by Martin Chapman

Created on: July 03, 2008   Last Updated: July 18, 2011

Have you read Mitch Albom's book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" ? I did and although it did not seem to be the classic, which "Tuesdays With Morrie" was, it was nonetheless a moving book. It was written in a simple style and had some clever little twists that fit together into the puzzle, which made up Eddie's life.

There are similarities with the "Morrie" book, in that both books deal with the impact that other people can have on us and what is really important in our lives. As Morrie is dying, all those things we find important during our daily lives suddenly become irrelevant and all he wants is to be with his close family, friends and students. Eddie meets people in heaven who he also loves, even if he has to make up with them, as he does with his father.

The ending of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" bears quite a similarity to the James Stewart Film It's a Wonderful Life, especially when Eddie says to the little girl Tala: "I was sad because I didn't do anything with my life". So Tala shows him the thousands of children he kept safe, by maintaining the fairground attractions at Ruby Pier, just as the angel Clarence showed James Stewart what Bedford Falls would have been like, if he had never been born. Eddie never left the Pier, except for the War, whereas James Stewart remained manger of the Savings and Loans at Bedford Falls. Both wanted to leave and see more of the world. Eddie wanted to study engineering at college and Stewart wanted to move to the big city and become a successful businessman.

In heaven Eddie met 5 people:
1. The Blue Man who lost his life after swerving a car he was driving to avoid hitting Eddie as a kid and as a result hit a tree;
2. The Captain who saved Eddie's life during the war, although he had to shoot Eddie to do it; and shortly after lost his own life on a landmine, while helping his unit escape;
3. Ruby who was the wife of the Pier founder; who told Eddie about his father's past and helped Eddie forgive his father; and who was the great grandmother of the guy who dropped the key by accident, which caused the pulley to jam, which caused the cable to snap, which had supported the car, which fell and killed Eddie;
4. Eddie's wife Marguerite - the woman who he loved and wanted to spend every minute with; and
5. Tala-the little girl he killed during the War, although he did not know, but it was an event which Eddie felt had put a curse on his life.

Just as Eddie was surprised by who he met, so was the

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>