That was on the first page of the book. Should have flipped the first few pages before I purchased the book. From that sentence alone, I should have realised that it would set the theme for the rest of the book right? I should have known. The rest of the book is as sombre, dark and depressing as that 1st sentence. Really!
Mitch Albom's For One More Day reminds me again why I always go back to Chick Lit. Sigh! I should have known that his writing style, would not be so different from his last book that I read which was 5 People You Meet in Heaven. It's depressing and sad, just not my cup of tea. To think that I wasted my Times Birthday Voucher on this book, luckily this was not my only purchase. Should have bought a Nigella's book instead of this one. Anyhow, for those who have not read the book here's the excerpt, right from the official website itself. For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?
As a child, Charley “Chick” Benetto was told by his father, “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.” So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.
Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.
He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother -- who died eight years earlier -- is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.
As a child, Charley “Chick” Benetto was told by his father, “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.” So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.
Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.
He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother -- who died eight years earlier -- is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.
It's not all negative, I must admit. I guess it's quite beautiful in its own dark Mitch Albom way. There are lessons to be learnt by fathers and mothers out there. I mean, how can a father says to his child, “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.” I mean, see what happens to the character after that he has decided to be a daddy's boy only to have the man dissapeared out of his life, with no explanations or nothing. He spends his whole life chasing after the shadow of his father, while he totally overlooked his mother's love and sacrifices. I also find that the mother's habit of leaving a note on important/special days of the boy, like first day at school/in college etc etc to be rather cute. Perhaps I should do that to my children, though if they have handphones, I could text. But then again, you cannot keep a text forever! Plus, that would give me a good reason to get some good stationery. Now that's a thought. Ok, I guess I ve strayed from discussing this book to shopping.
I guess, if you like Mitch Albom's writing, yes you should go ahead and get this book. Or you can borrow mine, or better yet you can buy mine??? Ha!ha!ha! Just a thought. You know how to reach me...
After that depressing book I am looking forward to my next one, I just started on this new writer (to me at least) Stephanie Laurens. What attracted me to pick this book was of course the cover... Look at this. Isn't it just so beautiful??? Yeah, yeah, you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover but I just cannot help it. Ha!ha! I don't know how good it is yet, cause I just started. Will update once I have finished. A little preview...
Where the heart leads...
Penelope Ashford, Portia Cynster's younger sister, has grown up with every advantage—wealth, position, and beauty. Yet Penelope is anything but a pretty face in a satin gown—forceful, willful, and blunt to a fault, she has for years devoted her considerable energy and intelligence to caring for the forgotten orphans of London's sooty and seamier streets. But now her charges are mysteriously disappearing. Desperate, Penelope turns to the one man she knows who might help her—Barnaby Adair. Handsome scion of a noble house, Adair has made a name for himself in certain circles where his powers of observation and deduction have seen him solve several serious and unsavory crimes within the ton. His pedigree, relentless intelligence, and discretion make him a deadly avenger in an elegant guise. Despite his skills—or perhaps because of them—he makes Penelope distinctly uncomfortable, but the stakes are too grave. Throwing caution to the wind, defying every rule for unmarried ladies, she appears on his doorstep late one night determined to recruit his talents.Till later, ciao!
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