Scan barcode
A review by lovelybibliomanic
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked up this book because my husband had asked me to. His VA advisor had told him to read it because she thought that he would be able to gain more perspective on some things, and naturally he asked me to vet it for him.
The story follows an elderly man (in his 80s), named Eddie, around his day to day life as a maintenance worker at a amusement park on a pier. He is a well known figure at the pier, and many know him based on his longevity at the park. One day Eddie finds himself watching in horror as one of the rides malfunctions and a little girl is in grave danger. The last thing Eddie remembers from before he "wakes up" is that he had leapt to save the little girl and then nothing except a feeling of complete dread for the little girl and her well-being.
We then follow Eddie through a journey of 5 significant events that made Eddie who he is with The five people he met in heaven. Some of the people he knew, and some of them he had known of but did not personally know. We learn all of the lessons that Eddie taught himself through life due to these instances, as well as, what he could and maybe should have learned. He also learns of the fate of the little girl that he had attempted to save. Did she live or die? Only one of the five people he met could give him that answer.
Although, I am not religious, and I don't necessarily believe in heaven I thought that this book was still really good. I think that if you go into the read with an open mind a lot can be appreciated about this book. Lessons learned could be taken both religious and nonreligious and I really respected that.
I would advise other readers to be mindful of the content of this book and some trigger warnings that come to mind.
The story follows an elderly man (in his 80s), named Eddie, around his day to day life as a maintenance worker at a amusement park on a pier. He is a well known figure at the pier, and many know him based on his longevity at the park. One day Eddie finds himself watching in horror as one of the rides malfunctions and a little girl is in grave danger. The last thing Eddie remembers from before he "wakes up" is that he had leapt to save the little girl and then nothing except a feeling of complete dread for the little girl and her well-being.
We then follow Eddie through a journey of 5 significant events that made Eddie who he is with The five people he met in heaven. Some of the people he knew, and some of them he had known of but did not personally know. We learn all of the lessons that Eddie taught himself through life due to these instances, as well as, what he could and maybe should have learned. He also learns of the fate of the little girl that he had attempted to save. Did she live or die? Only one of the five people he met could give him that answer.
Although, I am not religious, and I don't necessarily believe in heaven I thought that this book was still really good. I think that if you go into the read with an open mind a lot can be appreciated about this book. Lessons learned could be taken both religious and nonreligious and I really respected that.
I would advise other readers to be mindful of the content of this book and some trigger warnings that come to mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Gore