Lahja

by Kirk Douglas, Annika Eräpuro (Translator)

He's one of the best-known and best-loved actors around the globe - the dynamic star of classic films like Spartacus, Lonely Are the Brave, and Seven Days in May. In recent years, Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas has surprised and delighted the world with an entirely new career. Once more, here is Kirk Douglas - author. Now, the man behind the bestselling novel Dance with the Devil - hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "steamy", "bold", and "compelling" - has created The Gift, his most intriguing and gripping book to date. Summoning what the New York Times Book Review calls "the instincts of a natural storyteller", Douglas tells an enthralling tale of romance, passion, and suspense that sweeps the reader across two continents. Its protagonists are two unlikely lovers: Patricia Dennison, an orphaned American heiress, unsure about her future and her enormous fortune, a beautiful young woman surrounded by death; Miguel Cardiga, a rising star of the Portuguese bullring, whose meteoric ascent to fame is suddenly cut short by tragic injury. Patricia and Miguel are brought together by Ultimato, a magnificent gray stallion that unites them in an unexpected link of intimacy while, at the same time, they clash in frequently agonizing conflicts. As Patricia's right to her legacy is betrayed by those closest to her, as Miguel fights to reclaim his destiny as a bullfighter in the face of raging sexual jealousy - and murder - they both struggle toward a redeeming love that can defeat the darkest secrets the past can conceal. The Gift proves - again - that Kirk Douglas can entertain as wonderfully, as satisfyingly, on the printed page as he does on the motion-picture screen.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Contemporary

283 pages

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Kirk 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.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Semartens · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 👍

[Pam Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Teresa Biggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Richard Federline]

Douglas 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.

[Lee Savino · Rating 1 out of 5]

He should just stick to acting LOL.

[Partridge Public]

Douglas, Kirk

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wealth, romance, specially trained horses, an uncertain heiress.

[Pat Roseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Toesnorth's mom]

good

[Chris Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. I didn't know Kirk Douglas was an author.