The Five People you meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

shanthi

Facing a delay at Bangalore Airport I wandered into the bookstore and was taken by this book. Fairly large writing and just 208 pages, I read it on the flights back to Ireland in it's entirety...literally finishing it whilst waiting for my luggage in Cork! Just inside the cover it quotes:
"All endings are also beginings; we just don't know it at the time". The 5 people you meet in Heaven is by the author of "Tuesdays with Morrie" and is about an old timer called Eddie who's worked as an engineer fixing the rides at a fairground just like his father before him. The war years had taken their toll on Eddie and left him a little bitter and wounded - believing that each day was just like the last one and just leaves him lonlier and more sad and regretful of what might have been, but it seemed never would be, different.

On his 83rd birthday whilst working at the funfair Eddie is killed, saving a small child from a piece of falling machinery and he wakes up in "Heaven" where his earthly existence is explained to him by 5 people that he meets there. Some of these people Eddie cannot explain - or feels he never knew, but each were affected by something that Eddie did in his life on earth either directly or indirectly and visa versa, and each of their lives were changed for all time because of that one single thing.

This book changed my life and actually answered some questions that I never believed would be answered about my younger days, things that had evaded me for years.....for me, several bits of the missing jig-saw puzzle of my own life came together in a rush just when I finished this book. It's a good read. Enough to keep you interested for a fifteen hour flight plus waiting times in between - and leaves you thinking about it afterwards.

devonlasses

Yes Shanthi, a truly magical book that had a deep impact on my soul as well. I have recommended it too many friends and people who come to me for therapy (who then dont need me at all!). Have you read tuesdays with morrie? have wondered if its as good but didnt want to take the edge from 'heaven' by reading it too soon and with too high expectations.
Happy reading!

shanthi

Never read Tuesday's with Morrie.....and as I've recently literally given away/or tossed most of my worldly goods (except about eight books and a few negatives) I won't be buying any more....BUT saying that, I might have a look at the cover at least in the bookstore in the City and see if it's worth looking at.....I might be tempted. From your user name I'd say you're from the West Country? My absolute favourite part of the UK - and the last place I existed in, in the UK, was Somerset Loved your profile ladies.......

Ravibagal

This is also available on DVD. Excellent film and worth watching.

shanthi

which? or do you mean both? Hmm, I'd be interested in mayb e renting it/them out!

Ravibagal

Shanthi
Both movies are out on DVD.

Ravi

Nick-H

That's very interesting.

The nearest thing I have to a spiritual teacher teaches that (paraphrased and approximate...) when you die you have to make the poeple that you harmed in your life (real harm, not trivia) understand why you did what you did. After that, she maintains, you have a clean sheet: karma does not work on a person-to-person basis.

This is the closest that I've seen to that idea elsewhere; I'll be watching out for the book.

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