‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ overly sentimental, but offers a message
worth reading
By Laura Pasternack
Mitch Albom, author of
”
The Five People You Meet in Heaven,
”
had already tackled the sensitive subject of death and loss in
his acclaimed 1997 novel
”
Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man, and life’s
greatest lesson.
”
This short book tells a true-life story of Morrie Schwartz,
former professor and mentor of Mitch Albom, who is dying of a
terminal illness. After seeing a story about Morrie on the news,
the author decides to visit his dying mentor; this becomes a
regular weekly visit, and materializes into the
”
final term paper
”
of his and Mitch’s lives. They discuss many issues along the
way, such as regrets, family/love, the fear of aging, money,
forgiveness, and what defines a perfect day.
‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ overly sentimental, but offers a message worth reading
By Laura Pasternack
Mitch Albom, author of “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” had already tackled the sensitive subject of death and loss in his acclaimed 1997 novel “Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man, and life’s greatest lesson.” This short book tells a true-life story of Morrie Schwartz, former professor and mentor of Mitch Albom, who is dying of a terminal illness. After seeing a story about Morrie on the news, the author decides to visit his dying mentor; this becomes a regular weekly visit, and materializes into the “final term paper” of his and Mitch’s lives. They discuss many issues along the way, such as regrets, family/love, the fear of aging, money, forgiveness, and what defines a perfect day.
At times it can get overly sentimental, almost to the point of hitting us over the head with his messages. But in the end, these lessons are important ones – remember to appreciate the little things in life, surround yourself with love, and death is nothing to fear if you’ve lived passionately.
This is a quick read at less than 200 pages, and Albom has a beautiful, flowing style of writing. It is recommended to those seeking insight into the meaning of life, and should leave you with more joy than sadness in the end.
Laura Pasternack works at the San Benito County Free Library. She is contributing bi-monthly book reviews for the Weekend Pinnacle. E-mail comments or questions to
mf*****@pi**********.com
.
