The 5 people you meet in Heaven
Mitch Albom
Just to give you a taster of how this book will make you feel, I was flying to Glasgow in the morning reading 'Notes from a small island' by Bill Bryson and crying with laughter. The stewardess was looking at my as if I was some sort of weirdo because she had no idea what was going through my mind. I finished the Bryson book on the plane up and started the Albom book on the was back down. The Albom book made me cry but for other reasons and the same stewardess was on the plane: I'm sure she thinks I a complete emotional f&@*k up (and she is probably right)
It probably only appeals to the sensitive types, Mitch Albom is the guy who wrote 'Tuesdays with Morrie' which was a huge bestseller about someone who sat on Tuesday afternoons with a terminally ill patient discussing the meaning of life. If that is not the sort of thing that floats your boat then ignore this book completely. But if you do consider these things the it is a wonderful journey about the significance and insignificance of the people you meet in life and how you might affect their lives unknowingly.
The twist at the end for me was a huge sucker punch to the solar plexus and made me sob, I promise, so as far as books go that provoke emotional responses it is one of the biggest responses I have ever had from a book. Incidentally it was bought for me by a friend who had recently lost his father which made it all the more poignant.
Don't get me wrong, it's not sad in the end, just very emotional and an excellent journey and something well worth recommending.