What a Book

[sh1te hawk]

Has any body read a book called 'the five people you meet in heaven'

and what did you think of it

cheers

[mimififi]

I have read it actually. It's a very American style of writing, so quite magaziney, a quick read.

I did like the concepts behind the book, but I did feel it lost it's way a little in places. The behaviour from the Father (I'm trying not to give anything away) was a little unnecessary in my view.
The end was just about surprising, but only because it's such a quick read, if really thought about it, you would guess the ending.

Its fine for holiday reading, I wouldn't ring in to the Jeremy Vine show about it though. I hear that Tuesdays with Maury is supposed to my miles better.

Enjoyablilty: 7/10
Readability: 8/10
Intellectual rating: 4/10
would I read it again: No.

[paddy_36]

I started reading it but didn't really like the style of writing, so didn't finish it. I know people who loved it, but also know others who hated it and found it trashy, sentimental and contrived.

Bit of a pretentious answer, but there you go!

[Hermia]

I didn't like it all. I found it very contrived and it just reminded my of some awful syrupy American self-help book. I felt I was being lectured to. I just felt another author could have made the same points, but in a far more subtle and sophisticated manner. I have a friend who loved it though.

[jake-the-peg]

I read it waiting for a plane - I think somebody set out to write an 'uplifting life afirming book' and consequently it tends to feel rather contrived...ooh - 2 other people used that word too - think we're getting a theme here.

I know I keep on about this book but skip this one and read 'The saddle bag' by Bahiyyig Nakhjavani

[Binky]

I haven't read it, but someone strongly recommended it to me several months ago.

[mimififi]

jake; what is it about? Is it scary/really upsetting. I tried reading "a boy called it" (I think that is what it is called, frankly it is my own fault I should have realised that any book that is described as being "a true account of the worst case of child abuse in californian history to date" might not be bed time reading) ended up in therapy and have been being treated for my phobia of modern books. That therapy is coming to an end and I feel ready to perhaps visit and library, maybe look at some covers, maybe think about picking one up again......

give me an insight, without being a spoiler.....cheers

[jake-the-peg]

An event happens in the desert in the nineteenth century, it surrounds the contents of the saddle bag.

Each chapter is wrtten by one of the participants each of whom follows a different faith. The Zorroastrian, the sufi, the sunni moslem, the christian etc. Each sees the event through the eyes of their own cultural and religious bias.

As you read each view point you gradually get to see more and more of what's actually going on.

The author is a Ba'hai and one of the teachings of Ba'haism is that there is truth in all religions and the book is subtly putting over this point of view.

Think Arabian knights told in the style of Pulp Fiction

[paddy_36]

jake-the-peg, at the risk of making a bit of a twit of myself cos I haven't read it all - are you sure you've got the right book?

[mimififi]

sounds like a fab book. Relatively safe!

[jake-the-peg]

Oh yes

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747552967/qid=1132306576/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/026-0824423-9914061#product-details

[paddy_36]

Eh?

[baby_gurl21]

Was a great book and would definatley read it again