For anyone who has read Mitch Albom’s book Tuesday with Morrie, it was axiomatic to read The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Asked why it took him so long between his first two books, Albom said, “To be honest, I was a little overwhelmed by the success of Tuesdays. At first, nobody wanted to publish that book or talk about it much.
“Then all of a sudden all they wanted me to do was write a sequel. I knew I didn’t want to do that. I said in that book everything I had to say about the last class between Morrie and me. So I waited until something It inspired me the way that book did. It just took six years. “
When asked if something Morrie had said led to the “Five People” story, he revealed the fact that “Morrie often told a story about the waves, and how when they hit the shore they ceased to exist, unless you realize that, in truth, they weren’t actually waves, they were part of the ocean.
“Morrie saw himself that way, as part of something connected to a larger humanity. In The Five Persons, I explore that idea, that we are all connected to each other in ways that we don’t even realize, and that maybe When his life is over, he can discover all the other ‘waves’ in this great ocean that he affected without even knowing it. “
These ideas show the integrity and sensitivity of Mitch Albom, who works for the Detroit Free Press and is arguably one of the best sports writers in America. His work on “Five People” shows glimpses of his sheer talent as a writer.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven is the story of Eddie, a simple man who lives a simple life as a maintenance man who has a regret and a pain in his heart.
He spends his entire life berating himself because he never left the amusement park to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer. He blames everyone but himself for not progressing in the world. This is his regret and he feels that his life has been in vain.
Eddie dies on his 83rd birthday while trying to save a girl from a car that falls on a roller coaster that went wrong, and his heart aches. With his last breath, he feels two small hands in his as he tries to push the girl away, and then nothing.
He dies without knowing if he saved the girl’s life or not.
He awakens in Heaven and is destined to meet five people, loved ones (his wife Marguerite) and distant strangers who form a thread in his life that, when woven into a cloth, explains the meaning of his life.
The strangers, Blue Man, the Captain, Ruby, and Tala, all played an important role in Eddie’s life without his awareness and knowledge of their importance at the time.
Each person shares with Eddie a life lesson that he could not learn on Earth.
Albom’s writing skills shine through in these memorable quotes from all five characters:
Ruby: “Maintaining anger is poison. It eats you inside. We believe that by hating someone we hurt them. But hate is a curved sword. And the damage we do to others, we also do to ourselves.”
Blue man: “There are no random acts. We are all connected. You cannot separate one life from another in the same way that you can separate a breeze from the wind.”
Blue Man: “Strangers are a family you haven’t gotten to know yet.”
Marguerite (Eddie’s wife who precedes him in death): “Lost love is still love, Eddie. It just takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t hold his hand, you can’t ruffle his hair. But when those senses weaken another comes to life. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end, Eddie. Love doesn’t. “
Keep in mind that the five people you meet in heaven can make your eyes fill with tears and your throat ache and tension ache. This book is not for children, even adults can hardly deal with it and try to understand the subject and the meaning of its message.
This book has an amazing ending for Eddie to finally understand the meaning of his life. I will not reveal the ending here, you must read the ending to earn his blessing.
This is an extremely complicated story. It forces us to examine our existence here on earth; however, it is worth the effort of the story if you have some spiritual development.
Tuesdays with Morrie de Albom was on the New York Times bestseller list for 4 years. While The Five People You Know in Heaven made it to number one on the same list, it’s a much harder read to understand. That is why I write reviews. Unless many sing his praises, the voice of understanding may remain silent. Silence is a void that would be unbearable.
Perhaps Albom’s effort could reach more readers if he were a philosopher as well as a writer. A writer like Albom can craft a beautiful phrase that a reader like me can appreciate. A philosopher can come up with another sentence that immediately strikes a chord with almost everyone.
Great poets often achieve this meaningful sense, perhaps they are also philosophers.
I would read this book again and I was a better person for having read it the first time.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley
