Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall


So my friend told me I “had” to read this book. From the moment I read “I believe that when you read the last page of The Ultimate Gift, you will be a different person than you are at this moment” written by the author in the introduction, I knew I was in trouble. How full of himself is Jim Stovall to make that statement? He seriously thinks he has the power to make me a different person?? That was the first moment I wanted to throw up while reading this book.

The story revolves around a young twenty-something named Jason Stevens whose really rich great-uncle has just died. Everyone gets their share of the inheritance except for Jason who has to go through a year of “tests” in order to get his inheritance. There are all these gifts that Jason has to discover in himself and he works on one a month. And in the end, I’m supposed to be a different person.

The writing is on the level of a third grader, yet it is supposed to be adult fiction. Each gift that Jason works on is miraculously mastered each month with very little information as to how he did it. At the end of the book he has gone from selfish brat to the most loving, caring, changed person on the planet. So dumb. So unbelievable.

I guess my life was changed at the end because I read one more book I hadn’t read before. That’s the best I can do Mr. Stovall. In case any of your friends tell you that you “have” to read this book, I’d think twice about that friend’s recommendations. This was definitely a snoozer. I can’t think of anything I liked about it so I’m giving it an F.

8 comments:

L said...

An F?? I totally knew you had it in you Suzette. You are Pinky Tuscadero incarnate after all..

This one seems a bit like The Shack from the sounds of it. If I'm having a hard time catching some zz's, I'll pick this one up.
Right after I poke out my eyes.

Suzette Bradford said...

I don't know how to compare it to The Shack. In this book the characters are not as well developed as large black women in the kitchen cooking pancakes. I'm sorry, that was probably uncalled for. Suffice it to say, I didn't like either book.
I think I'll go find some Stephenie Meyer fare to drug me up.

Stephanie said...

It's so wrong, but now I want to read it, just to see how HORRIBLE it is. I need help.

Suzette Bradford said...

Stephanie, don't waste your time. It's just too dumb of a book and life is too short. As I was reading I thought, I wonder what it is he will inherit at the end...but then I looked at the cover of the book and it says it's a billion dollars. There, I just ruined the ending for you. The thing that kills me is that someone published it and it's written so poorly. Maybe I could get a book published by those standards.

L said...

He inherits a billion dollars?? Who ever inherits that much money. No one. So the source of all happiness is if you inherit a billion. What's next, a zillion? Sounds like first class dribble to me.

Tanja said...

There is a movie of this book. I have seen it and the movie was not all that great. So stephanie save your time and rent the movie. I wish someone would give me a billion dollars for changing who I am. Doesn't getting a billion dollars at the end negate everything he did and was supposed to change?

L said...

Speaking of movies, Suzette, when am I bringing the popcorn to watch Twilight at your house??

Suzette Bradford said...

What makes you think I own a copy? Oh, I guess you know me well enough. My door is always open if you bring good treats:).

I did hear about the movie of The Ultimate Gift from another source a few years ago, but I never saw it. I noticed that Abigail Breslin stars in it, but there isn't a little girl in the book--I'm baffled. Maybe they realized it was a dumb story and they had to change is substantially to make it a movie.