Who are the five people you meet in heaven? I don’t know, but they’re different from the people I will meet in heaven. This book follows the death and afterlife of Eddie, a bitter and lonely elderly man. He meets five people whose paths have crossed his during his lifetime. Each of them explains a part of his life to him. The fifth person points out what the true meaning and purpose of his life has been.
The entire scenario doesn’t seem to jive with any religious tradition I have ever heard about, but who knows? Mitch Albom’s theory is as good as any other. But why five people?
The most authentic and touching part of the book comes at the end of the acknowkledgments. Albom thanks his uncle, the real Eddie. I might actually like to read his real life story.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Hyperion 2003
Softcover edition-Time Warner Paperbacks 2004
FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, THE
I was fortunate enough to see this movie earlier this year at a screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. It is a true story in the tradition of the underdog sports movie, much like Hoosiers.
Sean Astin is hired as the coach to lead the team in the final season of play for Norway, Iowa high school baseball. The high school is being forced by the state to merge with a larger high school, thereby ending a tradition of baseball dominance by this small school. The team and the town are demoralized by the upcoming merger.
Many of the players are also resentful that Astin’s character, Kent Stock, has replaced their beloved former coach. Through perseverence and a willingness to involve the town and the players, Stock is able to be somewhat of a success.
Suffice to say that this film does not have a totally happy ending; it is, after all a true story. But you will leave the theater feeling relatively satisfied with the way things turn out. As an added bonus The Final Season was filmed in Iowa, and a number of townspeople are extras. This gives it more than a veneer of authenticity.
The Final Season should appeal to those who enjoy enjoy different genres-there is even a love interest for Kent Stock. It is also appropriate for most ages-it is rated PG. So go see it! It opens October 12.
In this episode, HBO has definitely turned down the dial on the intimacy meter. There is only one graphic scene. Although it may prove distressing for anyone who’s ever eaten in a restaurant, I just tell myself it’s fiction. Those of you have been watching the show should have guessed that it involves Jamie, since she is a professional cook. Anyway, this is the incident that finally sends her off to see May.
Dave finally decides to join Katie in a session at May’s office. He blames his lack of desire on their mundane life, which upsets Katie. Dave seems to be looking around and seeing lots of attractive females-including some young teenagers at an ice cream shop. Look out Dave!
Carolyn purchases a pregnancy test, and uses it in the rest room at the drug store, instead of waiting until Palek is with her. When it indicates she is not pregnant, she trashes the rest room, then visits Palek at work to tell him. At home, she confesses something about her past. Palek is angry enough to miss their session with May. And then he goes to buy a suit and starts flirting with the sales girl.
There are lots of warning signs for relationships in this episode. To add a note of interest, Dave and Palek actually meet for the first time. The intertwining of the characters’ lives should definitely perk things up.
Once again, Marek Halter’s book sent me scrambling for my Bible to read about Zipporah. Her father was Jethro, a Midian priest. She and her sisters met Moses at a well as they were drawing water for their flock, and she did bear Moses two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Like Sarah, the bulk of this novel is based on Halter’s knowledge of life in ancient times.
This Zipporah is a Cushite, a dark-skinned woman, who is the adopted daughter of Jethro. We do eventually learn how she came to Midian, but there seems to be no point in not telling us sooner. She is intelligent, confident, and strong-willed; a good companion for Moses.
Halter does a good job in this novel of giving personalities to a number of the characters, particularly Jethro and Zipporah’s sisters, Orma and Sefoba. There is quite a bit more action in this book than in Sarah.
Halter gives us a good, albeit overly rosy, picture of life amongst ancient people of the desert, as well as a glimpse of the Egyptian civilization of the time. These depictions are probably the strongest feature of the book.
So-this is not the greatest book, but it is a quick and easy read, and does have some interesting material. I think I’ll take a break from the Canaan Trilogy and read something else now.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Crown Publishers 2005
Softcover edition-Three Rivers Press 2005
Zipporah, Wife of Moses: A Novel
Jamie is not happy with the decision she made about Hugo. She is out partying with friends, and is constantly attempting to contact Hugo. Her friend Mason suggests that she gets help to deal with her unhappiness. Mason’s sister (who is Carolyn) “sees someone”, and it may be helpful for Jamie.
Carolyn and Palek spend the evening with friends who, it turns out, are expecting their third child. Up until now, they have told no one that they are trying to get pregnant, despite May’s suggestions that they share this with others. Well, one of them tells (I won’t say who), and of course there’s a fight. Followed, of course, by make-up sex.
Because of the current state of their relationship, Katie shares with May that she is particularly dreading their upcoming wedding anniversary. Dave takes his ten year old daughter shopping to find an anniversary present for Katie. Their daughter chooses a highly inappropriate gift. Maybe she knows what’s going on!
May and Arthur discuss John, as well as May’s work.
As we learn more about the characters, they are becoming more interesting. With more characters in the show our couples seem more real, and the plots are more involved. I’m looking forward to more episodes.
The characters and their stories are becoming more compelling. I hope the trend continues, since now that I’ve started blogging the show I feel the responsibility to keep watching!
Episode two starts off with the Dave and Katie story line. As May predicted, Dave is curious about Katie’s sessions with May, and concerned that they’re talking about him. Dave has made it very clear he wants nothing to do with couples therapy.
In a therapy session following “on demand” lovemaking, Palek admits to May that he is sick of having sex because they have to. Carolyn is angry at him, so she storms out of the room, and they get into an argument outside.
Jamie and Hugo have yet to get to couples therapy. They have found a new apartment and are excited about moving in. Jamie’s doubts about Hugo’s commitment continue.
May admits to Arthur that she has received a message from John. Obviously he is someone they have known a long time, but the nature of the relationship is unspecified.
Fortunately this episode develops the characters a little more. We learn more about their other relationships-families, friends,work. This does make them more interesting. There were still scenes of graphic intimacy, so this show is definitely not for the kiddies!
This new HBO series has received a tremendous amount of press due to the numerous instances of sexually explicit scenes in each episode. Just as HBO pushed the envelope with televised graphic violence in The Sopranos, this series takes a leap forward (or is it backward?) with graphic intimacy.
The first episode introduces us to the main characters: three couples, each in a crisis in their relationship, who seek help with the same therapist. The therapist’s husband will also play a continuing role in this drama, as will other minor characters.
As we meet the couples we learn very quickly what their issues are. Katie and Dave are married, in their forties and the parents of two young children. They struggle with a lack of intimacy. Carolyn and Palek, a married couple in their thirties, have spent the past year trying to conceive. Jamie and Hugo are in their twenties and recently engaged. Jamie mistrusts Hugo’s commitment to monogamy. We learn that even the therapist, May, and her husband, Arthur, have had their share of trouble, most lately with Arthur’s decision to retire, while May continues working.
The characters lack depth, and the dialog is sparse and ordinary. I’ll keep watching in the hopes that the characters will develop and become three-dimensional and sympathetic and interesting.
For anyone who might be squeamish about viewing graphic sex on TV, I’d recommend watching this first episode by yourself. I’m glad I did!
Sarah is the first book in Marek Halter’s “Canaan Trilogy”, a series about three women of the Bible. It tells the story of Sarai, a daughter of a lord of the ancient Sumerian city-state of Ur, who marries Abram. They become the matriarch and patriarch of the Jewish people. Yes, we know them best as Sarah and Abraham, but that name change comes later in the tale.
Halter’s narrative is loosely based on the chapters in Genesis which detail this very important story. I am no historian, but Halter has obviously done his research and his descriptions of life in ancient times seem genuine. In fact, the details of daily life among the ancients are the most interesting part of this book. The descriptions of the emotional lives of the characters seem one-dimensional, especially for such an important story.
Sarah, however, did send me back to read my Bible. I was interested in seeing how much of this story came from the Bible (not much), and what Halter had invented.
I am going to read the other books in the series-Zipporah, wife of Moses and Lilah. I’m hoping the stories will be a bit more compelling.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Crown Publishers 2004
Softcover edition-Three Rivers Press 2005
Sarah: A Novel (Canaan Trilogy)
This book by Maria Rosa Menocal is subtitled How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain. This was another book club selection. We thought it would provide an informative and interesting backdrop to current tensions amongst some of the world’s religions.
The subject is well-researched, but no one in our book club could actually get through it. It is incredibly boring. The compound sentences are difficult to follow. The language is stilted and far too scholarly for a trade paperback. While I have no doubt there is a great deal of important information in the book, it’s too much work to dig it out from beneath the weight of all that scholarship.
I’m sorry to say I cannot recommend this book.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Little, Brown and Co. 2002
Softcover edition-Back Bay Books 2004
The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain
I bought this book by Julia Glass to read while on vacation, so I did not have high hopes for it. It was a bit formulaic, but overall I enjoyed it. I have read many, many books and I have seen these characters before: the precocious four-year old who is smarter than his parents (particularly his father); the husband who is a shrink but won’t speak to his wife; the gay friend/restauranteur; and of course our protaganist-the hardworking concerned mother who just wants a fufilling career, a happy marriage and a well-adjusted son. Toss in the damaged young woman and her family, plus a host of characters-improbably including the governor of New Mexico, and you have quite a mish-mash.
However-the story is very well told. The interaction between the characters is true to life. They make seemingly irrational decisions, and of course there are unintended consequences.
The story revolves around Greenie Duquette, the owner of a bakery in Greenwich Village. Her friendship with Walter, the gay restauranteur, leads to an introduction to Ray McCrae, the above mentioned governor. He offers Greenie a job as the chef at the Governor’s Mansion in New Mexico. Of course she accepts (otherwise there would be no book!), and she takes her son, but not her husband, off to her new life. Not the most probable of circumstances, but this is fiction.
Despite the myriad cast of characters and situations, the book is not at all confusing. It’s a relatively easy read. I’d recommend this book. Two caveats, however: the paperback version is 558 pages; also there are 9/11 related events. If you find that distressing, avoid this book.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Pantheon 2006
Softcover edition-Anchor Books 2007
The Whole World Over: A Novel
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