the book of tomorrow
Cecelia Ahern

William Morrow
July 24, 2012 / ISBN 978-0061706318
Fiction/General/Literary
Amazon

Reviewed by Laura Hinds

A few years ago one of the MyShelf staff told me that I seem to have a knack for reviewing "odd-ball" books. She was right. I do enjoy books that stray off the beaten path, and are filled with unexpected and unusual twists as well as unique turns of phrase.

Cecelia Ahearn has provided both in "the book of tomorrow." The story is told by the protagonist, sixteen- year- old Tamara Goodwin. Tamara's father has recently committed suicide, leaving Tamara and her mother Jennifer, broke and homeless. With nowhere else to go, they turn to Jennifer's brother, Arthur, and his peculiar wife, Rosaleen.

As the story progresses, Tamara confronts her new reality head on, even though she cannot understand why her mother is either asleep or sleepily sitting in a chair looking outside. Jennifer is emotionally detached and mostly silent. Rosaleen is suspicious and shifty, while Arthur communicates with a series or snorts and grunts most of the time.

With the discovery of the ruins of a castle, and the mysterious book Tamara found on the traveling book bus, things get both interesting and confusing fast. It seems that the book writes itself! In Tamara's own handwriting, the book tells her what will happen the next day, and it is left up to her whether she alters tomorrow, and changes fate.

Although there isn't much sex in this book, the one episode there is ends with a shocking conclusion. Tamara loses her new friend, Marcus, as a result, and while she is outgrowing her old friends back home, she finds herself alone. Yet there is another friend she bonds with and he helps her emotionally and physically to discover some hard truths about herself and her family.

I really love this book. In fact, I'd read it before when the hardcover version was published. My second reading of it was even better than the first. I'd love to see Tamara's story brought to the big screen. It could happen. After all, Cecelia Ahern wrote PS I Love You which was a very successful movie in 2007. Get a copy, enjoy the read, and be prepared for a surprising ending.