Natanya Reviews For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Title/Author: For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Publisher/Date: Hyperion, 2006

Where I got it: Library on ebook

Why I read it: I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven a couple months ago and loved it, so I wanted to read another Mitch Albom book

Summary (from Goodreads):

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that lasts a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

Charley (Chick) Benetto, his life ruined by alcohol and regret, returns to his hometown with plans to kill himself. There, he makes an astonishing discovery: His mother, who died eight years ago, is still living in their old house, and she welcomes him back as if nothing had ever happened.

For One More Day follows the one ordinary day so many of us yearn for: a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain family secrets, and to seek forgiveness.

In November, after reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I spent so long trying to figure out what to write about it in a review that I eventually gave up and never reviewed it. Fortunately, I have a bit more to say about For One More Day, but, again, it’s pretty difficult to review. The novel, told from Chick’s point of view, flips back and forth between his memories of his parents and what he calls the “ghost story,” which depicts his experiences with his mother following his attempted suicide. Albom seamlessly weaves together all of these memories, throwing in a number of mementos, like little notes from Chick’s mother, which fit in well and provided a nice way of switching between the stories.

Albom is a fantastic storyteller, and he knows how to really make you feel the emotions of the character. Even though Chick really isn’t a likeable person, it was a great experience getting to watch him transform and recognize his faults and everything he did to make his mother’s life difficult. I enjoyed slowly learning about his mother, his father, and his sister, and watching Chick gain different perspectives on his life and learn after many years what really happened to his family.

For One More Day is a touching and heartbreaking account of a son’s regrets and a mother’s sacrifices. It’s short and sweet, with a really great ending. Definitely a worthwhile read.

4 stars