Book Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

2/5

I wanted to have more thoughts on this book than I do. I found the concept incredibly interesting. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom tells the story of Eddie - a maintenance guy who worked at a fairground - and his journey through the afterlife. In this book, heaven is structured around the deceased meeting five people who played a very important part in their life - this could be a stranger, a loved one, someone they never met. In the story, they all impart various bits of wisdom that helps Eddie piece together puzzles and answer questions that he had about his existance. I think this is an absolutely fascinating idea. Imagine all the people you don't know who you may have influenced along the way, or vice versa. The web of humanity is so vast and complicated and this book almost gets at the amazing interconnected-ness of it all.

BUT (and there was clearly a "but" coming) I just didn't connect. I didn't care about Eddie. He was making these revelations and I felt ZERO. I don't know if it was because I didn't read the book in the right circumstances but his character just didn't pull me in. I was also put off when the author plunked down conclusions for you to lap up. At the end of each person's chapter there would be a big life lesson and it was a little too obvious for such a subtle and intelligent idea.

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