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The Gift ONCE in a while comes a book, the pages of which you can’t wait to turn, but at the same time wanting to go slow so that the book lasts longer — the art of an exceptional storyteller.
The story is about Lou, a young successful dad, forever in a tearing hurry to be in two places at once; stretching himself just that bit more to juggle meetings and office parties. The only people he has no time for is his family. To them, he is a big disappointment. A chance meeting with Gabe, a homeless man, changes all that and his journey to self begins. It starts with Lou offering him coffee on a cold morning and later a job. But there’s something about Gabe that unnerves him and leaves him vulnerable as his grip on life slackens. Doubt lingers as his suspicion of Gabe grows. When it appears Lou is beyond redemption, Gabe gives him some magic pills that could make him present at two places at once. He couldn’t have asked for more and is thrilled to balance home and career without any of the pressure and guilt trips. He finds himself taking
pleasure doing seemingly "insignificant" stuff with family.
The turn comes on Christmas Eve when he takes a gift for Gabe and asks
about the super pills, but his response that those were nothing but
"science con. A con of science. A conscience" leaves Lou
bewildered. Lou rushes out in fear and his speeding Porsche meets with an accident. As he’s dying, he takes the last pill to be with his family and tell them how wrong he had been. He plays with his kids and his anguish is carried over to the others through the intercom and they cry for what he now is ... a sorry man. This story is being narrated by a cop to an errant boy in detention. Something changes in all those who hear the story. The author says the story is 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 to find out who you really are. The Gift is an extraordinary book. There is a lesson in it for those who want. To let it go unread, would be a pity.
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It is not an exaggeration
to say The Gift is one such book. The book is an experience in
itself. It has an impact; that magic quality about it which makes you
pause and take a step back to reassess the course of life and prioritise
issues and people that ought to matter above all else.