"The Five People You Meet In Heaven"

[ladymariner]

by Mitch Albom

Oh my word, I started this book last night, couldn't put it down, finished it at stupid o'clock this morning and nearly washed us out of bed with tears!!!! What an amazing, thought-provoking book, really made you think it all happens for a reason.

Only downside was that as soon as I finished the book, I snuggled up to dh who was blissfully unaware of the big, snotty mess that his dw had morphed into, went to sleep still weeping, and woke up this morning looking like I'd got myximitosis!!! Puffy eyes just doesn't cover it!!!!

Lol. I loved this too - was surprised as not normally my thing at all. "Tuesdays With Morrie" is even better.

i liked this book, but wasn't so keen on one last day (?) which was just a bit too sentimental for me. want to rad tuesdays though

But this was the WORST lot of drivel I have read for years.

So sentimental.

So ghastly.

I liked it- unusual!

You didn't like it then, gagarin????

Thought it v cloying and syrupy - stereotypical American in that sense.

Interesting point of view, gararin & LoveBuckets.

Would be interested to know the books that have affected/moved you, if this one didn't?

I liked this book - bawled my eyes out at the end - but I will cry at anything!

Lent it to mum who finished on the train home, called me up to have a go at me, why didn;t I warn her, she;'s made a complete fool of herself crying on a busy train.

I think its one of those books you love or hate

Books that don't spell it all out on a plate and tell you what to feel like a self-help manual. There's plenty of uplifting, optimistic fiction that moves me to tears without making me want to puke too - it can be done.

I'm not disagreeing LoveBuckets, but which books specifically?

I hated it too. Schmaltz of the highest order and all kind of 'made up' really I thought.

i found it a good book just to read it was an interesting concept

Oooh, good idea for a thread actually - life affirming alternatives to Mitch Albom.
Well, Philip Pullman's my alltime fave, most scifi has a message of hope, eg Kurt Vonnegut, Time Traveller's Wife (wept throughout it); fantasy and magical realism give lots of opportunity for humanity stuff eg Gormenghast trilogy, Shadow of the Wind, Orlando. I loved Will Self's Book fo Dave until he clearly got bored of writing the ending (won't spoil it.) I'm just a count-your-blessings kindagal anyway so I don't like a writer to shout it at me, prefer it coded into an exciting plot (with a bit of romance and humour if lucky).

bit of a marmite book, this one then. Either love it or hate it!

It was sentimental but there was something about it that made it so much more than just sappy nonsense. Or to me at least!

Given it to dh to read now. Be interesting to get a male, "don't-do-sentimental-books" view on it.

Looking at what you like LoveBuckets, I can see why ladymariner's choice would not be on your radar!

Have you read/did you like 'Oryx & Crake' or 'Never Let me Go'?

loved this book, also Tuesdays with Morrie - made a mistake with Tuesdays though by buying it also on cd to listen to in the car on the way down to Cornwall - the writer had the most irritating voice - we only managed about 30 minutes

and it cost 17 quid !

luckily I persuaded dh to read the book afterwards

Ooh read Oryx & Crake last year, my first Margaret Atwood - must get more of her. Classy, classy stuff.
Will add Never Let Me Go to my library wishlist if you recommend it .

My friend bought me this after my dad died......it had me in tears then and everytime i look at it i bawl

LoveB - I am always loathe to recommend things in case other people hate them, but I liked O&C and the Ishiguro.

You and I better get outta here, before we get thrown off the plane for hijacking! My fault, sorry.

I quite liked "Oryx And Crake" (although nowhere near as much as "The Handmaid's Tale") but I absolutely loathed "Never Let Me Go" - really it irritated me beyond belief. Then again I hated "The Remains Of The Day" too.

Other books that have made me cry:

Steven King's "The Stand" and "The Green Mile"

"The Book Thief" (v divided opinion on here about this one)

"Of Mice And Men" - every time I read it, which, as an English teacher, is at least once a year

"The Kite Runner"

"Goodnight Mr Tom"

Lots more but can't think at the mo.

I don't think it was sentimental, not in a a sentimantality for it's sake way.

I didn't particularly like this book, bit too 'American' for my taste, but it did make me cry - buckets!

I hated it I'm afraid, thought it was sentimental, trite and pointless.