Thank's For The Memories by Cecelia Ahern

[claire]

Here you go Megan, post away.

**Beware there will be spoilers here**

so read the book first before you read this

[franmt]

Hi, I'm almost finished this book and promise not give anything away. I'm really enoying it. I wasn't too sure during the first couple of chapters, then it got me hooked. There is some great humour in it and chapter nineteen and twenty will have you in stitches. There are some really lovely characters in it especially Joyce's Dad. He's a real sweetheart. The prose is wonderfully descriptive and I would definately recommend this book. I only started it late last week and didn't manage to get much time to read over the weekend but even at that I only have a few chapters left to read. I'm dying to see what happens in the end.

[megan]

Oh, thanks Claire. I only spotted this now. We can tell the story on this thread Fran, people know not to read it until they've read the book themselves.

As I said, on another thread, Cecilia Ahern writes in a way that I wish I could. Her insights into people, who are in pain, are so honest and true to life. I heard her say in an interview once, that her agent believes she lived before as someone else -
The ending was unusual for a Cecilia Ahern, in that it was very happy and almost corny, but she gets away with it, I think, because she doesn't do it in every novel.
I really liked the character of Justin, and am impressed at how well she writes about characters so much older than herself.

[Shirley]

I agree with you on the pain element Megan, but I felt she overdid it on trying to convey pain in the bit where herself and the dad are in the hotel room laughing their tail ends off at something, and then something happens to change the mood, and Joyce goes off on this philosophical internal soliloquy about the line between happiness and pain. I just went to myself "Ah here, will you ever just give it up!" That was a really lovely, touching scene, and then it was ruined (for me, maybe not for others) by the event that followed and then the philosophy attempt. Just thought it was gratuitous misery. I felt at times like she was trying to do too many things in one novel, like being magical, being funny and being touching on the one hand, and then going all deep on the other. It was as if the book didn't know what it wanted to be or how to define itself. But hey, it's selling by the bucketload!

[susanmay]

I wasn't overly fond of Joyce's character at all. I don't know how her Dad put up with her!

[filmbuff]

Hi there

I thought it was her best since P.S. I love you Joyce's dad made the book though!

all the best
laura

[hannah24]

May 20, 2008 0:40:16 GMT Shirley said:

I agree with you on the pain element Megan, but I felt she overdid it on trying to convey pain in the bit where herself and the dad are in the hotel room laughing their tail ends off at something, and then something happens to change the mood, and Joyce goes off on this philosophical internal soliloquy about the line between happiness and pain. I just went to myself "Ah here, will you ever just give it up!" That was a really lovely, touching scene, and then it was ruined (for me, maybe not for others) by the event that followed and then the philosophy attempt. Just thought it was gratuitous misery. I felt at times like she was trying to do too many things in one novel, like being magical, being funny and being touching on the one hand, and then going all deep on the other. It was as if the book didn't know what it wanted to be or how to define itself. But hey, it's selling by the bucketload!

Shirley I've just read this, not knowing it was here ...I posted a comment about the ps I love you movie in another thread...still gobsmacked at Irelands beauty - pictures of it are beautiful enough, but reality...well, there is no words I felt when it flicked over to Ireland. There were just tears (yeah I'm hopeless, cry at an ant dying).

Anyways, digressed a little, when you said "I felt at times like she was trying to do too many things in one novel" ..I felt that is ps I love you (character n personalities flicking too quickly one to the other). Is this the scriptwriter though? Multi-personalites had my head swirling..I understood it all, never usually phases me, I just wondered if others viewing it would feel 'overcrowding' of personalities in the script? The 'bi polar' character, Harry Connick - it was so good whoever wrote his lines!

Cecelia's insights of people, at such a young age flawed me - such a gifted creative writer, I found myself impressed and a little green (in a good way..learnt lots about her creativity style). Especially her ability to write from someone so young about older characters, I found this amazing - this author's intuitive gift and observation of people is second to none! Again, at such a young age, its obviously a strong gift born in her.

Anway, I'm yet to read Thanks F T Memories...but I will. Im intrigued by it now from all the comments.


ps. soliloquy, there's a new word I've not heard before, thanks

[jofromoz]

Just read these comments now, and all I want to say is, I read the book as soon as it was on sale in Oz, and I just loved it.
Like you Megan, I wish I could write like she does too....she is truly unique in her descriptions and her understanding of feelings etc.
Yes, I LOVED IT!!! Enough said I think as you have all said it above.