From the back of the book:
"Charley Benetto is a broken man, his life destroyed by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits rock bottom after discovering he won't be invited to his only daughter's wedding. And he decides to take his own life.

Charley takes a midnight ride to his small hometown: his final journey. But as he staggers into his old house, he makes an astonishing discovery. His mother - who died eight years earlier - is there, and welcomes Charley home as if nothing had ever happened.

What follows is the one seemingly ordinary day so many of us yearn for: a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets and to seek forgiveness."

Picked up at the KL meet at the end of September. I enjoyed the last Mitch Albom book that I read, so snaffled this one quick when it appeared on the table! I like the size of these books, they're eminently portable and the other one was quick to read so I expect this one will be, too. I'll try to read this one this week so I can pass it on to my Dad when he's here next week if he's interested in it. He also read the other one, and has read Tuesdays wih Morrie, which I've not read.

Another good book. This guy seems to have a "thing" about dead and dying people, and miracle meetings, from the two books I've read!

It was another quick read, and the background information that was filled in as the book went along made the story grow as the reader got to know the characters better. The relationship between children and their parents is well explored, as is the way that his parents did or didn't interact. I liked the "list" of times his mother stood up for him, and times he didn't stand up for his mother. The anecdotes were quite poignent.

The fact that he felt bound to do what his father wanted, despite it being his mother's birthday, for example, shows how we can be desperate for approval from people who seem remote, no matter how old we are. It was sad that his father tried to live out his dreams through Chick, whether they were relevant to his life or not.

Another thought-provoking book, and well worth a read :o)

Dad is currently reading it! I read it in about 3 fairly short sittings, in the end. I said it wouldn't take long!

Reserved for Pookledo - I'll drop it off in the UK when I'm there for the Convention in April. Sadly, Pookledo can't come along to the meet, but I'll post it to her or something as it's only a dinky book!

RELEASE NOTES:

Not a trade, just a RABCK, but the shortcut is close enough!
Sending to Pookledo - Enjoy!!

Wheeee!!! Received this after a bad day at work. Proves there are nice people in the world.

Thanks ever-so Katie! :o)

Ooh-er! I can't remember when I read a book this quick before. 2 days!

Not as enjoyable or as much as a tear jerker as the other Mitch Albom books I have read, but still a good read.

Thanks for posting it to me Katie! :o)

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to someone who has it on their wishlist.

Awww thank you Pookledo! My mum rang this morning to say a book arrived a few days ago but they kept forgetting to tell me. I'll pick it up when I visit my parents in a coupla weeks and after that I'm sure it won't take long to read!

Finally trying to read some of the books that have been on Mt TBR for too long. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Tuesdays with Morrie, probably because a book that has an overt "message" has to be really careful not to come off as preachy or too cloyingly sweet and heart-warming. There are people who like this type of tale, but it's just not really my cup of tea. In summary, I would say "Ok".

Picked up at meetup - leaving on train. Decluttering shelves in preparation for Divine's Big Move!