WrittenByAngel

“All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.”

Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

The moment I finished reading #tuesdayswithmorrie my biggest dilemma was finding a book good enough to keep me in my reading flow as well as match up with the feelings that it left me with. So, I couldn’t be more glad that I went for another @mitchalbom book. 

The Five People You Meet in Heaven was a heartfelt exploration of life, death, and the intricate web of human connections. The narrative focuses on Eddie, a maintenance worker at an amusement park, who dies unexpectedly and finds himself in the afterlife that defies all notions that we know of ‘heaven’. Instead of a celestial paradise, Eddie meets five people, each with a profound lesson to impart. These encounters unfold in a manner that encourages readers to contemplate their own lives and the often unnoticed impacts they have on others.

The story’s core strengths is its ability to convey deep philosophical insights through accessible and relatable storytelling. Early in the book, Albom sets the stage for this exploration by stating, “All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time”. This line encapsulates the book’s central premise that life’s true significance often lies beyond our understanding.

The story employs a structure that interweaves Eddie’s past with his experiences in the afterlife, gradually revealing how each of the five people contributed to his life’s tapestry. This approach not only maintains curiosity but also allows readers to piece together the narrative in a way that mirrors the process of self-discovery.

As one character states,

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone”

This statement underscores the novel’s message that isolation is an illusion and that our lives are enriched through our interactions with others.

The thing that stood out for me apart from the simple storytelling was the fact that reading it after Morrie, made it feel like a continuation of Morrie’s journey into the afterlife. The things that Morrie learnt while waiting for death, Eddie learnt after dying.

Both the books share various overlapping themes that give the readers a broader perspective to both.

Exploration of Life and Death

Both books explore deeply the themes of life, death, grief, and life after death. In Tuesdays with Morrie, the story is driven by Morrie’s reflections on life through his conversations with Mitch, as he faces terminal illness. In The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Eddie’s journey in the afterlife involves understanding the significance of his life on earth through interactions with five individuals.

Mentorship and Learning

Tuesdays with Morrie revolve around the mentor mentee relationship between Mitch and Morrie where Morrie imparts life lessons to Mitch during their meetings. Similarly, in The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Eddie learns valuable lessons from the five people he meets after his death, where each encounter sheds light on different aspects of his life and actions.

Reflection on Relationships

Both stories emphasize the importance of relationships. Morrie highlights the profound impact of his relationships on his views about life and death. Whereas, Eddie’s posthumous meetings reveal how interconnected human lives are and how relationships shape our existence.

Redemption

The theme of redemption and forgiveness are prevalent in both books. Morrie discusses the necessity of forgiving ourselves and others to live a fulfilling life. Eddie’s journey in the afterlife involves understanding and forgiving past mistakes, both his own and those of others, leading to his spiritual redemption.

Despite TwM being a non-fiction read, and the later being a fictional story, reading both the books simultaneously felt like reading an intertwined story of a man dealing with a terminal illness, and then his journey to the afterlife.