Saturday, October 2, 2010

Have A Little Faith: Pefect for High Holidays

Have a little Faith by Mitch Albom I reviewed for The Jewish Book Carnival for October. It is being hosted by  the Jewish Book Council.  Our book club, The 38th Ave. Diva Readers selected this novel for October also.

I have read Mitch Alboms, small little books, with a large message before.  This was a great choice.

The book was a easy read.  I was waiting for the book to intersect with the two characters. They never did meet up with each other. But there was a reason for it. The book did have a message to tell.  I am not going to let on with that.   I did like the message of the book.  The book was a perfect book for the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The book, which is non fiction is about Mitch Albom's family rabbi. Mitch Albom when he was young studied judiasm. But as he got older he had neither the need or want or time for Judiasm.  His work, his family and his life has not given him a chance to think about it until now. Mitch goes home to NJ one year and that is where the story starts. 

The Rabbi, he is up in age wants Mitch to write his eulogy. Mitch wonders why, the Rabbi asks him to do it.
The Rabbi and Mitch make a journey together.   There is a 8 year journey of faith.  The Rabbi is ill and keeps his faith even as he's health waivers and his life is about to go on a new journey.

Back in Detroit, Mitch meets a minister in a run down church.  Mitch develops a friendship with the minister. He starts caring about all the congregants that make up the church by listening to their stories.
The minister was in a life of crime when he was growing up.    He was living in the streets.  Finally the last straw, the police come to his house looking for drugs.  He prays if I get out of this one I will never do it again.

 He is saved, and from that time on he becomes a preacher. He goes into the ministry. He starts he's church. He finds a building that is run down. He helps the penniless, the homeless, the abused and every one that has a story to tell.

 It is so bad in the winter with not any heat. They huddle in a tent in the church to keep warm most of the winter. At the same time the imminent death of the Rabbi is coming.  And financial collapse in our country is taking place. People are asking, Where is Hashem??

But Mitch finally understands the journey.   He tries to understand the message that the Rabbi and the Minister are sending.

The book was about three journey's. The Rabbi, The Minister and Mitch Albom's. Everyone needs something to believe in. It is not too late.  You never know what can be right around the corner that will change you.  Even Mitch, he never thought he never cared about his faith or religion. But look at him now.
It is never too late. 

This a interesting concept. Our Rabbi wrote this message in the bulletin.  He was talking about Kirk Douglas. He was saying that he had something missing. Later on in his life he found what he was missing.  His faith.  That is interesting that our Rabbi, wrote the same message that our book club was reading.

I don't want to spoil the rest of the story. You will have to read it yourself.   I did like the message of the book. You will understand the title of the book once you read the book and get to the end of Mitch Albom's book.  But  basically the message is, Everyone can do something to change your life and make a difference.

I may not exactly loved the book but I did like the message. No matter when, it is never too late to fix something as long " AS YOU HAVE A LITTLE FAITH!!!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this nice review, Susan.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I would have to say that Mitch Albom is a very entertaining writer and an incredibly "glass-full" kind of person! (as opposed to glass half-empty or even glass half- full!) :--) Very nice review!

 
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