The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh is a really lovely book, set in the Yorkshire Dales. Reading this book, you’ll be transported to the beautiful peace of the Yorkshire countryside. Here’s my The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh book review.
Overview of The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh
The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh is a heart-warming story set in the Yorkshire Dales in England. The beautiful, poetic descriptions of the scenery in this book really transport you to that location, and if you haven’t visited the Yorkshire Dales already, you’ll be desperate to once you’ve finished reading this book! Here’s my The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh book review – but I’ll try not to give too many spoilers.
The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh follows the story of Adam as he grows up on his family’s farm in the Yorkshire Dales. From a young age, it’s clear that he has a mysterious gift. He seems to be able to heal people and animals, just by touching them. No one really understands his gift, but as he grows older it becomes more apparent.
The book follows the ups and downs of Adam’s life as he learns to accept this mysterious gift, and other people’s reactions to it. Prominent characters in the book all react different to Adam’s healing gift. This includes his parents, his school friends (and bullies), a monk called Brother Wilfred, doctors, and also girls he meets as a teenager.
I won’t give away too many spoilers in this book review, so you can enjoy the story for yourself!
What I liked about The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh
I enjoyed reading this book – it was easy, relaxing and enjoyable to read. There was nothing too taxing or thought-provoking, so it was just a pleasant read. I liked Adam’s character, and I liked the other characters as well – especially Brother Wilfred, the slightly mysterious monk.
The descriptions of the scenery and life on a remote Yorkshire farm were my favourite parts of the book. I really felt like I was in the Yorkshire Dales when I was reading it. I loved how the author really made the plot fit into the landscape. The landscape really became part of the story. This story wouldn’t have worked anywhere near as well if it was set somewhere else like in a city. I felt like it really needed the beautiful Yorkshire location. The descriptions in the book were often quite poetic, especially descriptions of the changing landscape throughout the different seasons on the farm.
Adam’s gift
I also liked that this book made me think a bit about reaction to things that we can’t explain. Adam’s gift of healing people is never fully explained, and throughout the book some people react very sceptically and almost angrily to Adam’s claims that he can heal people just from touching them. It made me think about how I’d react if I met someone who claimed they could do that. I feel like we’re often very focussed on finding scientific explanations for everything. So I understand why some people might not react well to someone who claims they can heal without any medical training.
I like to think that I’d be open-minded enough to really listen and accept someone who had a gift that couldn’t be scientifically explained. But I have to admit, I might also struggle a bit to believe that there may not be a scientific explanation behind every act of healing.
What I wasn’t so sure about
Although I enjoyed this book, especially the descriptions of the landscapes, I wouldn’t put it in my top books of all time. The plot was very nice, but it was quite tame. It made me think a little bit, but not that much. So if you’re looking for a challenging, thought-provoking book, this probably isn’t for you. I think the story could have been developed a little more, just to make a few more things happen, and maybe a few more twists and turns in the plot. But at the same time, it is sometimes nice to have a book that’s just nice to read.
Would I recommend The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh
I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a nice, easy to read book. It’s also perfect if you’re looking for a book set in the Yorkshire Dales. If you’re planning a trip to the Yorkshire Dales, this would be the perfect book to take with you, to read in the evenings after a day of hiking in the hills. It’s relaxing to read with beautiful descriptions of the scenery.
Buy yourself a copy for this weekend here.
Hope you enjoyed my The Gift by Alan Titchmarsh book review! If this book has inspired you to travel to the Yorkshire Dales, check out my blogs on spending a week in the Yorkshire Dales and the best walks in the Yorkshire Dales. You can also visit the nearby and equally stunning Lake District. Or check out more book reviews here.
