Twice by Mitch Albom

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Alfie has just been brought into the casino security interrogation room by Detective LaPorta, after winning $2 Million from a suspicious round of bets. Not fearing the questions, as most do, Alfie surprises LaPorta by handing him a composition book filled with the story of his alibi. Though cynical that this will lead anywhere, LaPorta asks Alfie to read to him from this book, since he has to wait anyway until the Bahamian officers arrive to formally arrest Alfie. As Alfie begins his unusual story, revealing that he can do things in his life “twice,” (but ONLY twice, no matter what), we learn how even when you get a redo, it doesn’t magically make everything better.

I’m still trying to decide how I feel about this book. On one hand, it is typical Mitch Albom – out of the box, imaginative, philosophical. On the other hand, parts of the story feel too unrealistic, even a bit confusing. We see Alfie making mistake after mistake, relying on his ability to hit “Twice” (instant replay) and be able to sort of try again. But we also see him never learning to tolerate the bad things life inevitably brings. Some changes he makes are helpful to others, but ultimately, he hurts himself the most.

It does serve as a commentary on love and life and the benefit of acceptance of who we are, our limitations, and our relationships as they unfold. Nothing is ever perfect, no matter how many times we think a redo will change that. We have to adjust to what life brings us. We don’t actually get a redo – and if we did, it may not necessarily serve us as well as we imagine.

I will be very curious to hear what others think of this book. I’m utterly on the fence!

The Time Keeper (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

If you are looking for something that requires a little imagination and some flexibility, this is your book.  This is the very unusual story of Father Time — that is, how time began to be measured and by whom and what the impact of that measurement was on all the people who came after.  It is the story also of Sarah, who is a teenager who experiences her first heartbreak and of Victor, who is aged and ill but wants to extend his time on Earth as long as possible.  Father Time must reconcile his urge to measure time with leading the other 2 characters in how to appreciate the time they have without wishing it to be other than it is.

The story is told in a fairytale manner but it definitely reaches out to the reader and implores you to think about how you yourself consider time.  Certainly, anyone living/working in New York City, with the usual demands on one’s time can relate to the pressures therein.  Never enough time!  I can’t wait to get through this week!  I wish there were more hours in the day!  We all obsess about time.

We can all learn from the very urgent message in this book…  Appreciate the time you have and make the most of it.  And whatever it is, it is the right amount of time.  (I just hope I remember this when it comes to my next deadline …)