Mitch Albom's "For One More Day"

Mitch Albom's For One More Day is a complex literary journey into the heart of one lost soul. The book became a #1 New York Times Best Seller Charley Benetto grew up having to choose between a mother who supported his intellectual side and a father who knew he could play ball. He ultimately chose his father's path, only to have his father abandon him, and his mother left to hold the family together.

Charley ultimately makes the big league, being called up to the New York Mets during the 1973 World Series. That two weeks defines his life for him with his father reappearing in his life to cheer him on. An injury changes the course of his life and he is forced to deal with the reality of being a has-been. Charley marries and has a beautiful daughter, but ultimately loses it all with a battle with alcohol. Charley has the opportunity, courtesy of his father, to regain a moment of his former glory when he is asked to substitute in a New York Mets old timer event. He lies to his mother about where he's going. When he returns the next day, she has died without him able to say goodbye. Charley begins to hit the bottle for earnest. The final breaking point happens when he learns that his daughter is married and did not invite him to the wedding. Charley decides to end his pathetic life, and drives back to the small town in which he grew up to do it. En route, he has a car accident (courtesy of the six pack of empty beer cans on the car floor) and walks the rest of the way to town. While sitting in the dugout of his little league stadium with his gun pressed against his temple, he sees his mother and follows her back to their old house. Charley has the opportunity to spend one more day with his mother and the chance to turn back the clock and fix what is wrong with his life.

For One More Day was picked up by Oprah Winfrey's production company and premiered on ABC on December 9, 2007, starring Michael Imperioli as Charley, Ellen Burstyn as his mother and Vadim Imperioli (Michael's son) as Charley as a young boy.

The book For One More Day sits in the top ten list of most major booksellers and is widely chosen as a book club readers' choice.