Book Review: For One More Day, Mitch Albom

Image from Google search here. Sorry, for stock image. My copy had to go back to the libarary!

I'm sure that I've already made it quite clear that I found the beautiful book, 'For One More Day' by Mitch Albom captivating. When I picked it up in the library, I wasn't sure that it would be checking out with me. I only picked it up because I felt I should, Albom is one of those contemporary authors whose works are often hyped as future classics. However, the plot did intrigue me and the book came home with me and once I picked it up, it was a hard one to put down. I completely devoured it in two sittings.

'And one day spent with someone you love can . . .'

'For One More Day' is about a broken man, Charley, who tries hard to take his life one day. However, the result is one more day with his dead mother. He gets to spend one more day with a mother that he thought to a degree, he had recklessly lost forever. 'For One More Day' is based around the concept of spending one more day with that one person, you can't. So simple and yet so clever. We can all relate to this book, we all have at least one person who'd we'd like that one extra day or chance with. For Charley, this is possible as Albom suggests that the dead may be carried in our hearts and when we think of them, they live again.

'Remember me for these days not the old ones'

Obviously, there are a couple of major themes in this book. Life after death and family. This book is beautiful and the story feels so very real (which is of little surprise given who we find the narrator to be at the end). Apparently Albom often writes stories that make you think and will stay with you forever. There is no doubt, I will remember Charley and his beautiful mother, Pauline.

'Things can be fixed'

This story covers some harsh lessons in life and is full of quite dark and depressing elements but it is also full of love, surprises, a little humour and vivid descriptions. You probably realize by now that I found this novel utterly spellbinding (there were some smiles and a few tears) and about as lovely, sweet and perfect as I could imagine a read to ever be. I urge everyone and anyone to read it! Here is the Amazon link . . .

'You can find something truly important in an ordinary minute'

Have you read 'For One More Day' or anything by Albom before? What read do you recommend? What are you reading right now?

Book Review: How to Fall in Love, Cecelia Ahern

I personally first encountered the writing of Cecilia Ahern about ten years ago when she released her first novel, 'PS, I Love You'.

I wasn't alone.

That book was one of the first in the line up for the Richard and Judy book club and it quickly gained Ahern a massive following.

Then there was 'Where Rainbows End', another sweet romantic offering that I probably enjoyed a little too much and then there were others which I dipped in to but could not bring myself to finish as her tales seemed to grow increasingly fairytale like (maybe a little farcical too) and a little less real but 'How to Fall in Love' did catch my eye as soon as it was released a few weeks ago.

Why, you might ask?

- For one, it was at the front of every single store I walked in to. In pride of place from Waterstones to the service station.

- Two, there is the beautiful deep blue front cover, where the two lovebirds sit and I mean, goodness, it is so simple but almost cinematic. Honestly, just looking at it makes me want to fall in to the book and get lost in their story.

- Oh and there is the cheesy title, got to love a good love story!

- Then I open the cover and read the blurb inside:

'Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump.
Adam is desperate - but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him that before then she can show him that life is worth living.'

Wellllll, obviously, then I just had to read it. I had to know from the moment I read that, if Adam lived? If he did, how did Christine do it? How did she save him?

Sure enough, all is revealed and yes, this book is a bit predictable.

It ended in the same way I thought it might just as soon as I read that inside cover but then my little ending was just so obvious that I almost dismissed it straight away and this is why 'How to Fall in Love' was a page turner. So much of it was about what we already know to be true of life but just as much of it was about the different motivations we all have (especially for the future) and how this influences what we actually see (especially in our today).

I have to admit that I enjoyed the first three quarters of the book. Such simple, pleasant reading (considering the subject matter, this book is not that dark or morbid) and I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't read the absolutely beautiful and captivating 'For One More Day' by Mitch Albom last week (review coming soon). However, I did read 'For One More Day' and I guess, a little comparison was inevitable especially as they both deal with suicide. As entertaining as Aherns' tale was and for all the times she pinpointed some truth about life, 'How to Fall in Love' did not resonate quite as deeply as 'For One More Day' but it was an easier and maybe more entertaining read. Then there is the last part of the book where Ahern comes in to her own and we find out exactly why Christine and Adam act as they do. . .

Wow!!!  Suddenly, everything becomes clear. The plot was so tight and I can see exactly why Christine feels she needs to do what she does throughout the book. When I closed this book, I was so incredibly satisfied with the ending. It really did come a full circle in my eyes.

So yes, 'How to Fall in Love' is well worth a read especially when it is half price or less in so many stores. With Christmas coming up (eek), the hardback could also be a lovely present for a friend. 'How to Fall in Love' is a really well written, charismatic, straight-forward read with some great passages as well as some very unique and memorable characters.

I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines (I can be a bit corny like that), 'Life is a series of moments and moments are always changing, just like thoughts . . .'

I got my copy from Tesco for £7. It is also available to buy in many other stores and here on Amazon!

Have you read 'How to Fall in Love'? Do you plan to? What do you think of Aherns' writing style? What books do you recommend?

I hope your week has started well. Mine has . . . with a couple of little wins on Ebay ; )