The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
Publisher: Harper Collins
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Tamara Goodwin is coming to terms with her new life after the suicide of her father. Having moved from her privileged surroundings in Dublin to a moderate lifestyle in the country with her aunt and uncle, she finds that there is a family secret. Being a typical inquisitive teenager she sets out to discover the mystery surrounding her family. She comes across a magical diary which traces out the future and at the same time opens up the past to her. In the process she discovers that she is a year older than she thought she was.
That a well travelled boisterous teenager doesn't find out until her 17th birthday that she is really 18 is quite unbelievable, as are the inconsistencies in the book. This book is written in the first person and might make for a good fairytale if it had been set in the last century. However, it is set in the year 2009 and, excluding the magical element, it seems to be drawing on how life has changed due to the recession. With references to Ugg boots, boyfriend cardigans and Facebook, I can only conclude that the target market for a book like this is teenagers. However, even they would question the plausibility of the story.
The book is repetitive and slow initially. However, some may enjoy the story-telling, which is strong at times. I'm left wondering if this was hastily thrown together for the Christmas market.
Karen Moran
