I knew it was a bad idea. But see, I'm doing this Numbers Challenge... and everyone else has read it. But really... I knew it was a bad idea.
So clearly, before picking up The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom I was biased. It just seemed so... Oprah's Book Club. You know, before she did the revamp and "discovered" Steinbeck. Plus, my horrible horrible roommate had it as a fixture on her desk in our dorm room. (Thank goodness those days are long over). This wasn't going to be a book I'd like.
But I had to try it because... 1. It was a national best seller / everyone's read it and 2. I did enjoy Tuesdays with Morrie.
Starting out I surprised myself. I didn't mind it. Lately there's been the circus/carnivale setting trend going around, I like it. (Water for Elephants, Carnivale, etc) I enjoyed hearing about the old time pier amusement park, all that. And I even started to wonder who Eddie would meet in heaven. But that's about it...
The second half of the book I had to force myself through. I actually set a time limit.
My complaints? ... I've been trying to figure that out. I think I felt like Albom was trying too hard. It was too sentimental? It didn't work for me. Sorry I can't be more eloquent.
Recommendation: If you are the one other person out there who hasn't read this book, skip it.
Yeah, I've noticed the circus thing, too. I have Water for Elephants on my list for this year and read Rain Village last year.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about this one - I had to read it for book club and I knew it was a bad idea, too. Trying too hard, too sentimental but also too...yuck! He made heaven sound horrible, it should have been The 5 People You Meet in Purgatory.