The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern

My latest listen was a completely enjoyable book that I didn't want to end.  The narrator did a great job and I can't wait to listen to another novel by Cecelia Ahern.

The Time of My Life is about Lucy Silchester whose actual life has gotten away from her.  She's living a completely underwhelming existence in a job she hates (that she got under false pretenses), with a family that makes no effort in hiding their disappointment in her and the friends she has no longer know her because she's been telling them lie after lie for nearly three years. Along comes "her life" in the form of a middle-aged businessman who is bent on helping Lucy regain a happier existence; one where she no longer needs to pretend.

I loved this book, like I said, and would imagine that the written word would be just as entertaining as the spoken.  Read this...an easy and utterly enjoyable book. 

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

My latest read is actually a latest listen. I listened to this in my car. This is actually my third (I think) “read” of Cecelia Ahern. I like her. She’s an easy read with mostly likable characters and usually a “surprise” at the end.

The Gift features Lou Suffern, an egotistical, philandering asshole whose only care in the world is his career and getting as far as he can in his company, regardless of whom he screws (literally and figuratively). On a morning, close to Christmas, he does something completely against his norm: He buys a cup of coffee for a homeless man (Gabe) camped outside his office building. Feeling good from this deed, he then sets Gabe up for a job in the mailroom. Soon, however, he begins to regret his charitable act when Gabe starts meddling in Lou’s life. Gabe seems to have a better handle on his own life than Lou and he seems to know Lou better than he knows himself. What follows is a struggle in Lou’s own mind on whether to continue as he has been or turning his life around to be a better man.

I did like this book. I hated Lou (mostly) but that was the point. The book itself was meant to have a “Christmas Carol” type theme to it with a mystical twist. Definitely an easy, holiday, slightly mindless read worthy of a solid three stars.

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

My latest finished book is another Cecelia Ahern, this time listened to on CD. Once again, I lucked out with the reader - she was really good!

The Book of Tomorrow is about Tamara Goodwin, a nearly 17-year-old Dubliner whose life has taken an unfortunate turn. Tamara was born into the lap of luxury. She lived a spoiled life until the abrupt death of her father, which leaves her and her mother with a mountain of debt and forces them to move in with Tamara's peculiar aunt and uncle in a tiny countryside village. Having lived a life thus far in the bustling city of Dublin, Tamara is suddenly lonely and bored. One day, with a traveling library as her only diversion she finds a leather-bound book with a gold clasp and padlock, but no author name or title. Intrigued, she pries open the lock, and what she finds inside takes her breath away. Tamara sees an entry, seemingly written by her but dated for the next day. She passes is off as off but when the next day unfolds exactly as recorded, Tamara's village life suddenly becomes much more exciting.

There's much more to this book than meets the eye and Tamara's aunt is an oddity all on her own.  While listening to this book there were many times I just wanted to keep driving so I could find out what happens next.  Definitely read this and if you're taking a trip, stop at the library and get it on CD - only 7 and perfect for a 4-hour (each way) drive!  I really like this author!

Thanks For The Memories by Cecelia Ahern

This is the first time I've ever read this author and she's got a ton of stuff out there.  (She wrote P.S. I Love You which was a movie with Hilary Swank).  I'll be picking her up again (in fact I'm listening to one of her other books right now in my car).

Thanks for the Memories focuses around two characters.  First is Joyce Conway - an Irishwoman who has just survived the tragic loss of her baby (in utero) and the end of her marriage.  While in the hospital (she fell down the stairs and which caused her miscarriage) she receives a blood transfusion.  Afterwards, she starts experiencing memories for a life that she's never lived.  In addition she suddenly has an incredible knowledge base about architecture and art - two subjects which, in the past, were never things she cared about.

The other character that the book follows is Justin Hitchcock - American architect, recently moved to London (but doing guest lectures in Dublin), recently divorced and recently a blood donor.  His are the memories that Joyce is experiencing. The book follows these two as they chase each other and the possibility of true love. 

I really liked this book.  The concept was quite unique and I was cheering and reading as fast as I could to see if these two would finally pull it together.  The characters were endearing (especially Joyce's elderly Irish father) and lovable.  Of course there was strife and there was a bit of a runaround in them "just missing" each other but it made the ending all the more sweet.  Get it, read it...an easy, light, "beach read".