Rating: 
Summary: The sum is greater than the parts
Review: There are many divergent reviews of this book here. I will simply say that it isn't perfect, but it conveyed to me something greater than the sum of its flaws and imperfections. I found it comforting. I consider myself an agnostic, in the strict definition of the word, but I'm at an age where I found this comforting, at least as a subject for speculation. It had the ring of "truth" to me, and I don't mean the objective truth of scientific observation, but the kind of truth that feels at home in my gut and my heart. I'll let my mind take care of itself; it's generally quite capable of keeping itself entertained. We all have to deal with death in our own way, and I'm glad I read this book in the week before I found out my father has terminal cancer. Three weeks before they hunted down and shot an abused dog on the hill behind my house. And who knows what will be on the news tonight at 11. I will not apologize for finding ineffable comfort in this book, not to mention good writing, and I recommend it to any questing person, someone who is willing to be open to another person's beliefs and ideas about what may or may not lie in store for all of us. I will make a point of seeing the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Takes Itself Way Too Seriously
Review: This book is incredibly preachy and sees itself as the real authority on life after death. Even in the introduction Matheson asserts that the majority of the book is factual. It's more like Matheson developed some theories and "great lines of dialogue" that he forced into the mouths of his characters.The movie adaptation knew exactly what to pick up and what to leave out. The movie really is better. The book did have some captivating parts and a few interesting ideas, but it tried to tell the reader how the afterlife is rather than how it might be. Because who really knows? Not Richard Matheson, I don't care how much research he's done.
Rating:
Summary: A Truely Astonishing masterpiece
Review: This book touched me. Over and over again. Having already seen the movie, I alredy knew what to expect, but I was wrong. The book is soo much better and DIFFERENT than the movie which is great. The story is basically the same outline, but there is just soo much more heartfilled moments in the book u just couldnt capture on film. So much sorrow and sadness and of course happiness. Not a long read, but the amount of feelings u get out of this book just might change the way you think and live your life. It made me reflect on my life and the people in it that I love and take for granted.
Just a powerfull thought and emotional prevoking story, and Im not ashamed to say that I loved it.
totally worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Life or Death, Which do you prefer?
Review: This book, oh, this book, is absolutely amazing. I read it for the first time about 3 years ago. Anytime I am board or have nothing to read, I reach for this book.
The book grabs a hold of your mind, emotions, and soul. It tells of a journey of a man's life, death, and life again in a way I never imagined possible. The details that this author uses to describe the events in the book is amazing. I feel as if I am the one clinging to life's last thread and trying to hold on to all that I know. His journey begins clouded and disoriented as he struggles to regain what he once had on Earth, only to see that there was no way to go back. He later sees that death is not the end, but the true beginning.
It is a powerful and riveting book with many twists and turns. It opens doors to the way people look at life, death, and the next life. I recommend this book to people who don't mind seeing different views about life, death, heaven, and hell.
If you saw the movie and you didn't quite understand you need to read the book, it is sooo much better than the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Life or Death, Which do you prefer?
Review: This book, oh, this book, is absolutely amazing. I read it for the first time about 3 years ago. Anytime I am board or have nothing to read, I reach for this book.
The book grabs a hold of your mind, emotions, and soul. It tells of a journey of a man's life, death, and life again in a way I never imagined possible. The details that this author uses to describe the events in the book is amazing. I feel as if I am the one clinging to life's last thread and trying to hold on to all that I know. His journey begins clouded and disoriented as he struggles to regain what he once had on Earth, only to see that there was no way to go back. He later sees that death is not the end, but the true beginning.
It is a powerful and riveting book with many twists and turns. It opens doors to the way people look at life, death, and the next life. I recommend this book to people who don't mind seeing different views about life, death, heaven, and hell.
If you saw the movie and you didn't quite understand you need to read the book, it is sooo much better than the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Ideas, and well-written
Review: This was an interesting book for me. I tend to get way too emotional, and I have some issues with the topic of death, so it took some time for me to be mentally ready for this. It's written in an interesting manner, as if not merely fiction, but a story told to a psychic by one who had already passed on. It is told through the eyes of Chris Nielson, a man who was tragically torn from his loving wife when a car accident took his life. He finds himself dealing with the issues of afterlife. Although Summerland may seem like paradise, what kind of heaven could it be without his beloved wife, Ann, and what will Chris be willing to give up to be with her again? The author interestingly has a bibiliography, and has studied much on the subjects of afterlife from a variety of belief systems. To me, at least, he creates a world after death that could be consistent with any number of beliefs, and he describes this world in both exquisite and horrendous detail, drawing the reader into scenes of idyllic pleasure, as well as those of a terrifying nature. It's written quite well, and allows the reader to form the images in his or her mind. (I didn't have quite the same images as the movie did - but that's all interpretation - and the movie was amazing and what inspired me to read the book.) One thing I liked about the style was the short sections (I hesitate to call them chapters). With such a weighty subject matter, it was nice to be able to put it down between sections. While the story was engrossing, sometimes I could only read so much at a time. Interestingly, I found I only cried at the beginning of the book - when Chris was dealing with his own death. The movie (if I recall correctly - it's been awhile) seems to have rather quickly moved on past that point, onto the more central conflict of the novel. During the movie's interpretation of that conflict, I recall crying quite a lot, yet not while reading the novel. At any rate, it's a relatively quick read, and I think it's worthwhile too. It opens up whole new worlds of metaphysics and religion that many may not have pondered before. Please take it with an open mind though - if you already have stern, preconceived notions of what is or isn't after death, you might find this book at odds with your philosophies.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Ideas, and well-written
Review: This was an interesting book for me. I tend to get way too emotional, and I have some issues with the topic of death, so it took some time for me to be mentally ready for this. It's written in an interesting manner, as if not merely fiction, but a story told to a psychic by one who had already passed on. It is told through the eyes of Chris Nielson, a man who was tragically torn from his loving wife when a car accident took his life. He finds himself dealing with the issues of afterlife. Although Summerland may seem like paradise, what kind of heaven could it be without his beloved wife, Ann, and what will Chris be willing to give up to be with her again? The author interestingly has a bibiliography, and has studied much on the subjects of afterlife from a variety of belief systems. To me, at least, he creates a world after death that could be consistent with any number of beliefs, and he describes this world in both exquisite and horrendous detail, drawing the reader into scenes of idyllic pleasure, as well as those of a terrifying nature. It's written quite well, and allows the reader to form the images in his or her mind. (I didn't have quite the same images as the movie did - but that's all interpretation - and the movie was amazing and what inspired me to read the book.) One thing I liked about the style was the short sections (I hesitate to call them chapters). With such a weighty subject matter, it was nice to be able to put it down between sections. While the story was engrossing, sometimes I could only read so much at a time. Interestingly, I found I only cried at the beginning of the book - when Chris was dealing with his own death. The movie (if I recall correctly - it's been awhile) seems to have rather quickly moved on past that point, onto the more central conflict of the novel. During the movie's interpretation of that conflict, I recall crying quite a lot, yet not while reading the novel. At any rate, it's a relatively quick read, and I think it's worthwhile too. It opens up whole new worlds of metaphysics and religion that many may not have pondered before. Please take it with an open mind though - if you already have stern, preconceived notions of what is or isn't after death, you might find this book at odds with your philosophies.
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