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The Gift
Patricia Dennison's life is a chain of melodramatic events on the disastrous scale of the Titanic. Terrorists have executed her father on a passenger plane. She has inherited a multibillion-dollar empire that she doesn't want, & whose directors are plotting against her. The philanthropic doctor to whom she is engaged turns out to be gay. So she falls instead for a Portuguese bullfighter (who has just killed the husband of his last unfaithful lover). And so, with grandiose implausibility, the successive episodes crash one upon the next
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
4 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Kirk Douglas
36 books55 followersKirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch, ) was an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past (1947), Champion (1949), Ace in the Hole (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), The Vikings (1958), Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962),The Fury (1978) and Tough Guys (1986)
He is No.17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time. In 1996, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."
He was one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood's "golden age". He passed away on February 05, 2020 at the age of 103.
He is No.17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time. In 1996, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."
He was one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood's "golden age". He passed away on February 05, 2020 at the age of 103.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 15, 2020
A lot happens just in the prologue of this book, where our two main characters face horrendous events that set the tone for the whole story.
Talented horseman Miguel loses a leg, rich heiress Patricia loses her grandfather and her sanity (once again).
Two years later in Chapter One the story really gets going.
Douglas throws so much at his characters it sometimes feels like Too Much, but there are reasons for all of the goings-on. Greedy fat cats want to keep controlling Patricia's life even after she dares to try and stand up for herself; Miguel faces the age-old dilemma of a son who feels he will never be what his father expects him to be, especially with only one leg. So what will happen when these two get together?
This was a very fast re-read for me (insomnia helped) and very enjoyable too. Douglas portrayed the philosophy of classic Portuguese horsemanship splendidly, and every bit of the story felt alive. Even though sometimes I wondered when Patricia would break under the weight of all Douglas put her through! People are not always what they seem to be in her world, there is no one really that she can believe in, not even herself.
Dramatic, fast-paced, with some lovely bits, some startling ones, and beautiful horses, this is a book to hang onto.
Talented horseman Miguel loses a leg, rich heiress Patricia loses her grandfather and her sanity (once again).
Two years later in Chapter One the story really gets going.
Douglas throws so much at his characters it sometimes feels like Too Much, but there are reasons for all of the goings-on. Greedy fat cats want to keep controlling Patricia's life even after she dares to try and stand up for herself; Miguel faces the age-old dilemma of a son who feels he will never be what his father expects him to be, especially with only one leg. So what will happen when these two get together?
This was a very fast re-read for me (insomnia helped) and very enjoyable too. Douglas portrayed the philosophy of classic Portuguese horsemanship splendidly, and every bit of the story felt alive. Even though sometimes I wondered when Patricia would break under the weight of all Douglas put her through! People are not always what they seem to be in her world, there is no one really that she can believe in, not even herself.
Dramatic, fast-paced, with some lovely bits, some startling ones, and beautiful horses, this is a book to hang onto.
October 30, 2009
I bought this book from a used bookstore on vacation and it was a very good read. Kirk Douglas, the actor, is a very good writer. This is his first fiction novel apart from his autobiography ("The Ragpeddler's Son") and another book about Hollywood ("Dance With the Devil"). In "The Gift", Kirk shows his insight into male and female needs, Jews, father-son relationships, father-daughter relationships. It is sexy and sensual without being "in your face". There are no swear words, yet the language is strong and the action moves with suspense from Portugal to New York. I read it in 2 days! That says alot for me.
December 20, 2023
WOW what an enjoyable read, such a wonderful surprise !
l have had this book on my TBR for many years now, and l am so happy with myself, l finally grabbed it and read it, what an awesome book 😃
l don’t think l knew what l was expecting!
The Gift was written by the legendary Kirk Douglas, yes the father of Michael Douglas and the famous actor of Spartacus .
He apparently has written two other novels, l will definitely check those out 😄
The Gift is a steamy tale of romance, passion and intrigue, that sweeps the reader across two continents North America and Europe.
Its the tale of an orphaned American heiress unsure about her future and her fortune.
And a rising star ⭐️ of the Portuguese bull ring whose career is cut short by a tragic injury.
The characters are full of life and their individual stories, really make this book 📕 a page turner 😀
l really highly recommend this read , if you can get your hands on it 👍
l have had this book on my TBR for many years now, and l am so happy with myself, l finally grabbed it and read it, what an awesome book 😃
l don’t think l knew what l was expecting!
The Gift was written by the legendary Kirk Douglas, yes the father of Michael Douglas and the famous actor of Spartacus .
He apparently has written two other novels, l will definitely check those out 😄
The Gift is a steamy tale of romance, passion and intrigue, that sweeps the reader across two continents North America and Europe.
Its the tale of an orphaned American heiress unsure about her future and her fortune.
And a rising star ⭐️ of the Portuguese bull ring whose career is cut short by a tragic injury.
The characters are full of life and their individual stories, really make this book 📕 a page turner 😀
l really highly recommend this read , if you can get your hands on it 👍
July 9, 2020
Patricia Dennison's life is a chain of melodramatic events. Terrorists have executed her father on a passenger plane. She has inherited a multibillion-dollar empire that she doesn't want, & whose directors, and who she thinks is her best friend, are plotting against her. The philanthropic doctor to whom she is engaged turns out to be gay. So she falls instead for a Portuguese bullfighter (who has just killed the husband of his last unfaithful lover). As the story proceeds, the successive episodes crash one upon the next.
I bought this book many years ago for my father as he was a Kirk Douglas fan, and I decided to keep it when I went through his books after he died. It has sat on my shelf for years, and I finally picked it up and read it. Like other reviewers, i was surprised that the author was a good writer and enjoyed the book very much.
I bought this book many years ago for my father as he was a Kirk Douglas fan, and I decided to keep it when I went through his books after he died. It has sat on my shelf for years, and I finally picked it up and read it. Like other reviewers, i was surprised that the author was a good writer and enjoyed the book very much.
April 27, 2022
I thought it started out strong... then just about every conceivable tragedy happened to Patricia and you started wondering if every single person in her life was a bad person. I would have thought even the people who loved her would have seen and had suspiciions to warn her. Yes, at it's heart it was a love story. I was not that impressed with the love story.... they both seemed to have an obsession with each other. I loved the horses. I was disappointed in the ending... some of the tying up loose ends was good and I hated that she did not open the letter.
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January 20, 2021Douglas has a nice flowing style that encourages the reader to just read one more page till it it .:30 in the morning and you have finished the book.
This is a work that calls into question how honest we are with ourselves and are we willing to accept reality.
This is a work that calls into question how honest we are with ourselves and are we willing to accept reality.
January 2, 2024
He should just stick to acting LOL.
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February 12, 2008Douglas, Kirk
May 3, 2011
Wealth, romance, specially trained horses, an uncertain heiress.
September 16, 2011
I was surprised by this book. I went into it thinking, "Just because he's a successful actor, he probably thinks he can write." But I liked it.
Read
December 4, 2012good
December 21, 2012
Enjoyed this. I didn't know Kirk Douglas was an author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews