"PS, I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern

About the Book/Movie:

Everyone needs a guardian angel! Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He's left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed 'PS, I Love You'. As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing--and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises--but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

Book vs. Movie:

First, and foremost, the story is based in Ireland and not in NYC as shown in the movie.(It is quite obvious why they decided to change the location considering it was Hollywood.) Next, in the book, Holly has a whole family with many siblings. Her father is very much around and a nice guy. It is a big and chaotic family, but we see how they all are real characters with real personalities. (Maybe the production did not want to go into all the small stories surrounding Holly and wanted to focus just on her. Or maybe they didn’t want to hire more actors). Third, the book shows how Gerry’s death affected Gerry and Holly’s friends as well. It was real emotions and not just sympathy for Holly.(I liked that. The friends’ aspect of it all.) Fourth, Holly doesn’t go off to Ireland and meet up with Gerry’s parents. (Considering they lived in Ireland, that would be stupid.) She goes to Spain and stays in a hotel. Gerry’s parents don’t really like her in the book, or so it is told, and are quite rude to her when they see her have dinner with another man. She definitely did not sleep with Gerry’s friends while on her vacation. (This always bothered me for some reason. It just felt out of place somehow.) And finally, she does not start shoe designing. She goes into a regular office job, but a job that she loves.

Discussion Questions:

1. How faithful is the movie to the original book in terms of plot, characters, and themes?
2. What changes were made in the adaptation, and do you think they enhanced or detracted from the story?
3. Were there any notable differences in the portrayal of certain characters that stood out to you?
4. Did the movie evoke the same emotions in you as the book, or did you have a different emotional experience with each?
5. Were there scenes in the movie that had a particularly strong emotional impact, either positive or negative?
6. How does the movie handle the non-linear narrative and timeline of the book?
7. Did the storytelling choices in the movie affect your understanding or emotional connection to the characters?
8. How did the visual and auditory elements of the movie contribute to your understanding and enjoyment of the story?
9. Were there any scenes in the movie that stood out to you as particularly well-done or poorly executed?
10. How does the movie portray the central relationship compared to the book?
11. Were there any nuances or details from the book that you felt were missing or enhanced in the movie?
12. What themes from the book were emphasized or downplayed in the movie, and why do you think these choices were made?
13. Do you think the movie successfully conveyed the same messages and lessons as the book?
14. How does the pacing of the movie compare to the pacing of the book?
15. Were there moments in the movie that felt rushed or extended compared to the book?
16. How did critics and audiences respond to the movie adaptation, and do you agree with their assessments?
17. Do you think the adaptation was successful in capturing the essence of the book?
18. Did you prefer the book or the movie, and why?
19. In what ways did the book and the movie complement each other, or do you see them as standalone experiences?