The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom, is marketed as a "fable," which it really isn't. Parable, perhaps, but fable, not really. The book opens with the main character's death. Eddie is tired, old, and disappointed with having never amounted to more than a maintenance worker at a small amusement park in his hometown. Albom presents part of heaven as a place where your life and it's purpose are explained to you by five people you had some sort of connection with during that life. The connection is in some cases clear, and in others obscure, but each of those five lives were affected by your presence in them. The book recounts Eddie's experiences with his five people.
I was very touched by Eddie's story. Mitch Albom is an excellent storyteller with a gift for making a strong social statement without preaching. The book is not long and reads fast - I was through it in a matter of hours. I'd read it again, and that's not something I can say about many of the new works of fiction coming out these days.
I was very touched by Eddie's story. Mitch Albom is an excellent storyteller with a gift for making a strong social statement without preaching. The book is not long and reads fast - I was through it in a matter of hours. I'd read it again, and that's not something I can say about many of the new works of fiction coming out these days.
i want to read this and now i will!!
Nice review. I've been anxious to read this book since it's debut on the New York Times Best Seller list but it's been on hold at my library....for a long time. I kind of forgot about it until I read your post! Thanks!
:1:
i finished this book in two afternoons in the sun. Reading it makes me want to run out and get Tuesdays With Morrie as Albom's writing had me wrapped in about 2 pages. Of all things, i found it to be a most moving love story
"Lost love is still love. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end. Love Doesn't."
thanks for the review RLAG. i'm glad i read it and will probably reread it someday.
i finished this book in two afternoons in the sun. Reading it makes me want to run out and get Tuesdays With Morrie as Albom's writing had me wrapped in about 2 pages. Of all things, i found it to be a most moving love story
"Lost love is still love. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end. Love Doesn't."
thanks for the review RLAG. i'm glad i read it and will probably reread it someday.
Tuesdays with Morrie was an incredible book--READ IT! note to self: re-read it
I'm going to add this book to my list...it looks very interesting.
I'm going to add this book to my list...it looks very interesting.
I just read this book this morning. I loved it. Cried my eyes out in places, particularly that fifth person. But really stepped away thinking was a nice story this is, and what a nice idea behind it.
My favorite part:
"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from the inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves."
I know this, I mean, we all know that hate never hurts those we unleash it on, but rather ourselves, but seeing it in black and white really hit home with me. And just like that, I stopped. The ripples from the actions of Kramer, Susan, and myself haven't subsided yet, but I know that I can let go and that letting go saves me. And I've figured out that I'm worth saving.
My favorite part:
"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from the inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves."
I know this, I mean, we all know that hate never hurts those we unleash it on, but rather ourselves, but seeing it in black and white really hit home with me. And just like that, I stopped. The ripples from the actions of Kramer, Susan, and myself haven't subsided yet, but I know that I can let go and that letting go saves me. And I've figured out that I'm worth saving.