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

Nathan's Take on the Tao of Pooh

Title/Author: The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
How I got it: I bought it
Why I Read the Book: I found it lying on a bookshelf and wanted to see what it was all about

This book intrigued me from the very beginning and left me in a state of intrigue after I was finished. Benjamin Hoff, author and Taoist, is also a genius. He combines the principles of Taoism, making this book a guide on how to live a Taoist life, with the original stories of Winnie-the-Pooh and his own narrative with Winnie-the-Pooh.

The book has three elements that I listed above:

1. Hoff presents, outlines, explains, and gives examples of the various aspects of Taoism and tells the reader how to live a Taoist lifestyle.
2. He tells of his own discussions with Winnie-the-Pooh (fictional obviously) on Taoism while explaining the principle.
3. He uses stories from Taoist masters and many excerpts from Winnie-the-Pooh stories to further explain and illustrate how the reader can live a Taoist lifestyle.

Benjamin Hoff gives just the right amount of all three elements to make this book a life-changing read for all ages. The Taoist principles are explained in such a way that the whole book is based on the principles that it teaches. At only about 150 pages, the book is a very short read that is a definite must for people of all religions and backgrounds.

I finished reading this book and tried to find ways to simplify my life. The basis of this book is the idea of basics. The back cover says this: While Eeyore Frets...and Piglet hesitates...and Rabbit calculates...and Owl pontificates...Pooh just is. The book explains how Pooh Bear just does things because he finds something good or useful about the moment. He doesn't have very much Brain and doesn't plan or calculate or worry or hesitate. He just does things and lets things happen naturally. That is the reason this book is so intriguing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a more fulfilling, less stressful life. Although it may seem so simple, ... well, that's because it is so simple. At the end of the book Hoff shows that the real answer to making your life work out is ... Nothing. Just let things happen naturally. Read the book and you will discover the secret of nothing. I will definitely keep this book and read it over and over again.