PS,
I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Published by Harper Collins 2004
Cecelia
Ahern’s first novel was launched with a maximum of hype and
publicity. If one believes the publicity, she is the next Shakespeare
– a suggestion which does no favours for Ms Ahern. Readers’
expectations are raised to expect a profound work of literature
and instead they get a nice holiday read.
The
heroine of the book is Holly, a thirty year old Dublin woman whose
husband died of cancer and who is trying to get on with her life
as a young widow. The idea is brilliant – her husband leaves
her a series of challenges to be carried out each month during the
year following his death. However, the author’s writing skills
do not live up to the good idea. It is clichéd and predictable
with more than a suggestion of the ‘Dort’ accent and
lifestyle, which revolves round trendy night clubs and bars and
getting stupidly and embarrassingly drunk.
The
characters are slightly drawn and are the stock figures of romance
– disapproving in-laws, unsympathetic and tear-away siblings
and supportive but puzzled parents – who all behave predictably.
The theme of the book is, I think, meant to be how Holly comes to
terms with the devastation of losing her husband - with his help.
Bereavement and loss are very weighty subjects for a young inexperienced
author to tackle effectively. She does not succeed in doing justice
to her chosen theme and fails to convey any depth of feelings or
emotion in her main character.
That
said, this is an easy read with an in-built feel-good factor and
is ideal for whiling away the hours on the beach.
Reviewed
by a Clare County Library Staff member.
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