For One More Day

The succinct, but compelling novel is an easy read, as it is short in length and simply written, yet the story is brilliantly told.

'For One More Day' follows former major league baseball player Charles 'Chick' Benetto on his downward spiral toward attempted suicide and the mystical, soul-saving 24-hour encounter he has with his deceased mother.

Through Albom's signature flashbacks and forwards, the reader is provided details of Chick's past and present life in small doses, taking the form of memories, letters, and anecdotes dispersed throughout the main text. We journey with Chick as he remembers the unconditional love his mother always showed him, which he frequently failed to return, and how the unrelenting guilt resulting from his actions ultimately destroys his life. Yet, Chick is able to redeem himself, receiving the precious gift of one more day with his dead mother to finally say all he wished he could have. Through the protagonist's downfall and salvation, we are reminded never to take the life we have and those who love us for granted.

The characters are believable and easily relatable for anyone who has ever lost someone they loved. Even readers who have not undergone such a tragedy, can hold onto the story and learn to appreciate what they have while they still have it.

Albom, also known for his international best sellers 'Tuesdays with Morrie' and 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven,' is a sportswriter who turned to penning books that inspire readers to embrace life and live in the moment. Pick up any of these three novels, and I guarantee you will not put it down and you will undoubtedly be left with a euphoric feeling by the story's end.