Tuesdays with Morrieby Mitch Albom
Reviewed by Belle
I enjoyed The Five People You Meet in Heaven by the same author, which is what made me search this book out. I like the length of Albom’s books; this one, like ‘Five People’, was nice and short. Unlike ‘Five People’, however, this one left me thinking, Whatever! And that’s never a good sign. The book is a mini-biography of Morrie, Albom’s old sociology professor, who is rapidly deteriorating after being diagnosed with ALS.
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m Australian or I'm not dying or I was just in the wrong mood, but I very quickly tired of Morrie’s guru-ey, I’m-dying-therefore-everything-I-say-is-quotable-material aphorisms and Albom’s unabashed worship of his old professor. Yay for their relationship, yay for the fact that the book covered Morrie’s medical expenses, yay for Albom’s writing. But, overall? Meh. Read it if you like, it won't take up too much of your time. But keep a bucket handy.
Thanks Belle! Go check out Belle's Elbows.
4 comments:
Yes! Such a shame — I read it hoping it would be a good book about ALS (or MND as we usually call it here): http://www.mndnsw.asn.au/index.php
I was amazed how self-aggrandizing Albom managed to be, since it was supposed to be a book about someone else. Maybe it's just a cultural difference, but I had the same 'ick' reaction.
Oh...I quite liked it. I agree with the self-aggrandising but I still thought it had some interested observations about life & death. In fact I think I even prefer it to "Five People..." - but perhaps I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough for that book...
I've not read Tuesdays with Morrie, but I did read "Have a little faith". Well written, certainly a bit too much waxing philosophical, but had some challenging thoughts in it and was a nice easy read as it sounds this one is.
I think I'm a bit handicapped by the fact that when I hear the title in my head, it's being said by Oprah's voice, in a loud, shouty voice: "we LOVE this book, don't we people?".
I may be a bit too cynical, but it seems like the kind of book I'd avoid reading.
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