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The Time of My Life
The stunning and magical new novel from the Number One bestselling author
492 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2011
946 people are currently reading
15194 people want to read
About the author
Cecelia Ahern
98 books19.4k followersCecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries, and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,898 reviews
September 14, 2012
LOVED the book! It was so good! So funny! So...Life-like. :)
Lucy Silchester is fine, absolutely fine. So why is it that, of all the miserable, poor, distraught people in the world, it is she who receives a letter asking her to fix an appointment with Life? The letter -after being peed on by her illegally owned cat- lies ignored, like the rest of the things in her Life. She has a job she doesn't love. She has a family she actually likes to visit- if held at gun point. She manages to divide her time between helping her friends, working on her car (whom she calls Sebastian) and feeding her cat. She's so busy that she leaves every gathering, every meeting before it ends. Every work before it's finished. But there's one thing she can not leave unfinished or unattended. And that is her Life. She needs to spend time with it. Make it happy. Because even if you give up on your Life, your Life doesn't. It stays there, the torn being, begging you to fix it. And Lucy, as much as she's unwilling, is about to do just that. Fix her Life.
I absolutely loved the narrative! Lucy has a cat and she's so funny! Lucy, not the cat. She named the cat Mr. Pan but sometimes she calls her Hillary, Julia or Mary. :D It was SO good. The book, not the cat. :P I felt so close to Lucy. Loved her Life. Hated her Father. The book is so well written...and I already feel like I've lost a best friend. This was the only Cecelia Ahern book I was left with, and now that its over, I can't wait for her to write more.
It's definitely a GoodRead! So go ahead and grab the book because I'm sure you're going to love the experience with Life! Happy Reading! :)
Lucy Silchester is fine, absolutely fine. So why is it that, of all the miserable, poor, distraught people in the world, it is she who receives a letter asking her to fix an appointment with Life? The letter -after being peed on by her illegally owned cat- lies ignored, like the rest of the things in her Life. She has a job she doesn't love. She has a family she actually likes to visit- if held at gun point. She manages to divide her time between helping her friends, working on her car (whom she calls Sebastian) and feeding her cat. She's so busy that she leaves every gathering, every meeting before it ends. Every work before it's finished. But there's one thing she can not leave unfinished or unattended. And that is her Life. She needs to spend time with it. Make it happy. Because even if you give up on your Life, your Life doesn't. It stays there, the torn being, begging you to fix it. And Lucy, as much as she's unwilling, is about to do just that. Fix her Life.
I absolutely loved the narrative! Lucy has a cat and she's so funny! Lucy, not the cat. She named the cat Mr. Pan but sometimes she calls her Hillary, Julia or Mary. :D It was SO good. The book, not the cat. :P I felt so close to Lucy. Loved her Life. Hated her Father. The book is so well written...and I already feel like I've lost a best friend. This was the only Cecelia Ahern book I was left with, and now that its over, I can't wait for her to write more.
It's definitely a GoodRead! So go ahead and grab the book because I'm sure you're going to love the experience with Life! Happy Reading! :)
December 13, 2012
Did I really rate it 1 star?
Well, I’ve never been a huge fan of Cecelia’s but this book certainly left me skeptical about pursuing any other of her novels.
‘P.S. I Love You‘, her first novel that I’d read was comparatively better than this one. The Time Of My Life was so utterly annoying that with each page it just kept getting to me and it almost made me cry as I couldn’t manage finishing it sooner.
Going back to the moment I first saw it in the bookstore, I’m now wondering as to what made her start writing this book at the first place. It is mere SHIT.
All through the book, the female protagonist (wait a minute, what was her name? Lucy or something. Oh! forget it! who cares!) tries to get in peace with her life personally, professionally, socially and on every other ground while she’s messing it all up at the same time with her never-ending lies that she lives with. Nick-naming, cursing everyone around when actually she is the real culprit dirtying the picture around others’ lives. To add to the misery, she keeps receiving appointment letters to have a meeting with her life. Now, it is actually her LIFE we are talking about. Doesn’t it sound like utter madness! So yes, she makes an appointment with her life who happens to be a man by the name Cosmo Brown. Really, Cosmo, eh?? And through half the book he is trying to gear up her life. Bring it back on track types. Gosh!
I repeatedly kept putting the book down after certain instances where I just couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to cry, no yell, at her inane stupidity.
Ms. Ahern tries to put the hearts of her distressed readers to peace after around 350 pages and starts to put pieces back together in the protagonists life for a so-called-happy-sappy-ending. But, excuse me! It just didn’t work for me after having literally pulled, tugged, dragged myself through the 350 pages shit and then accept make-overs in the last 50 pages.
In short, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone as I’ve already wasted ‘The Time of my life’ and wouldn’t want others to follow suit. Read it only if you have nothing, absolutely nothing better to do with your life.
-Asha
Well, I’ve never been a huge fan of Cecelia’s but this book certainly left me skeptical about pursuing any other of her novels.
‘P.S. I Love You‘, her first novel that I’d read was comparatively better than this one. The Time Of My Life was so utterly annoying that with each page it just kept getting to me and it almost made me cry as I couldn’t manage finishing it sooner.
Going back to the moment I first saw it in the bookstore, I’m now wondering as to what made her start writing this book at the first place. It is mere SHIT.
All through the book, the female protagonist (wait a minute, what was her name? Lucy or something. Oh! forget it! who cares!) tries to get in peace with her life personally, professionally, socially and on every other ground while she’s messing it all up at the same time with her never-ending lies that she lives with. Nick-naming, cursing everyone around when actually she is the real culprit dirtying the picture around others’ lives. To add to the misery, she keeps receiving appointment letters to have a meeting with her life. Now, it is actually her LIFE we are talking about. Doesn’t it sound like utter madness! So yes, she makes an appointment with her life who happens to be a man by the name Cosmo Brown. Really, Cosmo, eh?? And through half the book he is trying to gear up her life. Bring it back on track types. Gosh!
I repeatedly kept putting the book down after certain instances where I just couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to cry, no yell, at her inane stupidity.
Ms. Ahern tries to put the hearts of her distressed readers to peace after around 350 pages and starts to put pieces back together in the protagonists life for a so-called-happy-sappy-ending. But, excuse me! It just didn’t work for me after having literally pulled, tugged, dragged myself through the 350 pages shit and then accept make-overs in the last 50 pages.
In short, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone as I’ve already wasted ‘The Time of my life’ and wouldn’t want others to follow suit. Read it only if you have nothing, absolutely nothing better to do with your life.
-Asha
May 22, 2013
I may have found my new favorite female author. She’s in her early thirties and is already an internationally known writer with several best sellers. If "The Time of My Life," is an example of her work, Cecelia Ahern will be around for a long time.
The story begins with, “Dear Lucy Silchester, You have an appointment for Monday, May 30.” Lucy doesn’t need to read any more; she’s already ignored several invitations just like it, all signed, “Yours sincerely, Life.”
The funny thing is, Lucy isn’t surprised by this invitation to meet with her life, she simply doesn’t want to do it. She has created a nice little nest for herself in a tiny apartment with a found cat, a neighbor in her own little world of denial and a job she isn’t required to do much more than show up for. Not that she isn’t well-qualified to do the work of translating product manuals, after all she is fluent in multiple languages. The one she is only slightly familiar with, she has creatively found a way around. As far as her bosses and coworkers are concerned she is qualified as an interpreter in five languages when she is in fact qualified in only four. Her existence for the past two and one-half years is carefully built on a shaky framework of little lies that begin to crumble. It all starts to unravel when Life, with a capital “L”, forces her to confront the truth of Lucy Silchester, and where she really is in the arc of her life.
"The Time of My Life" is funny without being ridiculous, romantic without being schmaltzy, realistic enough any reader can relate to it, and downright quirky, especially when the personification of Lucy’s life is a man, a scruffy and irritating excuse for humanity.
Lucy has enough in her life to make readers feel pretty good about their own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story full of great characters and a few laughs. Ahern writes about choices and how those choices can define who we are, or who we make ourselves out to be.
Ahern is the daughter of Ireland’s former prime minister, and lives in Dublin.
The story begins with, “Dear Lucy Silchester, You have an appointment for Monday, May 30.” Lucy doesn’t need to read any more; she’s already ignored several invitations just like it, all signed, “Yours sincerely, Life.”
The funny thing is, Lucy isn’t surprised by this invitation to meet with her life, she simply doesn’t want to do it. She has created a nice little nest for herself in a tiny apartment with a found cat, a neighbor in her own little world of denial and a job she isn’t required to do much more than show up for. Not that she isn’t well-qualified to do the work of translating product manuals, after all she is fluent in multiple languages. The one she is only slightly familiar with, she has creatively found a way around. As far as her bosses and coworkers are concerned she is qualified as an interpreter in five languages when she is in fact qualified in only four. Her existence for the past two and one-half years is carefully built on a shaky framework of little lies that begin to crumble. It all starts to unravel when Life, with a capital “L”, forces her to confront the truth of Lucy Silchester, and where she really is in the arc of her life.
"The Time of My Life" is funny without being ridiculous, romantic without being schmaltzy, realistic enough any reader can relate to it, and downright quirky, especially when the personification of Lucy’s life is a man, a scruffy and irritating excuse for humanity.
Lucy has enough in her life to make readers feel pretty good about their own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story full of great characters and a few laughs. Ahern writes about choices and how those choices can define who we are, or who we make ourselves out to be.
Ahern is the daughter of Ireland’s former prime minister, and lives in Dublin.
July 14, 2022
This book is so sweet, really cute story line which leaves your heart warm.
I don't know how Ahern comes up with these unique concepts but having an appointment with your life is something we could all do with.
Five stars.
I don't know how Ahern comes up with these unique concepts but having an appointment with your life is something we could all do with.
Five stars.
January 2, 2012
I struggled through this book from the beginning. It's not your usual fun chick-lit, which I'm disappointed about. I want a chick-lit that makes me laugh, giggle, swoon, and giggle some more. With such a chick-lit-y cover in swirly gold writing, what's to say it doesn't contain excitement and fun?
But alas! I should have remembered the adage "Do not judge a book by its cover." I really shouldn't have. Despite its colourful front cover full of promises, this book makes me wonder when it will end because it's just so boring.
It's about a girl, Lucy, who is very messed up and in a deep rut in her life due to several little-turned-big lies she told starting 2 years 11 months and so-many days ago. Now, I can see how that can happen, and the whole book reads like self-help for Lucy, courtesy of her Life (yes, capital L), in the form of Cosmo (who I imagine looks like a door-to-door salesman).
Unfortunately this is a long, dreary path to plough through and nothing exciting really happens. It is an original plot, if nothing else, and Life being a solid person who can kick you in the ass (metaphorically) is an interesting spin on things. If this is your thing, you might like it. But... it's not my cup of tea. And I don't like Lucy, I really wanted to give her a huge slap through most of the book. I bet her Life wanted to give her a huge slap too.
The ending saved it a little, I did warm up a little bit to a Lucy who has finally, FINALLY decided to grow up, but too little too late. Dragging myself though boring 98% of the book just for the last semi-decent 2% doesn't do it for me.
But alas! I should have remembered the adage "Do not judge a book by its cover." I really shouldn't have. Despite its colourful front cover full of promises, this book makes me wonder when it will end because it's just so boring.
It's about a girl, Lucy, who is very messed up and in a deep rut in her life due to several little-turned-big lies she told starting 2 years 11 months and so-many days ago. Now, I can see how that can happen, and the whole book reads like self-help for Lucy, courtesy of her Life (yes, capital L), in the form of Cosmo (who I imagine looks like a door-to-door salesman).
Unfortunately this is a long, dreary path to plough through and nothing exciting really happens. It is an original plot, if nothing else, and Life being a solid person who can kick you in the ass (metaphorically) is an interesting spin on things. If this is your thing, you might like it. But... it's not my cup of tea. And I don't like Lucy, I really wanted to give her a huge slap through most of the book. I bet her Life wanted to give her a huge slap too.
The ending saved it a little, I did warm up a little bit to a Lucy who has finally, FINALLY decided to grow up, but too little too late. Dragging myself though boring 98% of the book just for the last semi-decent 2% doesn't do it for me.
October 25, 2011
Wow, it saddens me to rate a book written by Cecelia Ahern so low, but it just wasn't that great :(
I used to be such a huge fan of hers, recommending her writing to many friends. I absolutely loved "PS, I Love You", and thought that "Love, Rosie" (aka, "Rosie Dunne" / "Where Rainbows End") was also really good. But her books have steadily gone downhill from there, and I think the common denominator is that only her first two books were sincere, realistic, and heartfelt. The rest of the books all seem to have some sort of 'magical' element to them -- first we had imaginary friends ("If You Could See Me Now"), then imaginary worlds ("A Place Called Here" / "There's No Place Like Here"), then we had imagined memories through a blood-transfusion ("Thanks for the Memories"), then a magical book that writes the future ("The Book of Tomorrow"), a Scrooged/Christmas-Carol-like encounter ("The Gift") and now finally, someone's life, personified, in this book. It's all just a bit weird. For me, it takes away some of the credibility when ther's too much 'magical', when the story focuses more on the fantastical element than the real interactions with real people in real situations. The sincerity of the story diminishes a bit.
I didn't like Lucy one bit, nor did I like her family or her friends. I know that was the point, to not like Lucy and want her to improve, but the story just wasn't that compelling. The whole idea of your life being someone you could sit there and talk to and get help from was interesting, but not carried out well. Didn't anyone else in the story think it was strange that her life was sitting there at the table having a conversation with everyone? And if it was so common that it didn't make anyone go "Hmmm???", why hadn't more people experienced this before with their own life? It just didn't work well for me.
Sadly, I won't be recommending this to anyone, and I'm actually pretty upset that I paid full price for this as a new release in Europe, and lugged it all the way back home to the US (it's huge).
I used to be such a huge fan of hers, recommending her writing to many friends. I absolutely loved "PS, I Love You", and thought that "Love, Rosie" (aka, "Rosie Dunne" / "Where Rainbows End") was also really good. But her books have steadily gone downhill from there, and I think the common denominator is that only her first two books were sincere, realistic, and heartfelt. The rest of the books all seem to have some sort of 'magical' element to them -- first we had imaginary friends ("If You Could See Me Now"), then imaginary worlds ("A Place Called Here" / "There's No Place Like Here"), then we had imagined memories through a blood-transfusion ("Thanks for the Memories"), then a magical book that writes the future ("The Book of Tomorrow"), a Scrooged/Christmas-Carol-like encounter ("The Gift") and now finally, someone's life, personified, in this book. It's all just a bit weird. For me, it takes away some of the credibility when ther's too much 'magical', when the story focuses more on the fantastical element than the real interactions with real people in real situations. The sincerity of the story diminishes a bit.
I didn't like Lucy one bit, nor did I like her family or her friends. I know that was the point, to not like Lucy and want her to improve, but the story just wasn't that compelling. The whole idea of your life being someone you could sit there and talk to and get help from was interesting, but not carried out well. Didn't anyone else in the story think it was strange that her life was sitting there at the table having a conversation with everyone? And if it was so common that it didn't make anyone go "Hmmm???", why hadn't more people experienced this before with their own life? It just didn't work well for me.
Sadly, I won't be recommending this to anyone, and I'm actually pretty upset that I paid full price for this as a new release in Europe, and lugged it all the way back home to the US (it's huge).
December 8, 2014
Nobody has to be lonely. Everybody deserves to be happy. My thought while reading this book.
Lucy Silchester thought that her life is fine. She felt content. Until her life started to contact her.
Lucy has become an antisocial, secretive from her friends and family after being dumped by her boyfriend almost three years ago. Her life is a mess and the lies that she told them to cover the truth has become a big pile of lies that she cannot tell the truth without revealing the whole thing. Ironically, after all that, she finally able to tell her true feelings to a wrong number, a man whom she didn't know personally, a stranger.
Since everything she does reflected to her other half, her life is miserable as Lucy didn't care much about her own life. So he set up a meeting with Lucy in order to rectify the mess. At first, Lucy denied everything but slowly she saw the errors of her way and started to see the right path with her life by her side.
The thing about Cecelia Ahern writing is, for me, is that you can relate to the main character's feeling. It's like reading part of your life through the fiction. The feelings, the loneliness, even the denials . You can feel that somehow 'she' was you. And their journey will become your journey too.
P/S - I love this book but somehow towards the end I felt like it was similar to If You Could See Me Now.
Lucy Silchester thought that her life is fine. She felt content. Until her life started to contact her.
Lucy has become an antisocial, secretive from her friends and family after being dumped by her boyfriend almost three years ago. Her life is a mess and the lies that she told them to cover the truth has become a big pile of lies that she cannot tell the truth without revealing the whole thing. Ironically, after all that, she finally able to tell her true feelings to a wrong number, a man whom she didn't know personally, a stranger.
Since everything she does reflected to her other half, her life is miserable as Lucy didn't care much about her own life. So he set up a meeting with Lucy in order to rectify the mess. At first, Lucy denied everything but slowly she saw the errors of her way and started to see the right path with her life by her side.
The thing about Cecelia Ahern writing is, for me, is that you can relate to the main character's feeling. It's like reading part of your life through the fiction. The feelings, the loneliness, even the denials . You can feel that somehow 'she' was you. And their journey will become your journey too.
P/S - I love this book but somehow towards the end I felt like it was similar to If You Could See Me Now.
June 29, 2020
And the award for the most annoying and frustrating character I've read about this year so far goes to ... Lucy Silchester, the main character in this novel. I just absolutely couldn't stand her. The Time of My Life is basically just a book about Lucy lying to everyone in her life and completely ruining her life by continuously lying about everything even when people find out she's lied and confront her with it. Furthermore, the fact that her life - in human form - begins following her everywhere at some point and exposes her whenever she tells another lie was extremely weird and didn't make this book any better. It made me cringe so much and often made me just want to throw the novel at a wall. Due to this, I decided to switch to the audiobook after the first quarter of The Time of My Life which definitely made it a lot easier to finish the book.
So overall, I unfortunately just didn't enjoy The Time of My Life. The last couple of chapters were actually a lot better than the rest of the novel but that couldn't really save it anymore in my opinion. This is now the second book I've read by Cecelia Ahern - the first one was a one-star read for me - and I think it's also been the last one. I just don't think her stories are for me and I would rather spend my time reading other authors' works.
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So overall, I unfortunately just didn't enjoy The Time of My Life. The last couple of chapters were actually a lot better than the rest of the novel but that couldn't really save it anymore in my opinion. This is now the second book I've read by Cecelia Ahern - the first one was a one-star read for me - and I think it's also been the last one. I just don't think her stories are for me and I would rather spend my time reading other authors' works.
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February 5, 2013
I don't really think Ahern's books are my style, they're too... glittery. some parts are quite depressing, not the 'agreeable' kind of depressing you get (ok, not 'agreeable' technically so, but there are books like 'Sister of my heart' 'Thousand Splendid Suns' that are sad/ depressing yet good. Ahern-type depressing is a person who has most things people would be thankful for, yet who also creates drama out of situations they are in and whines about everything from the weather to their granola-bars and how they cant climb out of bed because they're sad.
the morale or whatever is good and uplifting and there's a lesson in the end and all of that,about how you shouldnt ignore your life, but the story kinda drags on, and well, i just didnt like it much regardless of the raving reviews.
I regret buying 'If You Could See Me Now', which I'm yet to read though.
**update: "If You Could See Me Now" was wonderfulllll :)
the morale or whatever is good and uplifting and there's a lesson in the end and all of that,about how you shouldnt ignore your life, but the story kinda drags on, and well, i just didnt like it much regardless of the raving reviews.
I regret buying 'If You Could See Me Now', which I'm yet to read though.
**update: "If You Could See Me Now" was wonderfulllll :)
December 26, 2015
Yet another book I loved by Cecelia Ahern, who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I love her quirky ideas for stories and the interesting characters she brings to life. The way she personified LIFE in this novel was wonderful. Lucy was a funny character too, with all her "Okay, I lied" statements. Although this book was emotionally sad in places, overall this novel had me laughing more than any other book I've read.
April 7, 2018
Me encanto!! Así de simple y sencillo!
Creo que con los libros de esta autora no hay grises o los amas o los odias, porque son libros muy particulares, de esos que tratan temas super profundos de una manera tan particular y hasta mágica ,diría yo, que no hay otra o te encantan o los detestas, yo los amoooooo!!!
Adoro el estilo de esta autora para contar las historia y principalmente me enamoran sus personajes, son todos muy especiales. En este caso Lucy, su vida, Don, incluso los que no tienen tanto protagonismo son geniales en sus buenos momentos y tambien en los malos.
Como dije antes, es un libro que trata temas profundos pero de una manera ágil, entretenida y simple, si conoces el estilo de la autora te va a encantar sino igual yo le daria una oportunidad!
Creo que con los libros de esta autora no hay grises o los amas o los odias, porque son libros muy particulares, de esos que tratan temas super profundos de una manera tan particular y hasta mágica ,diría yo, que no hay otra o te encantan o los detestas, yo los amoooooo!!!
Adoro el estilo de esta autora para contar las historia y principalmente me enamoran sus personajes, son todos muy especiales. En este caso Lucy, su vida, Don, incluso los que no tienen tanto protagonismo son geniales en sus buenos momentos y tambien en los malos.
Como dije antes, es un libro que trata temas profundos pero de una manera ágil, entretenida y simple, si conoces el estilo de la autora te va a encantar sino igual yo le daria una oportunidad!
May 6, 2012
I have liked all of Cecelia Ahern's books that I have read and have a few more still on my shelves to read. I love how Life was a person and how what Lucy does in her life, affects Life's life. Often they seemed like an old, married couple. I think we are all guilty of neglecting our lives now and then and the prospect of a physical person being there to steer us back on course was very welcome. This book is really funny, but also has a message for us. A warm, easy read and one to lose yourself in. If you don't smile and laugh during this book, there is something wrong with you.
December 29, 2015
Como amo a esta mujer. Como amé la historia. Tengo tantas emociones en mi... sólo diré que es maravilloso partir el año con una historia así de inspiradora <3
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON! <3 <3 <3
Reseña cuerda... o casi: http://madeofpapers.blogspot.com/2015...
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON! <3 <3 <3
Reseña cuerda... o casi: http://madeofpapers.blogspot.com/2015...
October 9, 2011
The Time of my Life Review on K-Books
First of all I want to say a huge thank you to Harper Collins UK for sending me a review copy of this book. I was so over-excited when I received this for review, Cecelia Ahern is my all time favourite author and her first debut book PS, I Love You was the first novel I ever read and loved and it was the book that made me fall in love with reading. Since then I have read every book she has ever written and loved all of them. This one is one of my top-favourites of them all, right along with PS, I Love You. I absolutely adore this book and I will read it again and again.
Lucy has become out of touch with her life, she hates her job, she hates meeting up with her family and friends and she would much rather stay home in her box-room apartment alone with her cat. Ever since the love of her life left her to go travelling and make his own show it's like Lucy's life is on hold. Then she actually meets her life. He is there to help her make the right decisions, stop lying to her friends and family and find happiness in the truth, after all the truth will set you free.
I absolutely loved this book. I found it a little strange at first with the whole meeting someone who is your life. How can your life be a person? But then each of Cecelia's novels have a touch of magic in them but just a little so it is still a realistic book.
If anything this book is inspiration to anyone who has made a wrong decision and doesn't know how to put it right, for anyone who has been left by someone they love and don't know how to go on and for people who are at a standstill in their life and don't know how to get out of their rut. Cecelia shows that you CAN still go on, nothing is impossible and you just have to tell the truth to those around you who love you and they can help.
There really isn't a bad word I can say about this book. It's definitely an inspirational story and shows no matter what is wrong in your life and no matter what struggles you face you can get through it. I loved the character, Cecelia has a great gift of writing the most amazing characters and Lucy is one of those. She's the character you can empathise with, you can see what she is going through you can feel everything she feels whether it is love, fear, sadness or happiness.
I am so glad I got this for review and it has made me realise again how much I love Cecelia's books, her writing is exceptional and just draws you in no matter how strange the story may seem. She makes you fall in love with her characters and the storyline. All of her book are ones I will read again and again. Another amazing book by an exceptional author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
First of all I want to say a huge thank you to Harper Collins UK for sending me a review copy of this book. I was so over-excited when I received this for review, Cecelia Ahern is my all time favourite author and her first debut book PS, I Love You was the first novel I ever read and loved and it was the book that made me fall in love with reading. Since then I have read every book she has ever written and loved all of them. This one is one of my top-favourites of them all, right along with PS, I Love You. I absolutely adore this book and I will read it again and again.
Lucy has become out of touch with her life, she hates her job, she hates meeting up with her family and friends and she would much rather stay home in her box-room apartment alone with her cat. Ever since the love of her life left her to go travelling and make his own show it's like Lucy's life is on hold. Then she actually meets her life. He is there to help her make the right decisions, stop lying to her friends and family and find happiness in the truth, after all the truth will set you free.
I absolutely loved this book. I found it a little strange at first with the whole meeting someone who is your life. How can your life be a person? But then each of Cecelia's novels have a touch of magic in them but just a little so it is still a realistic book.
If anything this book is inspiration to anyone who has made a wrong decision and doesn't know how to put it right, for anyone who has been left by someone they love and don't know how to go on and for people who are at a standstill in their life and don't know how to get out of their rut. Cecelia shows that you CAN still go on, nothing is impossible and you just have to tell the truth to those around you who love you and they can help.
There really isn't a bad word I can say about this book. It's definitely an inspirational story and shows no matter what is wrong in your life and no matter what struggles you face you can get through it. I loved the character, Cecelia has a great gift of writing the most amazing characters and Lucy is one of those. She's the character you can empathise with, you can see what she is going through you can feel everything she feels whether it is love, fear, sadness or happiness.
I am so glad I got this for review and it has made me realise again how much I love Cecelia's books, her writing is exceptional and just draws you in no matter how strange the story may seem. She makes you fall in love with her characters and the storyline. All of her book are ones I will read again and again. Another amazing book by an exceptional author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
November 23, 2012
'You used to be much more..."muchier". You've lost your muchness.' - the Mad Hatter to Alice.
And that is exactly who Life - or shall I say Cosmo Brown - reminded me of when dealing with Lucy.
I always know I'm reading a good book when I start reading extra fast, trying so hard not to skip words, or lines, or even pages because I'm dying to know what happens next. But then when I'm done, I'm left feeling bereft and sad, because I wanted it to go on for much longer.
I can very gladly say that Cecelia Ahern is back. Her creativity, her ideas and her imagination are the things that attracted me most about her books. It has never taken me longer than a day to finish an Ahern book, and once I discovered her, I made sure I read every single book she ever wrote. But then came "The Book of Tomorrow", and not to say it wasn't good, but it just wasn't up to par. I finished it feeling slightly disappointed, and not as overwhelmed or thoughtful as her books usually left me. And then I read "Girl in the Mirror", and that was more than just a disappointment, it was...well, really badly executed. For a minute, I allowed myself to think that Ahern has finally run out of ideas, and has lost her sparkle.
This book proved me wrong - Lucy is a completely ordinary girl, who goes about living her life like any normal person would. She's had her problems, be it romantic, professional or family-related. She tries dealing with them the only way she could - denial. Denial usually leads to lying, the phrase that is as old as time becomes common - "I'm fine", that typical answer to the question "What's wrong?" - "Nothing" is always at the tip of her tongue.
Lucy was fine, and there was nothing wrong with her - so her Life decides to take things into his own hands. He stalks her, harasses her, throws curve-balls at her, blackmails her and threatens her until she finally accedes to his 'strategy' as it were.
Lucy and her journey with Life is a very memorable, nostalgic one - as it makes every reader want to reflect on their own lives. However, it is also quite the hilarious journey, as I had to muffle my laughter countless times while I stayed up all night reading it.
I honestly cannot wait for the next Cecelia Ahern novel to find out what her next wild idea put in ordinary, everyday context will be! She always makes me think - why the hell have I not thought of that before? Even though, we ALL probably have.
Welcome back Cecelia, I definitely had the time of my life reading this novel.
And that is exactly who Life - or shall I say Cosmo Brown - reminded me of when dealing with Lucy.
I always know I'm reading a good book when I start reading extra fast, trying so hard not to skip words, or lines, or even pages because I'm dying to know what happens next. But then when I'm done, I'm left feeling bereft and sad, because I wanted it to go on for much longer.
I can very gladly say that Cecelia Ahern is back. Her creativity, her ideas and her imagination are the things that attracted me most about her books. It has never taken me longer than a day to finish an Ahern book, and once I discovered her, I made sure I read every single book she ever wrote. But then came "The Book of Tomorrow", and not to say it wasn't good, but it just wasn't up to par. I finished it feeling slightly disappointed, and not as overwhelmed or thoughtful as her books usually left me. And then I read "Girl in the Mirror", and that was more than just a disappointment, it was...well, really badly executed. For a minute, I allowed myself to think that Ahern has finally run out of ideas, and has lost her sparkle.
This book proved me wrong - Lucy is a completely ordinary girl, who goes about living her life like any normal person would. She's had her problems, be it romantic, professional or family-related. She tries dealing with them the only way she could - denial. Denial usually leads to lying, the phrase that is as old as time becomes common - "I'm fine", that typical answer to the question "What's wrong?" - "Nothing" is always at the tip of her tongue.
Lucy was fine, and there was nothing wrong with her - so her Life decides to take things into his own hands. He stalks her, harasses her, throws curve-balls at her, blackmails her and threatens her until she finally accedes to his 'strategy' as it were.
Lucy and her journey with Life is a very memorable, nostalgic one - as it makes every reader want to reflect on their own lives. However, it is also quite the hilarious journey, as I had to muffle my laughter countless times while I stayed up all night reading it.
I honestly cannot wait for the next Cecelia Ahern novel to find out what her next wild idea put in ordinary, everyday context will be! She always makes me think - why the hell have I not thought of that before? Even though, we ALL probably have.
Welcome back Cecelia, I definitely had the time of my life reading this novel.
April 5, 2012
Cecelia Ahern is one of my favorite authors. Anyways ever since I read P.S. I love you I’ve devoured every single book she has written and all of them are beautiful. Here latest book, Time of My Life, I have just finished and I am sorry I finished it. I miss reading it. It is that good
Cecilia always sprinkles a little bit of Irish magic into her stories, that’s what makes them extra special. In Time of My Life, Lucy’s life is a mess, she has lost her boyfriend, her job, lives in a pigsty, lying to her friends and family, and hiding a cat from her landlord. One day an invitation arrives at her door to meet with her “Life”. Weird no? But then again she avoids the meeting. She is too busy tangled with the mess that is her life to meet with her life in the flesh.
The story is AMAZING! So sweet, so subtle, and putting aside the magic you can see the analogy they are making! Everyone can relate to it. I was so caught up in Lucy and her life “the guy and the life life” that I never wanted the story to end. I read it in two days because it was cannot-put-down good! Don’t miss it! Kudos to Cecelia for another great book. Definitely going on my bookshelf.
Cecilia always sprinkles a little bit of Irish magic into her stories, that’s what makes them extra special. In Time of My Life, Lucy’s life is a mess, she has lost her boyfriend, her job, lives in a pigsty, lying to her friends and family, and hiding a cat from her landlord. One day an invitation arrives at her door to meet with her “Life”. Weird no? But then again she avoids the meeting. She is too busy tangled with the mess that is her life to meet with her life in the flesh.
The story is AMAZING! So sweet, so subtle, and putting aside the magic you can see the analogy they are making! Everyone can relate to it. I was so caught up in Lucy and her life “the guy and the life life” that I never wanted the story to end. I read it in two days because it was cannot-put-down good! Don’t miss it! Kudos to Cecelia for another great book. Definitely going on my bookshelf.
April 13, 2018
DNFing at about 62%. This book just isn't holding my interest AT ALL. I'm having a tough time with it because:
1) Lucy is an incredibly unlikable character. She has virtually no redeeming qualities, in my opinion. She's a pathological liar (even as she narrates, which is really irritating -- she'll go on about some aspect of her life, and then say "Okay, I lied," and that aspect of the story changes entirely. What is the point? Waste of word count.)
1a) On the same note, I just can't relate to her. I don't sympathize with her for her problems or unhappiness in life, and she's just IRRITATING ME TO NO END with her incessant lies.
2) Who TF is "Life", and why is this such a creepy plot? Why is there a "Life" hotline that someone can call to set up a meeting with "Life" and figure out why theirs is such a mess? Why is Lucy's family unsurprised that "Life" has set up an appointment with her? How does he know so much about her? Why isn't this creepy AF to her?
**I fully realize that many of these answers might (probably will) be answered by the end of the story. But I don't care enough to wait it out. The fact that this plot is so bizarre is enough to make me say "nothing you write now will make this better for me".**
I'm just completely disinterested. I haven't read Cecilia Ahern in years, and I liked the two books of hers that I'd previously read. But this one is just odd, and I'm 100% disconnected. I'm finding that it's a chore to turn on my audiobook, so I'm done. Bummer... I hate when that happens. But time to move on.
1) Lucy is an incredibly unlikable character. She has virtually no redeeming qualities, in my opinion. She's a pathological liar (even as she narrates, which is really irritating -- she'll go on about some aspect of her life, and then say "Okay, I lied," and that aspect of the story changes entirely. What is the point? Waste of word count.)
1a) On the same note, I just can't relate to her. I don't sympathize with her for her problems or unhappiness in life, and she's just IRRITATING ME TO NO END with her incessant lies.
2) Who TF is "Life", and why is this such a creepy plot? Why is there a "Life" hotline that someone can call to set up a meeting with "Life" and figure out why theirs is such a mess? Why is Lucy's family unsurprised that "Life" has set up an appointment with her? How does he know so much about her? Why isn't this creepy AF to her?
**I fully realize that many of these answers might (probably will) be answered by the end of the story. But I don't care enough to wait it out. The fact that this plot is so bizarre is enough to make me say "nothing you write now will make this better for me".**
I'm just completely disinterested. I haven't read Cecilia Ahern in years, and I liked the two books of hers that I'd previously read. But this one is just odd, and I'm 100% disconnected. I'm finding that it's a chore to turn on my audiobook, so I'm done. Bummer... I hate when that happens. But time to move on.
February 12, 2018
What a truly delightful and heartfelt read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 17, 2013
*Summary* A pathological liar meets her life, literally face to face.
Think "I Heart Huckabees". I was apprehensive that I wasn't going to enjoy this, but it was actually interesting and mostly funny. I read the Uncorrected Proof edition, so I'm pretty sure some of the stuff that bothered me about the writing style (super long paragraphs, single quotes, several grammatical errors) won't be around in the final edition. I also felt like most of Chapters 1 - 4 could have either been edited out, or rearranged. The first family meeting was so boring to me that I nearly gave up reading.
But then Life shows up and things start getting fun. Lucy's lies (to herself at first and then to others) begin to be revealed for what they are, and the trickle down consequences keep smacking her in the face. Ahern has fun with being able to pull double-meanings out of sentences since in this story "Life" is both a thing and a person. So saying something like the the title of the book "The Time Of My Life" can mean what you would normally expect, or it can be read more like "The Time of Cosmo Brown". Or perhaps something like "Life has a funny way of changing" can mean that life is unpredictable, or it can mean that a man named Life looks funny when he changes his clothes. You get the idea.
Along with that concept, symbolism in "The Time Of My Life" abounds. It wasn't quite prominent enough that it annoyed me, but whenever Life was around, symbolism was always skirting around the edges of the paragraph. Someone likes You but not your life, or perhaps vice versa. You want one thing, but your life demands another. Again, I think Ahern makes it clever enough that you don't necessarily notice the hidden message until after it happens.
I kept drawing parallels to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle which is constantly in the running for my favorite book. Ahern anthropomorphized a concept into a character, which reminded me a lot of what Murakami likes to do. I generally enjoy this type of plot, and I enjoyed it here. It didn't feel borrowed, just similar. Ahern never feels the need to explain why having Life as a physical person doesn't seem completely crazy to anyone. Still, not going into the technicalities of this doesn't detract from the story. As a result, the reader also must accept this fact as normal and not dwell on it, but instead focus on Lucy's slow realization of what her Life truly is.
There were a few parts of the plot that I had some problems with (mainly the "big" lie), but they'd be too spoiler-ish to go into here. All in all though, a fun read.
Think "I Heart Huckabees". I was apprehensive that I wasn't going to enjoy this, but it was actually interesting and mostly funny. I read the Uncorrected Proof edition, so I'm pretty sure some of the stuff that bothered me about the writing style (super long paragraphs, single quotes, several grammatical errors) won't be around in the final edition. I also felt like most of Chapters 1 - 4 could have either been edited out, or rearranged. The first family meeting was so boring to me that I nearly gave up reading.
But then Life shows up and things start getting fun. Lucy's lies (to herself at first and then to others) begin to be revealed for what they are, and the trickle down consequences keep smacking her in the face. Ahern has fun with being able to pull double-meanings out of sentences since in this story "Life" is both a thing and a person. So saying something like the the title of the book "The Time Of My Life" can mean what you would normally expect, or it can be read more like "The Time of Cosmo Brown". Or perhaps something like "Life has a funny way of changing" can mean that life is unpredictable, or it can mean that a man named Life looks funny when he changes his clothes. You get the idea.
Along with that concept, symbolism in "The Time Of My Life" abounds. It wasn't quite prominent enough that it annoyed me, but whenever Life was around, symbolism was always skirting around the edges of the paragraph. Someone likes You but not your life, or perhaps vice versa. You want one thing, but your life demands another. Again, I think Ahern makes it clever enough that you don't necessarily notice the hidden message until after it happens.
I kept drawing parallels to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle which is constantly in the running for my favorite book. Ahern anthropomorphized a concept into a character, which reminded me a lot of what Murakami likes to do. I generally enjoy this type of plot, and I enjoyed it here. It didn't feel borrowed, just similar. Ahern never feels the need to explain why having Life as a physical person doesn't seem completely crazy to anyone. Still, not going into the technicalities of this doesn't detract from the story. As a result, the reader also must accept this fact as normal and not dwell on it, but instead focus on Lucy's slow realization of what her Life truly is.
There were a few parts of the plot that I had some problems with (mainly the "big" lie), but they'd be too spoiler-ish to go into here. All in all though, a fun read.
July 31, 2015
Fan sam Cecelije Ahern, njenih bajkovitih i pomalo fantastičnih priča, od kojih, pišući svojim jedinstvenim stilom, svaku uspije učiniti prepoznatljivom, ali opet drugačijom od svih ostalih njenih priča.
Ova se knjiga, pak, poprilično razlikuje i od svih ostalih njenih knjiga, ali čak je drugačija i stilom pisanja i izborom likova. Iskreno, da nisam znala da čitam knjigu Cecelije Ahern, da mi je netko dao ovu knjigu na čitanje bez da je spomenuo autora, pomislila bih da ju je napisala Sophie Kinsella ili neka druga spisateljica, koja je u svojim romanima sklonija ovakvim likovima.
A ti likovi su, počevši od glavne protagonistice, Lucy Silchester, izrazito skloni sarkazmu, često bez dlake na jeziku, ne skanjuju se sočno opsovati ili ishitreno se ponašati, udovoljavajuči vlastitim trenutačnim hirovima. Ne kažem da su sve te njihove osobine nužno loše, samo sam navikla takve likove češće viđati u tipičnim zabavnim chick-lit romanima, a manje u bajkovitim pričama kakve inače piše Ahern.
Ona nadnaravna, bajkovita nota koja je postala obilježje Aherničinih romana, pojavljuje se i ovdje, u liku Lucynog života koji je utjelovljen u tijelu običnog čovjeka, svojevrsnog 'administrativnog službenika' koji se brine za život osobe koji mu je dodijeljen. Taj Život i njegova osoba funkcioniraju nekako kao dvije polovice istog entiteta, odnosno ponašanje jednog utječe na život onog drugog i obratno. Takav koncept je zanimljivo zamišljen, ali u romanu je često prikazan kao banalan odnos dvoje mušičave djece koju je netko zadužio da naprave zajednički projekt za školu - puno svađe, mirenja, druženja, zafrkavanja, tvrdoglavih ispada i razmirica, iz čega svega na kraju ispadne kakvo-takvo prijateljstvo.
Sam roman je zabavan i duhovit, iako me se od svih Aherničinih romana najmanje dojmio. Ne znam, možda sam od nje očekivala priču koja je više u njezinom 'stilu', ili me Lucy možda ipak na trenutke mrvicu previše naživcirala svojom općom nesposobnošću da se trgne iz apatije u koju je bacila svoj život i promijeni nešto ili da barem prestane histerizirati oko bivšeg dečka kada je već odmah na početku čitatelju savršeno jasno da ju on više ne zanima i da to čini bez razloga.
Moj krajnji dojam o ovom romanu je da je on jedan tipični zabavni chick-lit, začinjen s mrvicom nadnaravnog, i s netipičnim krajem, jer kraj nije onaj tipični 'sve se sredi tako da glavni lik dobije sve što je htio', nego je više realan, više moguć i više uvjerljiv. Sve u svemu, solidna trojka.
Ova se knjiga, pak, poprilično razlikuje i od svih ostalih njenih knjiga, ali čak je drugačija i stilom pisanja i izborom likova. Iskreno, da nisam znala da čitam knjigu Cecelije Ahern, da mi je netko dao ovu knjigu na čitanje bez da je spomenuo autora, pomislila bih da ju je napisala Sophie Kinsella ili neka druga spisateljica, koja je u svojim romanima sklonija ovakvim likovima.
A ti likovi su, počevši od glavne protagonistice, Lucy Silchester, izrazito skloni sarkazmu, često bez dlake na jeziku, ne skanjuju se sočno opsovati ili ishitreno se ponašati, udovoljavajuči vlastitim trenutačnim hirovima. Ne kažem da su sve te njihove osobine nužno loše, samo sam navikla takve likove češće viđati u tipičnim zabavnim chick-lit romanima, a manje u bajkovitim pričama kakve inače piše Ahern.
Ona nadnaravna, bajkovita nota koja je postala obilježje Aherničinih romana, pojavljuje se i ovdje, u liku Lucynog života koji je utjelovljen u tijelu običnog čovjeka, svojevrsnog 'administrativnog službenika' koji se brine za život osobe koji mu je dodijeljen. Taj Život i njegova osoba funkcioniraju nekako kao dvije polovice istog entiteta, odnosno ponašanje jednog utječe na život onog drugog i obratno. Takav koncept je zanimljivo zamišljen, ali u romanu je često prikazan kao banalan odnos dvoje mušičave djece koju je netko zadužio da naprave zajednički projekt za školu - puno svađe, mirenja, druženja, zafrkavanja, tvrdoglavih ispada i razmirica, iz čega svega na kraju ispadne kakvo-takvo prijateljstvo.
Sam roman je zabavan i duhovit, iako me se od svih Aherničinih romana najmanje dojmio. Ne znam, možda sam od nje očekivala priču koja je više u njezinom 'stilu', ili me Lucy možda ipak na trenutke mrvicu previše naživcirala svojom općom nesposobnošću da se trgne iz apatije u koju je bacila svoj život i promijeni nešto ili da barem prestane histerizirati oko bivšeg dečka kada je već odmah na početku čitatelju savršeno jasno da ju on više ne zanima i da to čini bez razloga.
Moj krajnji dojam o ovom romanu je da je on jedan tipični zabavni chick-lit, začinjen s mrvicom nadnaravnog, i s netipičnim krajem, jer kraj nije onaj tipični 'sve se sredi tako da glavni lik dobije sve što je htio', nego je više realan, više moguć i više uvjerljiv. Sve u svemu, solidna trojka.
March 1, 2016
I read "P.S. I Love You" several years ago. Though I really didn't like all aspects of the novel I did think it showed flashes of brilliance by Ms. Ahern. Reading her newest novel, "The Time of My Life" I just ended up feeling nothing but disappointment at an opportunity lost with this novel.
Lucy Silchester, the main protagonist is living in a small apartment with her cat, working a job she hates. Lucy keeps getting appointments for her to meet with her 'Life' and is doing her level best to avoid the appointment so she doesn't have to see what a mess she has turned her 'Life' into since she and her ex-boyfriend parted ways and she lost a high-paying job.
I loved the overall idea of this novel. A person has a physical form of their 'Life.' Your family and others around you can agree to send your Life to meet you in order for you to get it on the right track again. However, the novel really doesn't work when you factor in how unpleasant Lucy as a character was throughout this story.
Lucy has no redeeming qualities at all. She lies, which maybe would not have been an issue except as a reader you have to read paragraphs of her lies and then she says to you, "that was a total lie." All I felt was frustration since you never knew if what you were reading was actually what happened or not.
Besides the fact that Lucy lies, we quickly find out that she is a horrible friend, sister, daughter, and co-worker. I was still perplexed by the fact that Lucy has any friends at all considering how she behaved towards everyone.
When we get Lucy interacting with her 'Life' things at least become interesting since her 'Life' won't let her get away with half-truths or out right lies. Frankly I was more interested in the whole 'Life' concept more than anything that was going on with Lucy and would have happily read more about that.
After we get through all of this we then have Lucy trying to face the truth of her 'Life' and try to fix it, however, when we get to the ending I felt as if a lot of things with Lucy were left unresolved.
I do not recommend this novel.
Please note that I received this novel via the Amazon Vine Program.
Lucy Silchester, the main protagonist is living in a small apartment with her cat, working a job she hates. Lucy keeps getting appointments for her to meet with her 'Life' and is doing her level best to avoid the appointment so she doesn't have to see what a mess she has turned her 'Life' into since she and her ex-boyfriend parted ways and she lost a high-paying job.
I loved the overall idea of this novel. A person has a physical form of their 'Life.' Your family and others around you can agree to send your Life to meet you in order for you to get it on the right track again. However, the novel really doesn't work when you factor in how unpleasant Lucy as a character was throughout this story.
Lucy has no redeeming qualities at all. She lies, which maybe would not have been an issue except as a reader you have to read paragraphs of her lies and then she says to you, "that was a total lie." All I felt was frustration since you never knew if what you were reading was actually what happened or not.
Besides the fact that Lucy lies, we quickly find out that she is a horrible friend, sister, daughter, and co-worker. I was still perplexed by the fact that Lucy has any friends at all considering how she behaved towards everyone.
When we get Lucy interacting with her 'Life' things at least become interesting since her 'Life' won't let her get away with half-truths or out right lies. Frankly I was more interested in the whole 'Life' concept more than anything that was going on with Lucy and would have happily read more about that.
After we get through all of this we then have Lucy trying to face the truth of her 'Life' and try to fix it, however, when we get to the ending I felt as if a lot of things with Lucy were left unresolved.
I do not recommend this novel.
Please note that I received this novel via the Amazon Vine Program.
November 3, 2016
I sort of had mix feelings with this novel.
It took a while to catch my attention, but it improved once Life himself showed up to Lucy. It reminded me a bit of Laurent Gounelle’s “ Dieu voyage toujours incognito “, but with a different approach. I got confused from time to time, or maybe I wasn’t really hooked up with what the author was trying to instill. Finally, I came to terms with the narrative, so I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of it. In short, if you take the story as it comes, you won’t have any qualms about the style nor the way Lucy is trying to fix her ruin of a life. It is even funny sometimes, but not so many times as I had expected. An easy read overall. Three stars.
It took a while to catch my attention, but it improved once Life himself showed up to Lucy. It reminded me a bit of Laurent Gounelle’s “ Dieu voyage toujours incognito “, but with a different approach. I got confused from time to time, or maybe I wasn’t really hooked up with what the author was trying to instill. Finally, I came to terms with the narrative, so I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of it. In short, if you take the story as it comes, you won’t have any qualms about the style nor the way Lucy is trying to fix her ruin of a life. It is even funny sometimes, but not so many times as I had expected. An easy read overall. Three stars.
June 21, 2014
В начале - неспешное повествование из жизни одинокой девушки среднего возраста :) проживающей с котом, и непрестанно размышляющей о всяких житейских мелочах и о никчёмности собственной жизни в целом. О да, разумеется, есть причины этому нытью: бросивший её бойфренд, нелюбимая работа, загоняющая её в рамки собственных ожиданий семья, постоянная мелкая ложь самой себе и окружающим. Разумеется, все при этом желают ей "добра", а она сохнет от беспросветной обыденности...
В качестве ремарки замечу, что интерес почтенного джентльмена (т.е. мой :)))) к подобной "бабской литературе" :)) вовсе не случаен. Я, на минуточку, практикующий психолог-консультант. И вот подобного рода старых / стареющих / состарившихся девушек (проживающих с котом :)) я периодически наблюдаю в дверях моего кабинета... Интерес к подобного рода книгам "про нелёгкие женские судьбы" :)) у меня скорее профессиональный. В таких книгах есть некая идеология; женщины (как существа внушаемые) после прочтения данных книг этой идеологией проникаются; и частенько пытаются воплотить ЭТО на практике. А мне потом расхлёбывай :))
Сначала повествование меня вгоняло в тоску :(. Образно говоря, это было что-то в стиле шедевральных пабликов ВКонтакте: "Ой, девачки, как важно в этой жизне различать скуку, одиночество и недотрах!!!" :))
Но потом вдруг свершилось чудо! В книге появился новый персонаж - Жизнь главной героини! Вот представьте себе, что ваша жизнь вдруг воплощается в отдельную личность, в реального живого человека, который знает о вас всё (включая сны и тайные мысли :)), и с которым вы можете начать общаться напрямую.
Разумеется, Жизнь главной героини - мужчина :). И он обладает многими качествами, которых так не хватает самой героине. (Вот юнгианские психологи тут уже радостно потирают руки: "Ага, да она вступила в контакт со своими Анимусом! Начала интегрировать свои личностные ресурсы!"). Например, Жизнь начинает везде ходить вместе с главной героиней, и везде разоблачать её, если она пытается говорить неправду.
Вообще, сцены общения с Жизнью прописаны в книге блестяще! Местами очень смешные, местами очень мудрые. Очень интересно читать :)
Разумеется, книга про любовь и про обретение "себя настоящей". Это книга - самопсихотерапия; это, если можно так сказать, отличное руководство по личностному росту (хотя и написанное без претензий, просто как художественная книга). Очень понравилась!
...просто в один прекрасный день назначьте встречу со своей Жизнью :)
В качестве ремарки замечу, что интерес почтенного джентльмена (т.е. мой :)))) к подобной "бабской литературе" :)) вовсе не случаен. Я, на минуточку, практикующий психолог-консультант. И вот подобного рода старых / стареющих / состарившихся девушек (проживающих с котом :)) я периодически наблюдаю в дверях моего кабинета... Интерес к подобного рода книгам "про нелёгкие женские судьбы" :)) у меня скорее профессиональный. В таких книгах есть некая идеология; женщины (как существа внушаемые) после прочтения данных книг этой идеологией проникаются; и частенько пытаются воплотить ЭТО на практике. А мне потом расхлёбывай :))
Сначала повествование меня вгоняло в тоску :(. Образно говоря, это было что-то в стиле шедевральных пабликов ВКонтакте: "Ой, девачки, как важно в этой жизне различать скуку, одиночество и недотрах!!!" :))
Но потом вдруг свершилось чудо! В книге появился новый персонаж - Жизнь главной героини! Вот представьте себе, что ваша жизнь вдруг воплощается в отдельную личность, в реального живого человека, который знает о вас всё (включая сны и тайные мысли :)), и с которым вы можете начать общаться напрямую.
Разумеется, Жизнь главной героини - мужчина :). И он обладает многими качествами, которых так не хватает самой героине. (Вот юнгианские психологи тут уже радостно потирают руки: "Ага, да она вступила в контакт со своими Анимусом! Начала интегрировать свои личностные ресурсы!"). Например, Жизнь начинает везде ходить вместе с главной героиней, и везде разоблачать её, если она пытается говорить неправду.
Вообще, сцены общения с Жизнью прописаны в книге блестяще! Местами очень смешные, местами очень мудрые. Очень интересно читать :)
Разумеется, книга про любовь и про обретение "себя настоящей". Это книга - самопсихотерапия; это, если можно так сказать, отличное руководство по личностному росту (хотя и написанное без претензий, просто как художественная книга). Очень понравилась!
...просто в один прекрасный день назначьте встречу со своей Жизнью :)
July 29, 2012
I was initially sceptical when I picked up this book as I wasn't that crazy about PS I love you, however I really loved this book! I found it to be both heart-warming and uplifting.
Initially, I didn't like Lucy, however as I warmed to the theme of the story I really warmed to Lucy- she is a bit of a lost and lonely soul struggling to come to terms with the downward turn her life has taken over the last couple of years. But she is so in denial about being miserably stuck in a rut, she doesn't consciously realise it- that is, until her Life, who in Ahern's book is an actual human being, comes knocking to request a meeting with her.
I found it touching as Lucy and her Life come to terms with her past, as Lucy admits to the lies she has told to cover her failures, as she faces the ex boyfriend who dumped her and left her heartbroken and as she learns to face her life again and to truly love it.
All this is done with great humour and avoiding over the top sentimentality, which I thought was very well-done.
The only thing I would say is- why does Lucy agree to the lie about her boyfriend? I still can't really accept the explanation Ahern offers, even when I decided to just suspend my annoyance for the sake of enjoying the ending of the book, it still niggled at me a bit.
Other than that it is a fun read, with some really likeable characters and by the end I didn't want it to finish as I felt I was saying goodbye to some good friends!
Initially, I didn't like Lucy, however as I warmed to the theme of the story I really warmed to Lucy- she is a bit of a lost and lonely soul struggling to come to terms with the downward turn her life has taken over the last couple of years. But she is so in denial about being miserably stuck in a rut, she doesn't consciously realise it- that is, until her Life, who in Ahern's book is an actual human being, comes knocking to request a meeting with her.
I found it touching as Lucy and her Life come to terms with her past, as Lucy admits to the lies she has told to cover her failures, as she faces the ex boyfriend who dumped her and left her heartbroken and as she learns to face her life again and to truly love it.
All this is done with great humour and avoiding over the top sentimentality, which I thought was very well-done.
The only thing I would say is- why does Lucy agree to the lie about her boyfriend? I still can't really accept the explanation Ahern offers, even when I decided to just suspend my annoyance for the sake of enjoying the ending of the book, it still niggled at me a bit.
Other than that it is a fun read, with some really likeable characters and by the end I didn't want it to finish as I felt I was saying goodbye to some good friends!
April 4, 2017
The story follows Lucy, who got into turmoil with her own life. She was mildly successful and in a happy relationship with a lot of friends. But after her break up, she lost her job, moved flats and has some difficulties maintaining her relationships (friends- and family-wise). So, to get her on the right track, her life steps in: a man who is not really attractive, not really dapper and definitely not friendly.
I enjoyed this piece of work. I got into the story really quickly (compared to the last book I have read from her) and I like the characters. Funnily the story comes in handy with my own life, I would love for it to appear in front of me and give me guidance. You can get lost so easily with everything and for people who quickly give up on life and just exist- oh it would be great to have life appear in flesh before you.
The story really is for everyone who just wants his mind to get off of life, it's not too deep or too into details with the plot or the characters. But you'll like it nonetheless :)!
I enjoyed this piece of work. I got into the story really quickly (compared to the last book I have read from her) and I like the characters. Funnily the story comes in handy with my own life, I would love for it to appear in front of me and give me guidance. You can get lost so easily with everything and for people who quickly give up on life and just exist- oh it would be great to have life appear in flesh before you.
The story really is for everyone who just wants his mind to get off of life, it's not too deep or too into details with the plot or the characters. But you'll like it nonetheless :)!
November 21, 2018
Intriga cărții ”Întâlnire cu viața” pornește de la o idee deosebit de interesantă și originală. Cum ar fi oare dacă ți-ai putea vedea propria viață întruchipată într-o persoană reală? Ai putea observa atunci - la propriu!, în timp real, ce efecte au deciziile pe care le iei asupra vieții tale și, astfel, ai putea interveni la timp pentru a putea îmbunătăți imaginea acesteia.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/int...
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/int...
June 22, 2019
Es un libro hermoso, les dejo una frase que vi en beek
“Creo que cuando uno está tratando de encontrar todas las partes de si mismo, es difícil estar con alguien que ya se encuentra totalmente completo.”
-https://www.beek.io/frases/una-cita-c...
“Creo que cuando uno está tratando de encontrar todas las partes de si mismo, es difícil estar con alguien que ya se encuentra totalmente completo.”
-https://www.beek.io/frases/una-cita-c...
did-not-finish
April 7, 2019DNF, ik kan niet uitleggen waarom, maar het verhaal wil me maar niet pakken. Ik heb in dit geval echt te weinig ervan gelezen om uberhaupt een rating te geven, dus dat ga ik dan ook niet doen.
March 30, 2018
Ein Moment fürs Leben // The Time of My Life!!! german and english review
Das Buch ist einfach eins meiner absoluten Cecelia Ahern Bücher, ich könnte es wieder und wieder lesen und bin immer noch total begeistert, wie wunderschön es geschrieben ist, wie unglaublich toll die Geschichte ist und wie sehr ich jeden einzelnen der Charaktere liebe (außer Blake, geh nach Hause!)
Inhalt: Du hast eine Verabredung – mit deinem Leben Eigentlich wundert sich Lucy Silchester über gar nichts mehr: dass ihre große Liebe sie verlassen hat, dass sie aus ihrem Job geflogen ist oder dass sie eine Einladung zu einem Treffen bekommt – von ihrem eigenen Leben! Aber als sie tatsächlich zu dem Termin geht und es direkt vor ihr steht, ist Lucy dann doch überrascht: So hat sie sich ihr Leben wirklich nicht vorgestellt!
Ich liebe Lucy als Hauptcharakter. Sie ist eine absolute Katastrophe, aber ich liebe sie, sie ist großartig. Sie hat ein eigenartiges Verhältnis zur Wahrheit, aber sie ist unheimlich liebenswert und ihre Art von Humor ist total mein Ding. Ich liebe vor allem die Entwicklung, die sie durch macht. Wie sie anfängt sich um sich selbst zu kümmern, nach dem sie vor Augen geführt kriegt, wie mickrig ihr Leben eigentlich ist. Wie sie sich um die Beziehungen in ihrem Leben kümmert.
Da komme ich auch schon gleich zu dem nächsten Punkt, ich liebe die verschiedenen Beziehungen in dem Buch. Familiäre Beziehungen, ich liebe es wie sich die Beziehung zwischen Lucy und ihrer Mutter zum Ende des Buches total verändert. Mit ihrem Vater werde ich wohl nie warm und Lucy wahrscheinlich auch nicht. Ich mag außerdem die kleine Freundschaft zwischen Lucy und ihrer Nachbarin Claire (ihre Geschichte berührt mich jedes Mal wieder). Und dann natürlich Lucy und Don. Ich liebe Don. Don ist großartig, vom ersten Moment an, bis zum Schluss. Und er ist einfach so viel besser als Blake, deswegen bricht es mir immer in der Mitte des Buches das Herz, wenn Lucy denkt, sie müsste wieder mit Blake zusammen kommen. Ugh, nein danke. Und dann natürlich die wichtigste Beziehung in dem ganzen Buch, Lucy und ihr Leben. Wie sie ihn am Anfang einfach ignoriert, sie dann Freunde werden und er sich am Ende wieder verabschieden muss, weil sein Job fürs erste getan ist. (Was mich übrigens an eine erwachsene Version von Nanny McPhee erinnert). Je besser sich Lucy in ihrem Leben schlägt, je mehr Dinge sie ins positive verändert, um so besser geht es ihrem Leben.
Ich liebe das Buch einfach. Es diesmal als Hörbuch zu lesen, war ebenfalls ein schönes Erlebnis.
***
This book will always be one of my absolute favorite Cecelia Ahern books,I could read it over and over again and still be amazed how beautiful it is written, how amazing the story is and how much I love every one of the characters (except Blake, go home!)
Summary: Lucy Silchester has an appointment with her life – and she’s going to have to keep it.Lying on Lucy Silchester’s carpet one day when she returns from work is a gold envelope. Inside is an invitation – to a meeting with Life. Her life. It turns out she's been ignoring it and it needs to meet with her face to face.It sounds peculiar, but Lucy’s read about this in a magazine. Anyway, she can’t make the date: she’s much too busy despising her job, skipping out on her friends and avoiding her family.But Lucy’s life isn’t what it seems. Some of the choices she’s made – and stories she’s told – aren’t what they seem either. From the moment she meets the man who introduces himself as her life, her stubborn half-truths are going to be revealed in all their glory – unless Lucy learns to tell the truth about what really matters to her.
I love Lucy as a maincharacter. She is a total mess but I love her, she is amazing. She has a very loose relationship with the truth but she is just so damn lovable and her sense of humor is right up my alley. I especially love the journey she takes through this book. How she starts taking of herself, after she sees right in front of her eyes how pathetic her life looks. How she starts to work on the relationships in her life.
Which brings me right to the next point, I LOVE all the different relationships in this book. Family relationships, I just love how Lucy's relationship to her mother changes towards the end of the book. I will never be comfortable with her father, so will Lucy probably. I also love that little friendship between Lucy and her neighbour Claire (her story just touches me every time). And of course, we have Lucy and Don. I love Don. He is just the greatest from the beginning until the very end. That's why it hurts so much in the middle of the book, when Lucy thinks that she should actually get back together with Blake. Ugh, no thanks. And last but not least, the most important relationship in the book, Lucy and her life. How she avoided him in the beginning, how they became friends and how he had to say goodbye, cause his job was done for now. (Something that totally reminds me of a grown up version of Nanny McPhee). The better Lucy takes care of her life, the more things she changes for the better, the better he feels and looks.
I just love this book. Listening to the audio book this time around, was also a great experience.
Das Buch ist einfach eins meiner absoluten Cecelia Ahern Bücher, ich könnte es wieder und wieder lesen und bin immer noch total begeistert, wie wunderschön es geschrieben ist, wie unglaublich toll die Geschichte ist und wie sehr ich jeden einzelnen der Charaktere liebe (außer Blake, geh nach Hause!)
Inhalt: Du hast eine Verabredung – mit deinem Leben Eigentlich wundert sich Lucy Silchester über gar nichts mehr: dass ihre große Liebe sie verlassen hat, dass sie aus ihrem Job geflogen ist oder dass sie eine Einladung zu einem Treffen bekommt – von ihrem eigenen Leben! Aber als sie tatsächlich zu dem Termin geht und es direkt vor ihr steht, ist Lucy dann doch überrascht: So hat sie sich ihr Leben wirklich nicht vorgestellt!
Ich liebe Lucy als Hauptcharakter. Sie ist eine absolute Katastrophe, aber ich liebe sie, sie ist großartig. Sie hat ein eigenartiges Verhältnis zur Wahrheit, aber sie ist unheimlich liebenswert und ihre Art von Humor ist total mein Ding. Ich liebe vor allem die Entwicklung, die sie durch macht. Wie sie anfängt sich um sich selbst zu kümmern, nach dem sie vor Augen geführt kriegt, wie mickrig ihr Leben eigentlich ist. Wie sie sich um die Beziehungen in ihrem Leben kümmert.
Da komme ich auch schon gleich zu dem nächsten Punkt, ich liebe die verschiedenen Beziehungen in dem Buch. Familiäre Beziehungen, ich liebe es wie sich die Beziehung zwischen Lucy und ihrer Mutter zum Ende des Buches total verändert. Mit ihrem Vater werde ich wohl nie warm und Lucy wahrscheinlich auch nicht. Ich mag außerdem die kleine Freundschaft zwischen Lucy und ihrer Nachbarin Claire (ihre Geschichte berührt mich jedes Mal wieder). Und dann natürlich Lucy und Don. Ich liebe Don. Don ist großartig, vom ersten Moment an, bis zum Schluss. Und er ist einfach so viel besser als Blake, deswegen bricht es mir immer in der Mitte des Buches das Herz, wenn Lucy denkt, sie müsste wieder mit Blake zusammen kommen. Ugh, nein danke. Und dann natürlich die wichtigste Beziehung in dem ganzen Buch, Lucy und ihr Leben. Wie sie ihn am Anfang einfach ignoriert, sie dann Freunde werden und er sich am Ende wieder verabschieden muss, weil sein Job fürs erste getan ist. (Was mich übrigens an eine erwachsene Version von Nanny McPhee erinnert). Je besser sich Lucy in ihrem Leben schlägt, je mehr Dinge sie ins positive verändert, um so besser geht es ihrem Leben.
Ich liebe das Buch einfach. Es diesmal als Hörbuch zu lesen, war ebenfalls ein schönes Erlebnis.
***
This book will always be one of my absolute favorite Cecelia Ahern books,I could read it over and over again and still be amazed how beautiful it is written, how amazing the story is and how much I love every one of the characters (except Blake, go home!)
Summary: Lucy Silchester has an appointment with her life – and she’s going to have to keep it.Lying on Lucy Silchester’s carpet one day when she returns from work is a gold envelope. Inside is an invitation – to a meeting with Life. Her life. It turns out she's been ignoring it and it needs to meet with her face to face.It sounds peculiar, but Lucy’s read about this in a magazine. Anyway, she can’t make the date: she’s much too busy despising her job, skipping out on her friends and avoiding her family.But Lucy’s life isn’t what it seems. Some of the choices she’s made – and stories she’s told – aren’t what they seem either. From the moment she meets the man who introduces himself as her life, her stubborn half-truths are going to be revealed in all their glory – unless Lucy learns to tell the truth about what really matters to her.
I love Lucy as a maincharacter. She is a total mess but I love her, she is amazing. She has a very loose relationship with the truth but she is just so damn lovable and her sense of humor is right up my alley. I especially love the journey she takes through this book. How she starts taking of herself, after she sees right in front of her eyes how pathetic her life looks. How she starts to work on the relationships in her life.
Which brings me right to the next point, I LOVE all the different relationships in this book. Family relationships, I just love how Lucy's relationship to her mother changes towards the end of the book. I will never be comfortable with her father, so will Lucy probably. I also love that little friendship between Lucy and her neighbour Claire (her story just touches me every time). And of course, we have Lucy and Don. I love Don. He is just the greatest from the beginning until the very end. That's why it hurts so much in the middle of the book, when Lucy thinks that she should actually get back together with Blake. Ugh, no thanks. And last but not least, the most important relationship in the book, Lucy and her life. How she avoided him in the beginning, how they became friends and how he had to say goodbye, cause his job was done for now. (Something that totally reminds me of a grown up version of Nanny McPhee). The better Lucy takes care of her life, the more things she changes for the better, the better he feels and looks.
I just love this book. Listening to the audio book this time around, was also a great experience.
July 18, 2020
I loooooooved this and cried at the end twice (a case of the right book coming into my life at the right / perfect moment).
It’s fun and light but also philosophical (for the reader). I also love how the author told a (somewhat) common story (“get your life together”) in a completely new and profound way.
This book reminded me a little of Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl so if you liked that book, don’t miss this!
This is my third “win” from this author.
FYI It IS a little kooky at times and you have to “go with it” (like the “relative” in 20s girl) but carry on and keep reading on because it is worth it for the endings and personal thoughts you’ll have. 💋
It’s fun and light but also philosophical (for the reader). I also love how the author told a (somewhat) common story (“get your life together”) in a completely new and profound way.
This book reminded me a little of Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl so if you liked that book, don’t miss this!
This is my third “win” from this author.
FYI It IS a little kooky at times and you have to “go with it” (like the “relative” in 20s girl) but carry on and keep reading on because it is worth it for the endings and personal thoughts you’ll have. 💋
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