The Book of Tomorrow

I've always been a bit sceptical about Ahern novels, feeling they are still riding on the phenomenal success that was PS I Love You whilst never really delivering the same satisfaction. I especially was left dissapointed by The Gift which lacked a storyline of great substance, however I duly picked up The Book Of Tomorrow and gave it a try.

Initially I was dubious - the title character is a spoilt 16 year old who has been forced to leave her home after the suicide and bankruptcy of her father, she and her depressed and grieving mother move in with her brother and his wife in their small cottage next to the ruin of an old castle belonging to the Kilcarney family.

In the first few chapters I stuggled to warm to the lead character Tamara finding myself thinking the novel would have worked better written from her mothers perspective as she struggled following the death of her husband, however as the novel progressed and the plot line developed I warmed to Tamara and found myself really empathising with her position. I won't go too deeply into the plot line as it's nice not to give too much away but this book resotred my faith in Ahern's writing with a great ending to the book and one you don't see coming so very strongly written and well worth reading.

Книга читабельна. Сюжет интересен, но само повествование очень затянуто. Чтобы добраться до появления волшебного дневника, понадобилось прочесть чуть ли не треть книги. Самокопания главной героини не вызывают интереса, как возможно рассчитывала автор, посвятив им столько места в книге. Это не становление или рост личности, а не пойми что. Самое интересное заняло лишь последних несколько глав. Книга могла бы получиться намного более динамичной и интересной, если бы автор выбрала что-то одно: либо раскрыть внутренний мир героини или развернуть потрясающий сюжет. А так получилось что-то средненькое...

I'm starting to think that if a book publicist is contacting me repeatedly about reading and reviewing a new book, the book must be desultory. My gut feeling said don't agree to read and review this book; my gut feeling said this book would disappoint me. I should have listened to my gut feeling.This book was disappointing. I did not like the main character. The main character was inconsistent. The plot jumped. Once again, a book that could have used an editor.