Rating: 
Summary: Not the Best Guide to Heaven
Review: A soft read, with much imagination.But, if you want more than that, I would suggest picking up a book or two about people who have been there; i.e. 'Near-Death Experiences' such as Tiffany Snow ("Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life"), or the numerous research documents available through IANDS (International Association of Near-Death Studies). Imagination is fine - but this is the information age - getting a group synopsis of heaven through unrelated people with NDEs can get you a better window, without having to stretch it too much.
Rating: 
Summary: Creative Parable About Heaven
Review: Mitch Albom's parable is not a book that is overly big on characters, plot or analysis. It does not use difficult vocabulary or attempt to give you an in-depth plot description, but what it does it synthesize a person's account of heaven into five chapters. A creative concept for a novel, it achieves its point mainly through its simplicity. What is the point? Well, the point revealed will be different for each individual. My perception of the novel, in it essence, is that the past effects our future and that we, in some odd or unique way, are all connected with those around us whether we realize it or not. Ultimately, all events and people have an essential role in our lives, and that there is something better out there for us if we can address our issues in life. Eddie, the book's protagonist, is a maintenance worker for an amusement park and gets into an accident that claims his life. He can't remember all the details of his last moments, but we follow Eddie into heaven where he, one by one, encounters five people from his past. These people were not necessarily the closest ones to him in life, but they all played a significant role in his being here. Within each of these people there is a message revealed that Eddie uncovers, a lesson about life and the relationships that he had in life. There is a progression from the first to the fifth person, and Eddie becomes closer to Heaven as he understands more and more with each story. The difficult aspect of such a book is in expressing a message or lesson without becoming a lecture. Albom teeters on this edge, but I think he does a commendable job in keeping the situations and people involved in Eddie's life the focal point of the novel, as well as the descriptions and sensations that Eddie feels on his journey to Heaven. He tells the story, and lets the reader decide. For this reason some will like it, and others will want to put it down after a few pages. Personally, I thought it was a uniquely inspiring story and would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected, but excellent nonetheless...
Review: I had read "Tuesdays with Morrie" and was absolutely blown away by the power of Album's tale... Of course, when I realized he had written another "inspiring" book, I immediately put it on my "To Read" list... Once I did read it, however, I did not find that I got what I was expecting... This is not to say that I was disappointed, I was instead taken off guard by the angle at which "Five People" is told. Anyone who knows what "Morrie" was like know that it is told directly from Album's perspective. He interacted with Morrie regularly and he wrote his story for all of us to read... I thought that "Five People" would be similar to this because I knew that Eddie was his uncle. The fact that this book is entirely fiction, based loosely on things that Eddie had told Album while he was still living, changes the angle of the tale dramatically. Suddenly, the novel is no longer entirely philosophical, as was "Morrie," but it is now Album's interpretation of what he believed Eddie would say. The story is inspiring at parts and the way the characters mesh together and interact is laudible. I also enjoyed the factual information that was woven throughout the tale. However, I can see where many people may be disappointed with the book. One reviewer stated well that this book is entirely subjective... Of you are the type of person who enjoys "touchy-feely" reads, then this book is the one for you. If you are looking for a deep and insightful guide of what Heaven may hold for you, then I'd say that you should pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and deep
Review: Cory Lynn,
Inspiring and deep
This is an awe inspiring and extremely deep book with so many lessons packed inside of it. Everyone of every genre should read this thought provoking book. I also want to recommend: Nightmares Echo,Beauty For Ashes, Finding Fish,Secret Life Of Bees-all courageous books
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: I never thought that this book had to provide the meaning of life. I read it to be entertained--and I was. The book is an easy read which I find I need every so often. I enjoyed the book and did not find it to be preachy. I think some people really do go through their lives in a vacuum of sorts and DON'T realize that human interaction is more than meets the eye. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fiction for its entertainment value.
Rating:
Summary: Dance as if No One is Watching
Review: Life is a journey and it doesn't wait. It's there to enjoy if you seize the day, but it will pass you by if you wait. That's the message that permeates this amazing, life-changing book. The comparisons to Rikki Lee Travolta's "My Fractured Life" ring true. Books that make us feel and engage us to live - to not fall victim to challenges or live in
Rating:
Summary: Rare by Today's Standards
Review: The special appeal of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is the timelessness of its appeal. Like "My Fractured Life" and "Time Traveler's Wife" it breaths an emotional energy into the story that is more reminiscent of classics from another era. The story takes you on an emotional journey allowing us to feel both for and with the characters. It is a fulfilling experience that is rare in books of today.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-warming
Review: None of us are sure what happens after we die, and we often wonder if what we did in life had any meaning. The author presents a fantastic tale that gives purpose to the seemingly meaningless events in one mans life, and how the character positively affected others. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Premise, but Too Sentimental
Review: I usually don't like Mitch Albom's books. The fact that they're bound like oversized greeting cards, I think, is symbolic of the excessive sentimentality in his stories. This book, his first novel, is no exception. The reason why I gave it two stars instead of one is because the premise is experimental and interesting. But, Albom's sugary prose and (ugh!) dialogue nearly sent my pancreas into shock. The way the book starts, with a potentially gripping rescue of a little girl, could have sounded more fresh than it did. And the dialogue between Eddie and his wife was very over-the-top. Bottom line, if you liked "Tuesdays with Morrie", then you might like this book. But I didn't, so I don't. Sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking Tale
Review: This book made me think about how one moment can not only change your life,but that of others as well. I, personally do not believe that I will meet five people in heaven when i die, but i was able to overlook this while reading it. The lessons that each person told could apply to anyone reading the book, and wether you're religious or not, you could probably identify with atleast one of the characters in this book. The Book leaves you to believe what you want, but it really opens your mind to what could be and the possibilities of what life after death really is. It does not push you to believe one thing, or this is right and that's wrong. I loved it. Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.
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