Author: Mitch Albom

Having enjoyed "Tuesdays with Morrie," I thought it would be nice to read his new work. I'm usually not the type to read "inspirational" stories, especially if they're contrived, but apparently people like it. When I was at the checkout at Borders, the lady behind me saw it and told me that it was a good book.

Summary: A man discovers the meaning of his life after his death through encounters with people already in heaven who have influenced him and who he has influenced.

The book is too short. Maybe I was supposed to read it slower or whatnot, but I felt like everything happened so fast that it didn't make much of an impact on me. The pacing of the book was staccato, with breaks every 5-10 pages. I didn't get lost in the book, but it did break up the flow a bit.

The people and stories that the main character, Eddie, meets in heaven are interesting. Especially the last one which kinda sorta gives the story a twist ending. Being an inspirational book, it's supposed to teach and inform you about how to live your life a little better, even if it's just to make you think more positively. Maybe it works for some people, but a lot of the ideas the author tries to convey, I already hold and understand: everyone's connected and what you do affects someone else, sacrifices have to be made and there's no reason to disdain them, don't hold grudges, love is eternal, and don't live with regrets.

Five People isn't as good as Tuesdays with Morrie, partially because Tuesdays was based on a true story, and this is fiction. While I didn't take much out of it, I can see how it would benefit others.

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