PS, I Love You

infobox Book |
name = PS, I Love You
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Cecelia Ahern
cover_artist =
country = Ireland
language = English
series =
genre = Novel
publisher = Thorndike Press
release_date = April 2004
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 655 pp (hardback edition) & 512 pp (paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-7862-6164-1 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-00-716500-5 (paperback edition)
preceded_by =
followed_by = Where Rainbows End

"PS, I Love You" is Irish writer Cecelia Ahern's first novel, published in 2004. The book reached #1 bestseller status in Ireland (for 19 weeks), the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Plot summary

Set in Ireland, Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life--a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry's life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it's a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of 10 letters that will guide her, not only through her grief but in rediscovering herself. The messages are Gerry's way of informing Holly life goes on. The messages include various tasks and treats Gerry has left for Holly. This is his way of letting her know he will always be there for her. Each letter sends her on a new adventure and each signs off in the same way: "P.S. I Love You." Holly's mother and best friends, Sharon and Denise, begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but, in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future. With Gerry's words as her guide, Holly embarks on a journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into new beginning for life.

Characters in "PS, I Love You"

* Holly Kennedy - The Main Character
* Gerry Clarke - Holly's Late Husband
* Sharon McCarthy - Holly Best Friend
* John McCarthy - Sharon's Husband
* Denise Hennessey - Holly's Friend
* Tom O'Connor - Denise's Husband
* Daniel Connolly - Holly's Friend
* Elizabeth Kennedy - Holly's Mother
* Frank Kennedy - Holly's Father
* Richard Kennedy - Holly's Older Brorther
* Meredith Kennedy - Richard's Ex-Wife
* Timmothy Kennedy - Richard's Son
* Emily Kennedy - Richard's Daughter
* Jack Kennedy - Holly's Brother
* Abbey - Jack's Girlfriend
* Ciara Kennedy - Holly's Younger Sister
* Matthew - Ciara's Australian Boyfriend
* Declan Kennedy - Holly's Younger Brother
* Leo - Holly's Stylist
* Barbara - A Travel Agent
* Chris Feeney - Holly's Boss
* Alice Goodyear - Holly's Secretary

Reception

Despite the hype and commercial success, (Bertie Ahern's daughter) Cecilia Ahern's debut novel drew mixed-to-negative reception. The Clare County library called the book "overhyped", "predictable" and "full of stock characters", but lastly an "easy read... and a nice holiday read", [ [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/services/book_reviews/ps_iloveyou.htm PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern] ] amazon.co.uk calls it "at times repetitive and her delivery is occasionally amateurish [but] Ahern deserves credit for a spirited first effort" [ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/PS-Love-You-Cecelia-Ahern/dp/0007165005 PS, I Love You (Paperback)] .]

The plot is extremely similar to that of a 1997 Korean film entitled "The Letter" [http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0240841/] . [ [http://www.dramabeans.com/2007/12/ps-i-love-you-vs-the-letter/ “P.S. I Love You” vs. “The Letter” — Dramabeans ] ]

Movie adaptation

A film adaptation of the book was released in 2007 with Hilary Swank as the lead character, Holly, and Gerard Butler as her deceased husband, Gerry. James Marsters plays John McCarthy and Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays William Gallagher. The other cast includes Kathy Bates, Harry Connick, Jr., Gina Gershon and Lisa Kudrow. Filming began in early October, 2006 in New York City and Ireland, and was released on December 21, 2007 in the United States (see below for other release information). [http://imdb.com/title/tt0431308/]

Although box office numbers were very high, critics gave the film poor reviews. As of January 13, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 21% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 82 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ps_i_love_you/ |title=P.S. I Love You - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-01-07 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 42 out of 100, based on 15 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/psiloveyou |title=P.S. I Love You (2007): Reviews |accessdate=2007-12-21 |publisher=Metacritic]

Differences Between Novel & Film Adaptation

The most major difference between the novel and its film adaptation is that in the novel, main characters Holly and Gerry Kennedy are both Irish, while in the film, only Gerry is Irish and the two live in New York. Also in the novel, Holly has numerous siblings, but in the film she has one. In the film, Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays William, a character who does not exist in the book. However, the film remains fairly true to the novel, and all of Gerry's letters are virtually unchanged.

Error in continuity

After a heated phone argument between Holly in the office and Denise, which had been overheard by everyone in the office, Holly's boss Chris discusses with her their respective issues with grieving for a spouse. Chris says that he had been back to the botanical gardens that he used to frequent with his wife : " 'A few months ago', he replied. 'It was a difficult thing to do but I did it and now I go every Sunday again...' (p.433)." However once he learns that Holly intends to attend an annual ball she and Gerry had been to for the past ten years, this time and the previous time without him it says: "'He [Chris] vowed to visit the Botanical Gardens someday. If Holly could do it, then so could he' (p.439)." Some argue that Chris was merely lying so as to make Holly brave.

Notes

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