Friday, March 6, 2009

My Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven


One delightful afternoon, I came home from work and found a box on my door step. Shae and I raced to the box because we knew what was inside and we both knew that it was a box we had been waiting for for a week.


The sender of the box has a habit of when she finds something and she thinks of you, she gets online, orders it and sends it to you. My mom started this little habit when my parents moved far away to the land of Alaska, and seeing each other was harder. So, she would send gifts of love via internet via the brown Santa Claus.


On this particular day, Shae was getting a new puppet (a special post I am planning later) and I was expecting a book. Not just any book, one of her all time favorite books that she wanted me to read.


As you already know, I am a fan of Mitch Albom and about a month ago I finished rereading "Tuesday's with Morrie." After my review of that book, my mom was insistant that I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven. So she ordered it and with the book in my hands, I had to read.


It is a story about Eddie, an old man who works at an amusement park who dies trying to save a young girls life from a ride that malfunctions. After his death, we journey through 5 people he knew or did not know throughout his life that some how their lives affected each other. Each person explains certain meanings of his life and teaches Eddie that every moment in his life had a meaning.


For me, it was a little hard to read. I have strong religious point of views about death and "the meaning of life" and it was hard to set those aside and read what the author was expressing from his point of view. After I finished the book, I called my mom. I wanted to know why she loved the book so much. I wanted to understand her perspective in what she got out of the book and why it was one of her favorites. She explained to me that she loved the book so much because even the most "meaningless" life has a purpose. That everyone in some way or another effects another person on this earth and that we are all tied together. She thought that was a beautiful concept.


And I loved that point of view.


So I give you The Five People You Meet in Heaven. A quick easy read and a read that gets you thinking about what your own death will be like and who will you see when you have passed on.

8 comments:

Me said...

I loved this book. I loved this book for the same reasons your mom stated too. It was one of those that really made me think of who I am and how I'll be remembered by the different people that I've come acroos. I liked that there were all different points of view too, not just the basic, run-of-the-mill ones. I'm glad you read it, even though it may not be your favorite.

Jenice Henrie said...

Suz, I didn't mean that his life was meaningless. I meant that many people feel that their life and choices have no meaning or purpose. Everyone wonders what did I accomplish during my stay on this earth. Many people ask this question and have a "mid-life" crisis. Some feel like failures because of their choices. (This is were I feel that our religion comes in). He made choices (his agency) and seemed to feel that he was cheated because of his choices. The book shows him that no matter what choice he made it affected others and not how he would have thought.

From the book I learned that I hope all my choises (good and bad) and however they might have touched others, somehow left a good "touch" from my life and actions.

I think this is the best that I can ask. I am nothing to write a book about, but I was born where the Gospel was available to me, I married a wonderful man, shared my life with two awesome girls, and have the priviledge of watching the most unbelieveable grandchildren experience life. Along the way I met some awesome people who touched my life and I hope I touched theirs.

I regret a lot of decisions, but they were my choices and my agency is always there. It's what I do and how I act with those choices.

This is the end of my sermon and I am sure that those how read my post will see that this concept touched me very much.

Suzanne, thanks for letting me share on your blog.

Jenice Henrie said...

P.S. I can't wait to see the blog on the dog puppet.

Suzanne said...

Thanks mom!! I really liked that you shared your review too! You say it so much better than I can and when something touches you like that, then you should share those feelings! Great Review Mom!! I wish everyone would express their feelings and read more books so we can have great conversations like this.

Puppets will come soon! I promise! -Suzanne

Mackenzie said...

haven't read this one yet...but I Idid love Tuesdays with Morrie. I will have to pick it up!

CB said...

I loved this book! Funny enough I have never read Tuesdays With Morrie which is probably Mitch Alboms more famous book. I am going to have to do that.
How fun to get surprises in the mail!

TLC said...

I've heard so much about this book, but to be honest i just have never been interested. I think maybe because I just didnt want to see the pin point about my mom and thinking of her being in heaven and not here. But, my aunt has read it and seen the movie they made for it and she loved them both. So maybe on a quite rainey day it will make it's way to me.

My aunt said to say she recommends the moive. That it went well with the book.

Miss Megan said...

I loved this book almost as much as I loved Tuesdays With Morrie. Mitch Albom isn't the greatest novelist in the universe, but his books are full of love and hope and CLOSURE. I love that about him. Plus they are usually short and to the point.

I loved the idea that Eddie was able to go back and maybe set some things right, and repair some mistakes that he made along the way. I also liked that he was just a normal guy. He wasn't a celebrity, or a famous person. He was a simple man. A sometimes sad guy, but he loved his wife and he loved his mom.

One of my all-time favorite quotes seemed to fit right in with this story: "Each small task of every day is a part of the total harmony of the universe." Love it. Thanks for sharing!

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