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It tells the story of one woman's heartache over losing her husband Gerry to a brain tumour. Holly and Gerry had been inseparable for years and Holly did everything with him. He was the earth she lived, the ground she walked and the air she breathed. So with his sudden death came a sudden reevaluation on life. At 30 years old, Holly was left feeling lost and lonely in an unfamiliar world without her husband. She didn't have a proper job, she wasn't aspirational, she didn't have any hobbies... everything she did in life was revolved around Gerry. So naturally the shock of his death turned into a deep depression which her eccentric collection of friends and family desperately tried to fix.
But it was through the discovery of a series of letters left behind by her husband that Holly found some hope. Addressed to her, the 12 letters written came with instructions to only be opened once a month. And as each new month came along, so did a new lesson on life for Holly to embrace. Gerry set out particular challenges for her to conquer such as singing karaoke in front of a crowd, taking a holiday, finding a job until eventually learning to love again.
It's a bittersweet tale that not only focuses on death but also celebrates life and the joy that is found in living. And although Holly eventually finds peace through the letters that Gerry has left behind, it's her family and friends that play the biggest part in helping her to let go and move on from grief. The novel is a testament to all forms of love and proves that through great tragedy, laughs can still be found long after the tears slowly subside.
This was one of my all time favorite reads of 2011. You can check my review out by going to my pages and reviews by title or author. I also read the Book of Tomorrow by Ahern. While not as good, there is something really special about her writing. It's hard to believe she was so young when she wrote P.S. I Love You. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely check your review out Belle, can't wait!
DeleteIt sounds like a bit of a weepie this one!
ReplyDeleteIt was very sad in the beginning Lindsay but is actually quite a fun read. A good beach read really which is exactly how I read it :)
DeleteThere was tremendous publicity here in Ireland when the book was originally published as she is the youngest daughter of the then taoiseach (prime minister)and this was her first novel. Some people felt this gave her an unfair advantage and that the book would not have been published if she was an ordinary person. There may be something in that but I think the idea she came up with was a very interesting one. (I think the book itself would have benefited from better editing - I started but did not finish it - for me it was a bit long winded.)
ReplyDeleteYes I did read about her being the daughter of the prime minister and I sort of thought the same thing - especially since she was so young when she published it. What a lucky break! I did notice that there's quite a few editing problems throughout the text and sometimes her style seemed a bit amateurish but it's a very good start for a first book I guess... apparently the plot is also strikingly similar to another book that isn't very well-known called The Letters. There's been some speculation that she may have copied the storyline...
DeleteI love PSILY! I've been thinking of watching the movie again for a while now, and then yesterday at the mall they were playing "Mustang Sally" which pretty much tells me it's a sign to drown myself in a little bit of Gerry. (That was one interesting movie to see in theaters, by the way. The men kept coughing to mask their crying). A fellow bookwork/online pal sent me the book after they read it. People always seem very divided over this book, but I for one enjoyed it and am STILL trying to convince my mother to read it. (She says it'll be too sad). There were a couple scenes in the book which I wish made it to the big screen. And I must confess that I was THRILLED when I discovered that one of those scenes they put on the dvd as an extra. It's a great novel, and a great movie. It certainly makes you think about what's really important in life: our family and friends.
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As for Pinterest, I babbled about it a little bit more this morning. Lol! Not a new post, but I added to it. I actually feel better about it now. I'll still use it, but not as much as before. I'm going to try anyway.
Kristin
Yep I agree Kristen, Mustang Sally is definitely a sign for a little Gerry time :) I guess this is one of those rare cases where the movie is just as good as the book (and maybe even better I think). There were quite a few changes from the text version to the big screen but overall I liked how they kept the story pretty consistent.
DeleteI'm glad you decided to keep your Pinterest account - I'll have to go on and become a follower. I guess with sites like Pinterest it's always going to be hard to know where the original source came from. I have photos saying that they come from my blog but obviously they don't. Hopefully I don't get caught up in any copyright wars lol!! :)
I read this book and thought it was fantastic. It was sad, funny, sweet, and inspiring. What a wonderful husband she had and the letters were just amazing. I cried and laughed out loud. I haven't read anything else by this author- but I hope to soon!
ReplyDelete~Jess
http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com
I've had this book sitting on my bookcase since the movie came out and I just haven't been able to find the time to read it. I loved your review, I know it's different from the movie in a lot of ways but I have a feeling I'm going to love it anyways!
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-Kimberly @ www.turningthepagesx.blogspot.com
ughhh i love this movie (*i haven't read the book!) i'm so glad you did this review!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Megan! Since I'm a sucker for love stories, I'll grab a hard copy of this book. It would be nice to cuddle with it by the beach when summer here starts next month, don't you think? :-)
ReplyDeletep.s i love u made me cry ..this was the first book i read...and it was a really good experience...i just love it <3
ReplyDeleteCecilia Ahern makes a splash with "PS, I Love You," a surprisingly charming debut about grief, love, family and struggling to move on with life. While Ahern needs to polish up her writing, she has plenty of raw talent, and a good grasp on her quirky characters.
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