1.0°C Not observed 
"The Gift"
By Cecelia Ahern (Harper)
In Cecelia Ahern's latest novel, a successful, self-absorbed workaholic finds his life take a turn by one kind gesture.
On a cold winter morning Lou Suffern, on a whim, buys a homeless man named Gabe a cup of coffee. His one random act of kindness turns into another. Lou then offers Gabe a job in the mail room of his company.
Over time Gabe takes an interest in Lou's home life, or lack thereof, and expresses concern he doesn't spend enough time with his family. Lou is bothered by Gabe's meddling but soon realizes that Gabe has a special gift: He can be two places at once. Lou is a guy who is always in a race against the clock and could use an ability to clone himself.
Lou helps Gabe create his own doppelganger with the hope that by spending time with his family he'll come to appreciate them.
While charming, "The Gift" is not very original. It's an updated version of "A Christmas Carol" which has been told and retold over the years and is reminiscent of certain movies, such as "Multiplicity," in which Michael Keaton plays a man who doesn't have enough time to appreciate family, friends and all the things he wants to do in life and has himself duplicated.
The book is already a huge hit in Britain; it was the second best-selling hardcover of the year.
Still, "The Gift" is like a warm sweater you'd receive as a holiday present that you don't love but don't hate, either. You'll wear it because it's OK. It's just not extraordinary.
