for one more day

for one more day by Mitch Albom
Fiction/Literature

Chick Benetto has had a troubled life. His father, in his childhood, had told him to be either a father's or mother's boy and to chose. He chose his father only to have him leave when he was eleven. Chick's mother struggled to raise her son but Chick never really knew her and blamed her for his father's absence.

Charley (Chick) has hit the bottom of the barrel with a life of neglect and alcohol. The final straw is being left out of his daughter's wedding. He drives to his hometown to commit suicide but can't even do that right.

He goes back to the old house when he once lived to discover his mother who had died eight years ago doing her regular routine. This gives him one more day to right wrongs and understand himself.

This is a short story which I found okay. There is a small twist which I didn't suspect and raised the story from ho hum to okay.

First Line: "Let me guess."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Fiction/Literature

I know I'm a little late to jump on this train and that practically everyone has read this book. Better late than never though, no?

Eddie is a maintenance worker at a theme park on a pier. His wife died years ago and he has always been mad at his father for trapping him in the life he lives. When Eddie dies trying to save a young girl at the pier, he meets 5 people from his past (including people that he never really met or didn't remember). They all teach him lessons as to what the purpose of his life was and how to let go of some of the anger he had over his life.

This was a really quick read and was a touching story. It teaches us that we all have a purpose in life, regardless of how small we think a contribution we are making.

This is the second Mitch Albom book I've read and I think they are too deep for me. I'm not too sure if I'll read his latest one. I'll probably wait for my mom to read it and if she really likes it, I'll read it.

Rating:

(3.5/5)