Loved this book! And I know a movie is a possibility so I hope that works out as this would make a great movie.
Brett must complete a Life List she wrote at fourteen before she can receive her inheritance. This journey takes her on a not-so-typical path of self-discovery.
The book doesn't take the beaten, predictable path. Just when you think Brett will never complete her list, she achieves things in a way you'd never expect.
It will make you rethink your goals in life, and it never felt "preachy" - just enjoyable! ( )

Brett Bohlingerová je šťastná žena – má skvelé miesto, útulný byt, neodolateľne pekného priateľa. Závideniahodný život! Ale iba dovtedy, kým jej nezomrie milovaná matka a nezanechá poslednú vôľu so zvláštnou podmienkou: ak chce Brett získať miliónové dedičstvo, musí splniť zoznam životných cieľov, ktorý napísala ako naivné štrnásťročné dievča. Brett v tom hlbokom žiali spočiatku nechápe, o čo jej matke išlo – jej detské sny sa ani trochu nepodobajú na ambície tridsaťštyriročnej ženy. Niektoré sa jej zdajú vyslovene nemožné. Napríklad, ako sa má zblížiť s otcom, ktorý zomrel pred siedmimi rokmi? Alebo byť úžasnou učiteľkou, keď si plánuje celkom inú kariéru? A čo si ,dočerta, počne v centre Chicaga s koňom? Keď sa napokon Brett neochotne podujme plniť matkine želania a svoje dievčenské sny, zrazu pochopí, že niekedy sa dajú najkrajšie dary života nájsť na tých najnečakanejších miestach. ( )

I just read a column in the Sunday NYT by Charles McGrath that completely explains why I finished this book despite the fact that the whole time I couldn't believe how bad the writing was.
"That's the problem with fiction - or the charm, if you want. Even mediocre plots have a way of sinking their hooks into you, until you find yourself concerned for the fates of characters who aren't even fully convincing." As a real person Brett Bohlinger made a lot of mistaken assumptions about people and behaviour. She acted like a child. I'm not sure we saw any growth in her. I wanted to know what happened but thought if you knew Brett in person she would just be irritating. ( )

Great book for the Holiday! ( )

I have manage several times to write bucket lists/life lists and every single time I’ve lost the. I simple don’t know where they go, but I forget about them and when I remember them again, I can’t find them anywhere. It’s such a shame, because I would love to see what my life goals where at a certain ages and how many of my life goals I have actually accomplished. In The Life List, Brett wrote such a list when she was 14 years old and she is lucky enough to have a mother who saved it for her. Now Brett just has to fulfill the life list within a year to get her heritage – like that will be no biggie at all!

The storyline isn’t particularly surprising and it’s not very realistic – quite the opposite, actually! The letters from Elizabeth (the mother) are absurdly accurate and the entire story contains so much random luck for it to even happen the way it does. But it’s beyond sweet and heartwarming and lovable. Even though I guessed almost all the plot twists, the book was still amazing. I adore Brett and the way she react to her mother’s idea. She is so straightforward, so real and so flawed – I just loved her! She goes through a mayor development and learns to listen to and trust herself again and she starts being able to figure out what she really wants from her life.

“’ Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do something every day that scares you. “Continue to push yourself to do those things that scare you, darling. Take those risks and see where you land, for they are the very things that make this journey worthwhile.”’

The Life List is basicly about love in all its glory. But mostly, it’s about the love between a mother and her daughter. And the love between Elizabeth and Brett is so beautiful and warming that it flows from the pages and made me appreciates the fact that my mother is still alive even more. But the book is also about love between lovers, love between man and animal and love between friends.

The Life List is well written, funny, sad, gorgeous and real. It’s life-affirming, heart wrenching and exactly what I needed. It’s chick-lit but it’s so much more than that. I can highly recommend it, if you need something light and sweet with just a hint of something else.
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