Target publication: GoodReading magazine’s ‘word-of-mouth’ general fiction section ; The Age’s Entertainment: Book section.
For One More Day
by Mitch Albom
“This is a story about a family and, as there is a ghost involved, you might call it a ghost story. But every family is a ghost story.” So the story of another Mitch Albom’s bestseller-in-the-making begins.
Following his two previous international bestsellers, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Albom continues to churn out books that deal with that poignant moment in one’s life. That important, valuable moment which we don’t realize till it’s too late.
For One More Day follows its lost soul, Charley ‘Chick’ Benetto, on a path of self-destruction and his eventual encounter with his deceased mother, Posey. Depressed and drunk, Chick decides to commit suicide at his hometown after learning that his only daughter, Maria, doesn’t invite him to her wedding.
Chick’s failed suicide attempt gives him the chance to spend one more day with Posey, whose death results in him feeling guilty due to his absence. From here, we trace his growing-up years that led to his broken state. And as we learn how, as a child, forced to choose between his parents, Chick chose his Dad with disappointing consequences, he learns how Posey’s sacrifices gave him a decent life. With this, comes understanding and redemption.
As with his two earlier books, Albom’s narrative has the uncanny ability to take us along for the ride. It unconsciously put us in the protagonist’s seat. So that slowly, Chick’s story becomes ours. The little notes Posey loves to slip to him, become our Mums’ hugs and kisses when we least expected. When Chick feels that twinge of guilt for not sticking up for his Mum, it’s our conscience pricking for making Mum cry or lying to her. That familiar warmth and smell of Mum Chick remembers is now ours. And when he hears his Mum’s nagging, it’s ours whom we ‘heard’.
For Chick, his absent father, Len, is “a ghost” whom he still sees. Len’s baseball aspiration for Chick still ‘haunted’ him. The ghost in this context is not only literal but also refers to the past mistake that haunted Chick and the readers. The ghost is that absent figure whom we look up to, who may still be alive.
If you think the deep soul-searching theme of this book is too soppy for your liking, ask yourself Albom’s questions: “Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back. What if you got it back?”
Whether you want to admit it or not, these questions probably resonate within us at one point or another. This is simply because we often wish we had one more chance in conducting our life – be it in our studies, jobs, experiences, behaviours and relationships.
As such, this book represents our second chance. For its message seems to be asking us to make amends before we regret it.
Definitely just right for reading after that big fight with your loved ones, especially Mum. However clichéd it may sound, this book makes it easier to apologize to our loved ones and reminds us that a mother’s love knows no earthly bound.
More importantly, it shows the importance of family and how one relative’s problem can affect us and its resolution can result in a closure for ours. Day reminds us of our forgotten complete trust in our parents. Of the day we said, just like Chick himself said “[a]nd if my mother said it, I believe it.” Just like Maria said “if my father said it, I believe it”.
With his tendency to draw characters and stories based on his own family and experiences, the book might almost be autobiographical. Posey’s description, “large, almond-shaped eyes, dark sweeping hair that she often wore up”, fits the photo of Albom’s mum, which he enclosed at the last page of the book. Another illustration is a picture of Albom in his mummy costume, which is similar to Chick’s Halloween costume, the mummy, when he was six years old.
Some critics found its simplistic plot and characterization unbearable. They say that the old-fashioned American sentimentality is too saccharine sweet for the more cynical Australian readers.
In the book’s defense, however, I find that it doesn’t present the ‘good’ characters too idealistically. For instance, Posey makes mistakes, indulge in wearing makeup and dressing up, projecting a less domesticated housewife image. And Maria, whose initial depiction is that of a model daughter, is later revealed to be ashamed of her dad.
The twist at the end left me a bit puzzled, yet it’s technique is interesting enough to make me want to read it one more time.
Definitely one light volume packed with goodness for the soul.
817 words.
Well, it's probably not a suitable time to post this review. But I figured that since I don't really have anything else at the moment and you'll need something light...Plus, among my articles, this is one of my favourite written work. It isn't too bad either, even if I say so myself.=D
Love, the colour purple.
