The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

The Book of Tomorrow
Author: Cecilia Ahern
ISBN-13: 978-0007233700
Publication Date: October, 2009
Acquired by Me: Sent from Publisher



Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

“The magical new novel from number one bestseller Cecelia Ahern. Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country.

Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin. When a traveling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.”

My Thoughts:

This is my first Cecilia Ahern novel; although, I did watch the movie, PS, I Love You, which was based on another one of her books. Without a doubt, there is something charismatic about fictional stories set in Ireland. Maybe it drums up images of cheery, sweater wearing, dancing, people, but I don’t get enough of it. The last book I read that was set in Ireland was The Sea and the Silence by Peter Cunningham (another beautifully written book I might add).

A while ago, when I was recommending this book on Twitter, I remember describing it as: young adult fiction with a dash of magic and a twisty plot. Ahern has constructed a creative storyline that takes you in many directions before finally settling down to pull it all together and offer the “Oh, that’s it!” moment at the end. I could feel the changes throughout the book, everything seemed to mean something else—but what, I couldn’t guess until I got to the end. Of course, that’s optimal in a story, isn’t it? Predictability is something that often bores me when reading, unless of course, it has a good catch to it like humor or suspense.

I liked Tamara’s evolution from a spoiled rich brat to a young woman who learns to understand what it is to think of others beside herself. She has a history deep seeded emotional trauma that has defined her behavior as she relates to those around her. The process she undergoes to pass through the pain and into her new sense of self was charged full of emotion. She’s given a few knockdowns and set backs in order to learn her lessons, but it pays off during a big reveal at the end of the book.

There are few characters in the story, since it sits very central to Tamara’s experiences; however, of those present, I found them to be each powerful in their own right. Every conversation they have, every action they take feels like a contribution to the overall goal at the book’s end.

One special note about the story: there is something magical that appears in the book. I would recommend accepting the fact, rather than dwelling on how it comes to be. I think to get hung up on a special detail (as some people are apt to do) hinders the point of the story. Take it for what it is and carry on. That seemed to work for me.

I don’t know if this book is technically classified as young adult fiction, but that’s how the story felt to me. Tamara is young and we read the story through her eyes. I think it would be a perfect young woman’s read, but as someone who is not a young woman, I found it equally fascinating and engaging. I wholeheartedly recommend it! It is simply a fantastic book! And…I’m especially glad that Ahern has a whole host of other books to read because, without a doubt, I’ll be delving into them all at some point.

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.