Reading this book felt like therapy – simple as that. It was like a lecture or a long conversation with a favourite teacher about life and death, and the meaning and love. It is a compilation of inspiring life-lessons told eloquently.
The pages did not overwhelm with ordinary advice. It was guidance told through Mitch’s favourite college professor. The author, Mitch Albom – like all of us during college – swore to never hold an office job or work under deadlines. His life, however, took a turn after he entered the work field. After achieving early success in his thirties, he reunites with his old professor and regains a new found respect towards life. His professor Morrie is diagnosed with ALS – a terminal illness. This reality brings Mitch and Morrie back to discussing life’s bigger questions – the questions that never leave us – as they would discuss them back in college.
Every Tuesday, Mitch flies to Morrie to learn another life lesson. The beauty of this novel is not only the valuable reminders it holds, or its wisdom. The beauty is in the relationship between Mitch and Morrie, as they refer to each other as ‘coach’ and ‘player’. The connection between the two is complex and enriching. One of the many lessons in Tuesdays With Morrie is “How useful it would be to put a daily limit on self-pity. Just a few tearful minutes, then on with the day.”
The pair speak of love, marriage, reincarnation, jealousy, youth, death, and everything that a mind can ponder. Although the novel may be criticized for ‘answering the unanswerable wonders of the world,’ that alone is the magic it holds. A gripping read, it can be finished in a sitting. Not only is it compelling, but quite essential. It is a reminder that life is not about materialistic values. Instead, it is about love and forgiveness. Even though one is bombarded incessantly with such quotes, Morrie’s words are more life lessons are than packaged quotes. All this is real – it’s a dying man’s take on life, a bridge between both worlds; a perspective of life and death;
“The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.”
If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
Spanning America and Europe, this crime fiction novel tells the story of a woman who changes into a vengeful con artist 24 hours after being framed by the mafia.
By Sana Ashraf | @sanaalikespie
