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A review by jenbsbooks
Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
5.0
4.5 stars. Liked this a lot, definitely one I'd recommend ... and I'd recommend the audio over reading. I was able to get both formats, and there were some things in print that (what Mitch was saying ... just thoughts? Actual speaking? The words were not in quotation marks) that was just a little easier to understand when read by the author. That ... and there are actual audio clips of some little conversations with Chika, that are priceless. Her little voice ... There are some pictures in the print/kindle copy too though, so pros and cons to both.
It's not a spoiler to say that Chika dies ... this is stated pretty much on the first page. I don't know if I was already in an emotional mood, but I was close to tears for much of the book.
The presentation was interesting ... 1st person, present tense for the most part. Shifts to past tense for memories. This is a true story/non-fiction, yet, the second sentence is "Chika is lying on the carpet in my office" ... this is almost a year after she has passed away. There's nothing paranormal, she's not a "ghost" or a "vision" ... it isn't represented as abnormal in anyway, They have little conversations. She encourages him to write. As this IS non-fiction ... did the author actually SEE Chika? A dream, a vision ... or just in his head? It's never explained, my assumption is it's just in his head, as many might with those who have passed on.
The story is one he is telling TO Chika (so there is the second person "you" a lot). There are seven sections, with several chapters in each. Not numbered chronologically (this makes it a little harder to switch between formats, to find one's place). The "inner" chapters are "you" (stories from Chika's earlier history), "me" (background on Mitch and his wife) and "us" ... these are taking place in the "present" between Mitch and Chika. Then there are the "Lessons" ... (1) I am your protection (2) Time Changes (3) A Sense of Wonder (4) Kid Tough (5) When Children Are Yours and Not Yours (6) When a Marriage Becomes a Family (7) What We Carry.
While I grew up in a religious home, I've stepped back in recent years and often struggle with God and religion in books. Here, while there was definitely talk of religion and God (not LDS, but Christian), it wasn't overbearing. I don't think this author could have written it without sharing some views as it's so intrinsic to him, but it wasn't a problem for me as it can be at times.
It's not a spoiler to say that Chika dies ... this is stated pretty much on the first page. I don't know if I was already in an emotional mood, but I was close to tears for much of the book.
The presentation was interesting ... 1st person, present tense for the most part. Shifts to past tense for memories. This is a true story/non-fiction, yet, the second sentence is "Chika is lying on the carpet in my office" ... this is almost a year after she has passed away. There's nothing paranormal, she's not a "ghost" or a "vision" ... it isn't represented as abnormal in anyway, They have little conversations. She encourages him to write. As this IS non-fiction ... did the author actually SEE Chika? A dream, a vision ... or just in his head? It's never explained, my assumption is it's just in his head, as many might with those who have passed on.
The story is one he is telling TO Chika (so there is the second person "you" a lot). There are seven sections, with several chapters in each. Not numbered chronologically (this makes it a little harder to switch between formats, to find one's place). The "inner" chapters are "you" (stories from Chika's earlier history), "me" (background on Mitch and his wife) and "us" ... these are taking place in the "present" between Mitch and Chika. Then there are the "Lessons" ... (1) I am your protection (2) Time Changes (3) A Sense of Wonder (4) Kid Tough (5) When Children Are Yours and Not Yours (6) When a Marriage Becomes a Family (7) What We Carry.
While I grew up in a religious home, I've stepped back in recent years and often struggle with God and religion in books. Here, while there was definitely talk of religion and God (not LDS, but Christian), it wasn't overbearing. I don't think this author could have written it without sharing some views as it's so intrinsic to him, but it wasn't a problem for me as it can be at times.