Reviews

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

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kyliea32's review

4.0

Although, this book started out a little slow for me the storyline and pace began to pick-up as I got further into the book, which is where the great mystery of these phone calls from heaven begins to evolve. As you read, one begins to think about their own faith and beliefs in the afterlife. I know at a couple of instances it made me question mine... but overall an interesting read with a powerful message.

kschilke's review

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2.0

very slow read, until the last 50 pages.

jgraydee's review

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3.0

About halfway through the book, I wanted to give up on it -- it was too sappy and slow. The pace picked up when the author introduced a conspiracy/mystery element to the story. That motivated me to finish the novel.

Albom weaves historical information about AGB and the invention of the telephone into the story. This also added interest.

This is not my favorite Albom book, but it is still worth reading.

katykelly's review

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4.0

Reading this book and knowing the author's beliefs is a little like discovering C. S. Lewis's meaning behind the Narnia books. They work well as novels, with interesting characters and plots, magic realism and whimsy, until you discover that actually, it could all be proselytising. That's not to say they aren't enjoyable.

I've enjoyed Mitch Albom's books before, even being aware that his beliefs differ from mine, and not had a problem with his stories, enjoying them for their entertainment value and interesting stories. Here's another good plot: the first of several people in US small town Coldwater, Tess, receives a phone message from her mum. Her mother is dead, however. Later that day, other residents also begin getting calls from loved ones who have died - a sister, a son, a work colleague.

What is going on? Are they really getting calls from Heaven?

The fun part for me was the media circus that quickly descends, bringing pilgrims and protestors, traffic and business into this small, shocked town. And the questions: are people lying or deluded? How is it happening? Just what about the content of these very short and cryptic calls?

The main characters are really Katherine Yellin, who can't believe she's not the only one getting calls (after all, she's the most devout), talking to her much-loved sister. There's Amy Penn, the journalist who wants to use Coldwater to make her name and career. And there's Sully, just released from a spell in prison for his part in a plane crash who is also grieving for the wife who died whilst in a coma during his confinement. Sully's son Jules desperately wants his mum to call him, but Sully is adamant that it's all a hoax.

We have theists and atheists lining up in the book to pronounce and denounce the heavenly calls, and an enjoyable plot as we discover the truth. It keeps the attention.

And a part I really liked were the segues into Alexander Graham Bell's era and story, with the invention of the telephone. Quite moving and completely fascinating.

Well constructed and engaging, with the media angle and Bell's story the best bits, some sad insights into grief and loss, an ending that may annoy and frustrate a little (as it did me), but ignoring the epilogue, a great story about love, loss and redemption.