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Religion & Spirituality |
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The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Studio : Hyperion
by Hyperion
Release Date : 2008-04-01
Publisher : Hyperion
Released : 2008-04-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 4
EAN : 9781401391348
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 1615 reviews)
List Price : $14.95
Our Price : $7.90
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Product Description |
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THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN is a wonderfully moving fable that addresses the meaning of life, and life after death, in the poignant way that made TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE such an astonishing book. The novel's protagonist is an elderly amusement park maintenance worker named Eddie who, while operating a ride called the 'Free Fall', dies while trying to save a young girl who gets in the way of a falling cart that hurtles to earth. Eddie goes to heaven, where he meets five people who were unexpectedly instrumental in some way in his life. While each guide takes him through heaven, Eddie learns a little bit more about what his time on earth meant, what he was supposed to have learned, and what his true purpose on earth was. Throughout there are dramatic flashbacks where we see scenes from his troubled childhood, his years in the army in the Philippines jungle, and with his first and only love, his wife Marguerite. THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN is the perfect book to follow TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE. Its compellingly affecting themes and lyrical writing will fascinate Mitch Albom's huge readership. |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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Part melodrama and part parable, Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven weaves together three stories, all told about the same man: 83-year-old Eddie, the head maintenance person at Ruby Point Amusement Park. As the novel opens, readers are told that Eddie, unsuspecting, is only minutes away from death as he goes about his typical business at the park. Albom then traces Eddie's world through his tragic final moments, his funeral, and the ensuing days as friends clean out his apartment and adjust to life without him. In alternating sections, Albom flashes back to Eddie's birthdays, telling his life story as a kind of progress report over candles and cake each year. And in the third and last thread of the novel, Albom follows Eddie into heaven where the maintenance man sequentially encounters five pivotal figures from his life (a la A Christmas Carol). Each person has been waiting for him in heaven, and, as Albom reveals, each life (and death) was woven into Eddie's own in ways he never suspected. Each soul has a story to tell, a secret to reveal, and a lesson to share. Through them Eddie understands the meaning of his own life even as his arrival brings closure to theirs. Albom takes a big risk with the novel; such a story can easily veer into the saccharine and preachy, and this one does in moments. But, for the most part, Albom's telling remains poignant and is occasionally profound. Even with its flaws, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a small, pure, and simple book that will find good company on a shelf next to It's A Wonderful Life. --Patrick O'Kelley |
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Fantastic book, matches my personal philosophy |
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This book is not preachy don't worry, that was my biggest fear in initially reading it. It turns out that it is a good story with insight into a concept of life that of connections that is really interesting |
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Sappy emotionalism but difficult to put down |
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Despite myself I could not put it down. It is the message of the holiday favorite, It's a Wonderful Life (60th Anniversary Edition). Only this telling delves deeper into many philosophical questions concerning life. It follows a man who has died and must pass through 5 people (as everybody does in heaven) who explain the meaning to his life. What seemed pointless and a waste to him is revealed to be poetic justice with rich meaning. Yes, it is sappy and emotional. But the story is gripping and the writing style is an enjoyable and rich telling. An emotional but worthwhile tale in lovely pros. Very well done. |
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Reads like a bad children's book |
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It has the feeling of a children's book with lame lessons, except that children's books are more interesting and have better characters. |
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movie is better |
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Overall, I loved the plot of this book. Whether you're religious or not, it really makes you think. Unfortunately, I found the movie to be far better than the book, which is something I normally never ever say. But, the way Mitch Albom writes really bothered me. I can't put my finger on it just yet, but I really didn't enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed the movie. |
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Book vs. Movie |
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I saw the film starring Jon Voight and was inspired to buy the book, assuming that the book would probably be better. I was surprised at how short the book was considering the length & intensity of the film. The book is basically short & sweet, and written more like a creative short story. I felt it didn't "pack-the-punch". For me, the message it bears is best expressed visually. I was happy to find out that the story is not quite as the title implies- such as the cliche meet Saint So & So at the"Pearly Gates". As a Buddhist, I found it more in line with eastern thought and how we are all connected. My advise... buy the film for content, buy the book as a momento. |
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