Write on Irish Girls Forum for writers and readers

Well girls this is where I eat my words!!! I know in the past that I have been quite critical of Cecilia but have to say that I am now in awe of her as I read this book in less than a week and loved every minute of it! I think what helped was the fact that it was more grounded than some of her previous books have been where you find yourself being transported into diferent worlds and dealing with imaginary people etc! There is still some magic in it, however, and I loved it!!!

Joyce Conway suffers a tragedy and as a result her world and her marriage fall apart! After her stay in hospital, however, she begins to have the strangest thoughts and dreams featuring people and places she doesn't know. She is also filled with knowledge that she didn't have and her tastes in food etc all change.

Justin is a an American professor living in London who comes to Trinity College in Dublin to be a guest lecturer in Art. He is divorced and has a terse relationship with his daughter and is quite a self centred person but all that changes when someone persudes him to donate blood and he convinces himself that he has been responsible for saving someone's life!

Please read this book girls - it is sad in parts, brilliantly written and also really funny! Joyce's seventy year old father features in it a lot and his antics had me laughing out loud and rocking the bed!!

I was looking at this today but I am still not sure if I want it

I would offer to send it to you Claire but unfortunately it's not mine and I need to return it! I would advise you to get it though as I found it really entertaining in so many ways and believe me it is soooo not like me to praise Cecilia!!

I really enjoyed this book too, and laughed out loud at the father. It's a great book. Perhaps pretend someone else wrote it, Claire!
Speaking of Cecilia Ahern, I usually love her recent books, but THe Gift is not grabbing me. I've tried three times now, and put it down. I'll wait a couple of weeks and give it another go.

I read this too it is one of her best and I think its her most grounded book since PS I love you its romantic, whimisical and funny i love joyce's father he reminds me of my own! megan the gift isnt to everyone's taste but i liked it

lol
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I too loved this book fionn, and also found myself laughing out loudat the wee daddy. well worth reading claire,It is beautifully written, and makes you laugh and cry and think.

x

What is The Gift about? I'm nearly afraid to attempt it as I'm still on a high from reading the other book and don't want to go go straight back into grumbling about Cecilia again!! Has anyone got a spare copy going that they would be willing to loan me?

Hi Fionnuala

the gift is about a man called lou suffern he's always trying to be in two places at the same time he cheats on his wife and treats his family like dirt one day he meets a homeless man gabe. at first lou is happy to have gabe around but then strange things start happening and lou doesn't want gabe around anymore basically the book is about if you had the gift to be in two places where would you rather be? sorry fionnuala i gave my copy to my boss!

lol
x

Hmmm not sure I like the sound of that! Never worry about the copy Laura thanks for letting me know the storyline anyway!!

Fionn, I have a copy I can send you. I've just started it so I can pass it on when I'm done.
I wouldn't be a huge Cecelia fan. Read PS I love you because of all the hype - wasn't impressed. Then got Where Rainbows End for Christmas so read that in case my sister asked if I liked it - again was not impressed. Saw this book in the 2nd hand shop and got it for pence so thought i'd give her another go as even though I'm not a big fan of her writing, I admire the success she has achieved and really at the end of the day I'm just jealous (hehe )
Let me know xx