Entertaining the Alien

46. The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom

I know, I know. I should totally lose all street-cred as a cynic just for reading this book. And to make matters even worse, I'll confess: I cried a little bit at the end.

That said, this book alternated between being enjoyable and being annoying as hell. Parts of it were very interesting, and Albom is a better writer than I'd expected him to be. What irritated the crap out of me is that the book is shamelessly, deliberately manipulative. I cried not because I was caught up in the story or because I cared a great deal about the main character, but rather because Albom punched in the right code designed to make all but the stoniest of hearts feel a little misty. And that pissed me off, even while I was wiping my eyes. If you're going to manipulate me (I'm glaring at you, Stephen King, oh friend and bandmate of Albom), at least be a little more subtle about it--or do it by writing characters that I don't want to strangle.

So I dunno. Interesting ideas, but so over-the-top in places it just makes you want to roll your eyes. I can see why it's selling so well, but jeez people.