Five People You Meet in Heaven Review

The Five People You Meet in Heaven: A Review - "This is a story about a man named Eddie and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun" (1). Eddie, an old ride maintainer at a local amusement park by the ocean, believes he accomplished too little during his life. In his past years, all of his loved ones died, making him alone and miserable. During his final minutes of living, a cart on a free fall ride becomes loose. A young girl stands directly beneath it, crying for her mother. With the cart about to crush the little girl, Eddie leaps and tries to save her. His last feeling was two small hands in his own. Eddie dies by the impact of the cart, without knowing if he saved the young girl's life.

Eddie arrives in heaven, finding it is not a paradise, but a place where one's life is explained. He finds out that in heaven, he meets five different people who affected his life greatly. Each person tells him one lesson that helps solve great mysteries in his life. A man whose skin is blue is the first people Eddie meets. This blue man was inadvertently killed by Eddie when he was child. He explains to Eddie that all lives are connected, and no life is a waste.

The second person Eddie meets is his captain from the war. During the war, Eddie and his squad were captured and taken as prisoners of war. For nearly half a year, they struggle to survive from their four captors before killing them in quick fight. After leaving the camp, the captain steps on a land mine, which could have easily killed the whole squad. The captain explains to Eddie that we all make sacrifices. He says, " That's the thing. Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else" (94).

The other three people Eddie meets are a stunning surprise to him. Each person reveals
parts of Eddie's past, from his war experience to his issues with his father. Each person goes deeper and deeper into Eddie's past, making him remember nightmares of his life. Each person teaches him a lesson about forgiveness, meaning, or love. Although learning about his whole life, Eddie still is haunted by his last few moments. Did he save the little girl? Was his death a disappointing failure? This question is finally answered by a person who Eddie never suspected. Read The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom to find out.

Sources:
Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven