readhikerepeat's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Do you believe in miracles? The people of Coldwater, Michigan certainly did when several people began receiving phone calls from the deceased claiming to be in heaven. But was it true? Was it possible? Or, was it a hoax? These questions, along with those of faith, family, and moving on are all explored in Mitch Albom’s new book, The First Phone Call From Heaven. Punctuated with the history of the invention of the telephone and a man seeking the truth behind the phone calls, Heaven is a quick and humbling read.
When I first started reading, I was a little bored. Not because the book was bad but because I recently read The Returned (review here), which was about the deceased physically returning home and the phone calls concept seemed rather benign in comparison. But as I continued reading, I became more invested in the stories of the various characters and the book got better and better. Riding a roller coaster of emotions from disbelief, anger, and understanding, I read this book in less than two days.
For the full review,
Do you believe in miracles? The people of Coldwater, Michigan certainly did when several people began receiving phone calls from the deceased claiming to be in heaven. But was it true? Was it possible? Or, was it a hoax? These questions, along with those of faith, family, and moving on are all explored in Mitch Albom’s new book, The First Phone Call From Heaven. Punctuated with the history of the invention of the telephone and a man seeking the truth behind the phone calls, Heaven is a quick and humbling read.
When I first started reading, I was a little bored. Not because the book was bad but because I recently read The Returned (review here), which was about the deceased physically returning home and the phone calls concept seemed rather benign in comparison. But as I continued reading, I became more invested in the stories of the various characters and the book got better and better. Riding a roller coaster of emotions from disbelief, anger, and understanding, I read this book in less than two days.
For the full review,
mindyb33's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read. Kind of thought provoking about the good and bad of receiving a phone call from your deceased loved ones confirming there is a heaven.
melissarina's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't enjoy this book. I was not a fan of the religious content, I also didn't think that anyone would honestly believe they got a phone call from heaven.
sfletcher26's review against another edition
3.0
Most people have experienced the pain of loss and the desire to be able to have one more conversation with the person they've lost. A chance to say I love you or I miss you or I'm sorry. What happens though when you are given that chance? What happens if one day out of the blue the loved one you lost calls you up on the phone and tells you the end is not the end? This is the premise of Mitch Albom's book.
The book works on two levels for me. The first is that of escapism. It is a turn your brain off uncomplicated read. And I mean that in a good way. Having read a number of heavy and dense books in the past couple of months I wanted something lighter and this is definately that, easy to read but well written at the same time. The other level on which it works though is that of highlighting what might happen to a community in which the miraculous appears to be happening and how we all, both those who believe and those who don't, might react.
As usual, with all of Alboms work, I devoured this book in a couple of days.
Why not ☆☆☆☆☆ then? Elements of the final Act just didn't quite hold together for me. It felt a little too forced and flimsy.
The book works on two levels for me. The first is that of escapism. It is a turn your brain off uncomplicated read. And I mean that in a good way. Having read a number of heavy and dense books in the past couple of months I wanted something lighter and this is definately that, easy to read but well written at the same time. The other level on which it works though is that of highlighting what might happen to a community in which the miraculous appears to be happening and how we all, both those who believe and those who don't, might react.
As usual, with all of Alboms work, I devoured this book in a couple of days.
Why not ☆☆☆☆☆ then? Elements of the final Act just didn't quite hold together for me. It felt a little too forced and flimsy.
mm676's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as the last Mitch Albom book I read, The Time Keeper.
amylowe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kboubel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
georgia_g_0's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0