Customer Reviews: Read 50 more reviews...
 Ahern is back on form! December 4, 2008
I was quite disappointed with Ahern's last offering, A Place Called Here. Compared to her other novels, it was a real let-down. So I had high hopes for this one to change my mind about her again. Thanks for the Memories did just that.
Thanks for the Memories is the tale of Joyce Conway. A slip down the stairs causes Joyce to lose her unborn child, not to mention a lot of blood. After coming round in the hospital, Joyce feels... different. She can't put her finger on what it is, but she knows that something has changed. Devastated about the loss of her child, Joyce starts thinking about her life and knows that things have got to change. Drastically.
After calling time on her long-dead marriage, Joyce tries desperately to look to the future, whilst still grieving for her baby. But the strange feeling she has since waking up in hospital persists. She's able to speak languages she's never learned, spout out endless information about architecture and dreams about a mysterious little girl with blonde hair.
When Joyce bumps into an American man she's never met before, she has a disturbingly strong feeling of deja vu. And from there, the pieces slowly start to come together. Joyce may have lost a husband and a child, but she's gained a new side to her that makes her more positive than she's ever been before.
This book is excellent. I thought perhaps the reason I didn't like the previous one is because it was far-fetched. However, Thanks for the Memories isn't exactly realistic, and yet I was hooked from start to finish. The characters are so loveable, particularly Joyce's father. His terrible memory and batty Irish witticisms made me laugh out loud on many occasions. He was so well portrayed that I could really imagine someone like him being in existence, and if he was, I'd want to know him - he's great!
Overall, I'd say if you loved Ahern's previous novels, but like me, were disappointed with A Place Called Here, give her another chance. She's proven with Thanks for the Memories that she's back on form and ready to make us laugh and cry once more.
Modern Fairytale November 26, 2008
I really enjoyed this book, I think that many of Cecilia Ahern's books have an element of the fairytale in them and I think that you have to accept that before you begin. The characters are really well developed and the fact that you want to see what happens when the two protagonists meet means that you keep turning the pages. Really good book.
 I couldn't put it down! November 15, 2008
I absolutly love this book! It had everything you could ask for and i couldn't put it down .I have read some of Cecelia's other books, and had high expectations for this one also. It didnt let me down! I must admit i think this is one of her best books, it is such an easy read. I recomend this to everyone even if you haven't read any of Ceclia's books, start with this one!
 I'm insulted Amazon thinks I would enjoy this book. November 13, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This came up under recommendations for me and I have to protest. This book and its author are lumped into the same category as Philippa Gregory and Jodi Picoult. What an insult to Gregory and Picoult, who are both very talented and thought-provoking writers! I tried to read three of Ahern's books (all found at a recycle point). Each was very juvenile. I cannot imagine anyone not between the ages of 10-18 who would find her method of writing or her storylines interesting. Her characters are 1-dimensional stereotypes and the stories downright boring. She stops just short of using "text language" (Dat=that, R=are, C U latr=See you later, etc.) in the three books I tried.
I'm sure there is a type of person who finds this author and her books interesting. I'm just not one of them.
Light hearted read October 27, 2008
I loved PS I love you, and started to read a place called here, I don't think I even got half way through before giving up.
This, however, captivated me. As others have said, I laughed and cried at the same time, and although far fetched, the storyline is brilliant. It does seem to drag a little, the connection between Joyce and Justin was far to obvious for it to drag on that long. As much as I loved this book and whizzed through it, there are parts that were totally irrelevent to the story, and the ending was too rushed and could have been over and done with a few chapters previously.
I still really enjoyed it though and am looking forward to reading The Gift.
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