The Gift

By: Cecelia Ahern

Narrated by: Trevor White

If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be?

Everyday Lou Suffern battled with the clock. He always had two places to be at the same time. He always had two things to do at once. When asleep he dreamed. In between dreams, he ran through the events of the day while making plans for the next. When at home with his wife and family, his mind was always someplace else.

On his way into work one early winter morning, Lou meets Gabe, a homeless man sitting outside the office building. Intrigued by him and on discovering that he could also be very useful to have around, Lou gets Gabe a job in the post room.

But soon Lou begins to regret helping Gabe. His very presence unsettles Lou and how does Gabe appear to be in two places at the same time?

As Christmas draws closer, Lou starts to understand the value of time. He sees what is truly important in life yet at the same time he learns the harshest lesson of all.

This is a story about people who not unlike parcels, hide secrets.They cover themselves in layers until the right person unwraps them and discovers what's inside. Sometimes you have to be unravelled in order to find out who you really are. For Lou Suffern, that took time.

©2008 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

‘Utterly irresistible . . . I devoured it in one sitting’ Marian Keyes, Irish Times

‘An intriguing, heartfelt novel, which makes you think about the value of life’ Glamour

‘A heavenly gift that speaks to the heart’ Irish Independent

‘Heart-warming, emotional, funny and filled with unexpected twists’ RTE Guide