TMST: Famous Authors from Michigan

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3/21/2023 Tell us about some famous author from your city/state/country

Famous? Mmmmmm I'm going to have to do some digging for this one. I know a few people that have written books that are from my state or city. I live in the US so I could list a few, but I'm going to try and research Michigan folks. *vanishes to the Googleverse*

*pops back*

Okay...here is what I found!

• Lyssa Kay Adams! She wrote 'The Bromance Book Club' which I read a little while ago. She certainly is making a name for herself. :) I can't wait to read more by her. She currently lives in Michigan. Not sure if she was born and raised here, but cool that she is here. 
• Steve Hamilton. I have seen his books everywhere so that is fun that he is a Michigander. Looks like he is known for mysteries and thrillers. I'll have to finally check out one of his books. 
• Mitch Albom. Originally born in New Jersey, but he currently lives in Michigan. I feel like I knew this fact, but still nice to see a familiar name! Plus I have read many of his books! 

Those are the names that stuck out to me when thinking and researching. I'm sure I've seen (and maybe even read) some books by other Michigan folks. Here is a list I found that has a bunch of names of authors tied to Michigan in some way. 

Book Review: The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Author: Mitch Albom
Titles: The Time Keeper
Genre: Fiction, Inspirational, & Fantasy
Pages: Ebook
First Published: September 2012
Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend

In this fable, the first man on earth to count the hours becomes Father Time. 

The inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world - now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began - and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

"Once we began to chime the hour, we lost the ability to be satisfied."

That…that sentence, I feel, is the whole meaning of this book. With the measurement of time, we have lost of appreciation for every second. Some want more time, some want less, some are not grateful, and some do not take half a moment to smell the roses. Especially with our modern society. I find myself time-watching and begging time to hurry up or slow down (depending on the day). 

Dor is obsessed with counting and measuring things out. He then makes a fatal mistake to count and measure time. This leads the world down a horrible path. He is “punished” to have immortality and be all alone in a cave with the voices of the miserable people begging for more time or less time. Poor guy. However, redemption would come when he is tasked to make two people see the light and make them realize time means nothing and to enjoy what you have. 

There is Sarah…suicidal and heart-broken over a silly boy. 

And then there is Victor….he is dying of cancer and he wants more time. 

These are two souls that Dor needs to save and open their eyes. I felt really bad for Victor. Dying is sucky especially if there if that means leaving behind the one you love and when you feel there is still so much to do. Yeah…I kinda felt bad for Sarah, but not really. Having a broken-heart is crappy, but (even though I’ll sound like an a-hole) I wanted her story to sadder. They went one like one or two dates….c’mon. 

This was really good. Not the best of the author’s books. But it was really good. SUPER quick and easy. I literally flew by in a matter of minutes. I really do love how he explained the creation of marking time. It was certainly creative. 

I went back and forth on how I liked the format of the book. It was different and helped break-up the book easy. There was an obvious shift of POV and time jumps. However, sometimes I felt like it was unnecessary and it cut the story up too much. 

In the end, I really do recommend this if you want a book that makes you think. It did have a couple of moments that made me feel (not as much as some of his other books), but it was a good lesson enforcer. I get being busy….just take a moment to not care about time and smell the roses. Don’t get mad if a friend is late. Just be happy they made it. Don’t beg for the day to end at work (a tough one), because that means you lost LOTS of times to live in the moment and actually try and enjoy yourself. Good book. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4. 

Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie

Author: Mitch Albom
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie
Genre: Non-fiction, classics, inspirational
Pages: 194
First Published: 1997
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Bought at Salvation Army)

"Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly 20 years ago. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Morrie visited Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final class: lessons in how to live. This is a chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world."

Read this many years ago in High School. Well, technically our English teacher read this to us. But I randomly found this at the Salvation Army a month or so ago and I decided to re-read this. I like Mitch Albom and all his works. Not only does he write books, but he is also is a sports reporter. He writes articles and pops up on my favorite sports show "Mike and Mike in the Morning". 

I liked this. Its sad, but gives a positive look at life and even death. Poor Morrie. ALS is a horrible way to go, but Morrie stills remains positive and wants to spread his wisdom to the world and especially one of his favorite students Mitch. 

The wisdom and stories shared are wonderful and I liked them. However, it was very sporadic and in odd order sometimes. Sometimes the bits that were put out of order took away from the story and the wisdom shared. I did like how each meeting they discussed an item or two off Mitch's list:

 WORLD
SELF COMPASSION
REGRETS
DEATH
FAMILY
EMOTIONS
AGING
MONEY
LOVE
MARRIAGE
CULTURE
FORGIVENESS
SIMPLICITY
GOODBYES

The money and marriage discussions were my favorite. They are rarely discussed in other "dying" books. Marriage and love are important to living a good life. Money shouldn't rule your life, because if you live just for money then you suffer and are not complete. Such good discussions given. 

In the end, I did like this book. I just wish the order and narration was a little different. It took a way from the story. I do honestly believe everyone should read this. There is a lot discussed and it makes you think about how you live your own life. I recommend that everyone gives this a read. It may not be Book of the Year, but it worth a read. Out of five stars, I grant this 3 stars. 

Book Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Author: Mitch Albom
Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Inspirational
Pages: 196
First Published: September 23rd, 2003
Where I Got It: Borrowed from a friend

"Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination, but an answer. 

In heaven, five people explain your life to you. Some you knew, others may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his 'meaningless' life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: 'Why was I here?'"

I approve of this book. At first I was extremely skeptical (even though I liked 'Tuesdays with Morrie) and it took me a while to actually get myself to read this. My friend really, really wanted me to read this, so I finally made myself take it to work and read it on my lunch break. Lo and behold I was already 80 pages into it by the end of my break. I had to force myself to return to work. Thus the life of a poor kid. So......Carole approves and my friend's choices of books so far (she had me read 'A Million Little Pieces' a while back, so 2 for 2)...

Just for you Reece

This book was defiantly inspirational and thought-provoking. Mitch Albom really makes you think in this one. I know I found myself musing over all the things I've done throughout my life. Also, I've been thinking about the 5 people who will be waiting for me (if this theory is correct) in heaven. However, like for Eddie (the main dude) some of the people were people that he never really knew...but both of them effected each other greatly. So there is an infinite amount of people that could be waiting for me in heaven to teach me a lesson about my life. Very interesting to muse about. Also, kind of scary. haha

Poor Eddie. I felt so bad for him along his whole journey. They had little flashbacks and he has had some REALLY crappy birthdays. hahaha. I don't blame him for not wanting to celebrate. >.< I know I wouldn't want to either. Gah! I wish I could say more about the people he actually meets in heaven, but it would totally ruin the book. MEH! So I will end my ramblings before I do something I regret.

In the end, this was really good. I breezed through it and was like 60% done in 45 minutes. I love how thought-provoking this book was. It really is a book that everyone should read even if you don't believe in God. God doesn't really exist in this version of heaven. Yes, he is there, but it's not about appeasing Him. It's about making peace with your life and understanding why things were the way they were. It's about making peace and living in your heaven. Really good. I shall stamp this with 5 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Eddie
Not-so Favorite Character(s): No one really

*CaroleRae*