (See my review of There's No Place Like Here.) I'm usually not a Christmas book reader, but I was in the mood for such a novel this past week. When I saw this on display at the library, I grabbed it because Ahern's novels tend to be light rea More...
You get Lou Suffern.
Lou's the main character in this Christmas-novel-with-a-timeless-message by Irish author Cecelia Ahern, whose books I tend to enjoy. (See my review of There's No Place Like Here.) I'm usually not a Christmas book reader, but I was in the mood for such a novel this past week. When I saw this on display at the library, I grabbed it because Ahern's novels tend to be light rea More...
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Jul 27, 2011
Saimah
rated it:
Prerequisite for reading the book: For a little while, just suspend reality and by the time the book ends you'd have reality facing you.
Just like any of us, Lou wants his work to speak of his abilities and talent. He finds joy in his accomplishments at work, without sparing even a single thought as to how he has been as a son, a brother, a husband or a father. This until he meets a homeless man, Gabe (Gabriel?) who helps him in his ordeals by giving some special kind of pills (Miracle? Placebo?) More...
Just like any of us, Lou wants his work to speak of his abilities and talent. He finds joy in his accomplishments at work, without sparing even a single thought as to how he has been as a son, a brother, a husband or a father. This until he meets a homeless man, Gabe (Gabriel?) who helps him in his ordeals by giving some special kind of pills (Miracle? Placebo?) More...
Jul 26, 2011
Jhoie
rated it:
"The Gift","Ahern Cecilia","","review","the gift is a very excellent book. the third novel by Cecelia Ahern that i have read and was never able to put it down for a while when i started reading it. like her other novel/s, the story will take you to ""another world,"" a fairytale of some sort that is suited for our time... the book is an excellent read, one that you will never regret buying and reading and probably will read over an
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Feb 18, 2011
Roberta
rated it:
Questa è la storia di Lou Suffern, un uomo in possesso di tutto ciò che si può desiderare. Un lavoro di successo, una bella famiglia. Ma nell'ansia di ottenere consensi sul lavoro Lou si tuffa in una girandola di impegni sempre più fitti, dimenticando di vivere e impedendosi di avere un minuto di pace, o una serata dedicata alla famiglia non solo con il corpo ma anche con la testa - e con il cuore.
La Ahern secondo me in questo libro casca un po' male. Le riesce molto meglio di P.S. More...
La Ahern secondo me in questo libro casca un po' male. Le riesce molto meglio di P.S. More...
Dec 05, 2010
Nicolette
rated it:
THE GIFT
By Cecelia Ahern
(HarperCollins)
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 touching novel focuses on a man who comes to realise that some parts of his life can only bring him to ruin.
Businessman Lou Suffern always has to be in two places at the same time. He catches the beginning of one meeting or function so that he can be there a More...
By Cecelia Ahern
(HarperCollins)
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 touching novel focuses on a man who comes to realise that some parts of his life can only bring him to ruin.
Businessman Lou Suffern always has to be in two places at the same time. He catches the beginning of one meeting or function so that he can be there a More...
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Sep 20, 2010
Maria
rated it: 
Todas as vezes que leio um livro de Cecelia Ahern o meu gosto pelos seus livros aumenta cada vez mais. Depois de ter lido “P.S. I Love You” e “Para Sempre, Talvez” “A Prenda” deixou-me completamente vidrada na história de Gabe e Lou Suffern. A narrativa é contada pelo sargento Raphael O’Reilly a um jovem que atira um peru de Natal congelado à janela do seu pai e da nova família. O sargento conta a narrativa servindo como uma espécie de lição de vida, fazendo-o pensar nas escolhas que devemos tom
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Aug 27, 2010
Iris
rated it:
A must read for Cecelia Ahern Fans!
I loved the book because after I had read the previous few books, I fell in love with Cecelia's stories yet again.
It's a common story: a busy husband and father, with a big career, wants everything, yet bigger and better, and not getting his priorities right. His family and health are suffering. Lou at some stage lost the ability to live until he meets Gabriel, or Gabe, a man living on the streets. After this his life changes forever.... More...
I loved the book because after I had read the previous few books, I fell in love with Cecelia's stories yet again.
It's a common story: a busy husband and father, with a big career, wants everything, yet bigger and better, and not getting his priorities right. His family and health are suffering. Lou at some stage lost the ability to live until he meets Gabriel, or Gabe, a man living on the streets. After this his life changes forever.... More...
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Apr 12, 2010
Lindsay
rated it:
I love Cecelia Ahern's stuff. Her books are always magical and touching and can make you laugh and cry. But with this one, I didn't really get that feeling. I kind of felt like her editor wanted her to write a holiday book and she kind of just made this story up. Its a little confusing. The story is about a cop who is telling a kid the store about Lou who is a busy, busy man, and always needs to be in two places at one time. One day Lou gives a homeless man a cup of coffee and later decides to g
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Feb 10, 2010
Hafsa
rated it:
Before I begin, I just want to warn people that there might be spoilers, i'm not sure, because I know different people consider different things "spoilers," so consider yourself warned!
This book got me hooked like all her other books have, I truly enjoy her prose and more importantly, her incredible insight. I've said this before, and i'll say it again, this girl has a talent for observing people and emotions. She writes about human complexities so easily; she's always rea More...
This book got me hooked like all her other books have, I truly enjoy her prose and more importantly, her incredible insight. I've said this before, and i'll say it again, this girl has a talent for observing people and emotions. She writes about human complexities so easily; she's always rea More...
Mar 19, 2011
Jane
rated it:
Okay, I read this book during Lent. This book was published in time for Christmas 2009 as a Christmas read. But tell me, I'm not the only one to watch Love Actually and The Holiday at anytime of year. They are feel good movies which just happen to be set over Christmas time.
This book didn't do it for me, and not just because I read it at the wrong time of year. I didn't enjoy it as much as PS I Love You. I get the idea, the scenario is supposed to make you think about the importance o More...
This book didn't do it for me, and not just because I read it at the wrong time of year. I didn't enjoy it as much as PS I Love You. I get the idea, the scenario is supposed to make you think about the importance o More...
Aug 25, 2010
Adam
rated it:
Post-listen review:
Cute baby reaching for an ornament? check
Turkey chucked at someone? check
(Those first two were impressively accomplished in the first track.)
Overworked family man who would be happy if he could only focus on said family instead of work? check.
Homeless man who is really an angel? check.
The lesson that time with loved ones is more precious than packaged goods, success, status or financial gain? check.
More...
Cute baby reaching for an ornament? check
Turkey chucked at someone? check
(Those first two were impressively accomplished in the first track.)
Overworked family man who would be happy if he could only focus on said family instead of work? check.
Homeless man who is really an angel? check.
The lesson that time with loved ones is more precious than packaged goods, success, status or financial gain? check.
More...
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Nov 05, 2011
Francine
rated it:
This book truly stuck a nerve and one of my heart strings at the same time. After reading the book, I was put in a state of shock. But it was a good kind of shock. If you were to ask me if this book changed my life then I would say that in a way, it did. Don't misunderstand me, though. This book did not turn my world upside down and left me breathless. But what it really did was even more amazing. It opened my eyes.
I can confidently say that Cecelia Ahern is a gifted writer. To be ho More...
I can confidently say that Cecelia Ahern is a gifted writer. To be ho More...
Dec 16, 2009
Night
rated it:
Actually, this book gets 3.5 rating from me.
The plot, the characters and morals here are 'Christmas-miracle' cliche, but if you read it at the right mood/atmosphere, chiche can be classic as well.
The edition I read has a very small font (1 mm in height) that could've been doubled in size easily. I often have migrane with small fonts, so I had to resentfully force myself to keep reading the first 100 pages. In effect, I couldn't fully enjoy the author's style of narrati More...
The plot, the characters and morals here are 'Christmas-miracle' cliche, but if you read it at the right mood/atmosphere, chiche can be classic as well.
The edition I read has a very small font (1 mm in height) that could've been doubled in size easily. I often have migrane with small fonts, so I had to resentfully force myself to keep reading the first 100 pages. In effect, I couldn't fully enjoy the author's style of narrati More...
Apr 05, 2010
Trixie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 23, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
I have been a huge fan of Cecelia Ahern ever since I read "PS I Love You" around 4-5 years ago. Since then, I have read everything she's written that I could get my hands on and "Samantha Who" was a staple on my DVR. Her stories are so rich and heartfelt. Her characters are real, flawed, and endearing.
The main character, Lou, was such a jerk! So self-centered and puffed up in himself that I should have hated him. Instead, I found myself cheering him on. Rooting for More...
The main character, Lou, was such a jerk! So self-centered and puffed up in himself that I should have hated him. Instead, I found myself cheering him on. Rooting for More...
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Aug 29, 2010
Stefanie
rated it:
I love Christmas, and so, when I read the jacket of this book, I knew this was for me! A few years ago, I tried to read P.S. I Love You. I don't think I gave it enough time before I decided I didn't like it though, because The Gift, was a really beautiful story that focused on the magic of family and TIME, especially during the Christmas season. The story is a frame, a story within another story, and I have read some reviews that said this was confusing. I loved this set up though, and I think t
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Oct 29, 2011
Marie
rated it:
What I loved:
The so accurate description of marriage degradation and couples fight when the wife is about to collapse under housework and taking care of the kids and the husband is totally distracted by his work. How they are no longer able to have a full conversation, her stressed out and controlled by her maternal instincts, and him distracted, barely noticing what’s happening around.
The great description of office rivalry where two friends are competing for the same pos More...
The so accurate description of marriage degradation and couples fight when the wife is about to collapse under housework and taking care of the kids and the husband is totally distracted by his work. How they are no longer able to have a full conversation, her stressed out and controlled by her maternal instincts, and him distracted, barely noticing what’s happening around.
The great description of office rivalry where two friends are competing for the same pos More...
Aug 03, 2011
Sadaf
rated it:
A good reminder about how quickly time passes, and the importance of spending that time on the things (people) that matter most in life. Makes you think about the value of family against the value of work. It was a joy to read from start to finish, and really had me sitting and thinking as I turned the final few pages, the ending made me quite emotional. There are some laugh out loud moments, some touching moments, and all in all it’s an enjoyable read. Cecelia Ahern seems to have the ability to
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Jul 14, 2011
Fernanda
rated it:
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro. Es un típico cuento navideño de una persona inconsciente y egoísta convirtiéndose al lado de los buenos. En lo personal esperaba más de este libro, a inicios de año leí "The book of tomorrow" y me creó grandes expectativas de los libros de esta mujer, pero creo que lo único que consiguió fue un libro bastante aburrido con un mensaje bonito, porque lo admito, no pude evitar llorar con el final que no esperaba.
La temática del lib More...
La temática del lib More...
May 09, 2011
Krista
rated it:
One thing that I love most about Cecelia is that she has an incredible talent in deciphering human’s complexities through her writing. Even though she tends to use a roundabout, difficult analogy to explain something, she did that beautifully and I found myself enchanted in the story she built. In The Gift, Cecelia once again brought magical elements into her writing and without doubt, it managed to catch my interest from the very beginning.
The theme behind The Gift is fairly simple More...
The theme behind The Gift is fairly simple More...
Jan 07, 2012
Kristi (Books and Needlepoint)
rated it:
I read this for the TuesBookTalk Read-a-Longs at Goodreads. I have been part of this group forever but this is only the second book that I have read "with" them - or as much with them as I can. This was the December book and I just finished it last night. I must say though, that this was a great book to read in December.
While it is Lou's story, it is actually being related to a young boy who has gotten in trouble and is waiting for his mom to pick him up from the polic More...
While it is Lou's story, it is actually being related to a young boy who has gotten in trouble and is waiting for his mom to pick him up from the polic More...
Dec 30, 2011
Rhonda
rated it:
Lou, always too busy with his job to have any time for anything or anyone else, including his family, EXCEPT for partying after work and for other women, brings a coffee to the beggar man on the street outside his office building one day...Lou ends up hiring him for the mail room....ends up he gets a much bigger gift from the beggar in return.
Favorite Quotes:
"This story is about people, secrets, and time. About people who, not unlike wrapped parcels, cover themselves with lay More...
Favorite Quotes:
"This story is about people, secrets, and time. About people who, not unlike wrapped parcels, cover themselves with lay More...
Nov 04, 2009
Beth
rated it:
This story within a story opens with a teen being arrested for tossing a frozen turkey through the window of his father's -- and stepmother's -- home on Thanksgiving. While waiting for the boy's mother to pick him up, the arresting officer weaves a tale about a workaholic man named Lou who befriends a homeless man named Gabe that slowly insinuates himself into Lou's life. Lou is given opportunity after opportunity to spend time with his family, but he'd rather take a "headache pill" (p
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Apr 15, 2011
Kirsty
rated it:
A much less light-hearted book from Cecelia Ahern this time, the book is a roller-coaster of emotions!
The main character is a handsome, busy, successful man with a beautiful house and family to go with it. Although he is not entirely happy. Affairs and one-night stands with his secretarys, all-night drinking and parties and not really one inch of respect for his wife or children. All this start's to get too much for him and he only wishes that he could be in 'two places at once'. Wor More...
The main character is a handsome, busy, successful man with a beautiful house and family to go with it. Although he is not entirely happy. Affairs and one-night stands with his secretarys, all-night drinking and parties and not really one inch of respect for his wife or children. All this start's to get too much for him and he only wishes that he could be in 'two places at once'. Wor More...
May 05, 2010
Amore
rated it:
I borrowed this book thinking that it was going to have the same charm that Cecelia's other books did. I was sorely surprised.
The language was so... (pardon me if this offends you) American. It was the language that I hear teenage boys use on the streets, kids who have bad influences. I know that as an author you have to research locations and languages as well as settings but this was just... ugh. It made me sick to my stomach. I don't want to read about things like this. I don't want to hear
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Aug 11, 2011
I first saw this book in Powerbooks in Manila during the Christmas holidays. I wondered what the fuss was about Cecilia Ahern, the author of the book PS I love you which was made in to a movie. I thought the movie was poorly made and like most movie adaptations the book must have been better. But after reading "The Gift" I began to realise that if "PS I Love You" is written similarly as this there's no chance it could be a better book. This book is very basic. With chara
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Dec 19, 2009
Jodi
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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