professornana (professornana) wrote,
professornana
professornana
  • Mood: busy

thank goodness for audiobooks

I forgot to blog about the audiobook I listened to on the way from Texas to Louisiana. Mitch Albom's books have touched me in some deep places beginning with TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE and continuing with THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN. So, I picked up a copy of FOR ONE MORE DAY. It made the drive along the interstate an easier one yesterday. Chick Benetto's life seems easy at the outset. He is a gifted athlete and even has the chance to play professional ball. However, when his father leaves the family when Chick is a kid, it sends him into a tailspin of sorts. How could his mother drive away the man who is so important in his life? Chick's life gets totally off course when his career ends and he turns to alcohol for comfort. Then, one day, he receives an announcement that his daughter has married without ever telling him or inviting him. Chick decides life is not worth living and tries to end his life. Instead, he careens off the highway and crashes his car. When he returns to consciousness, his mother Pauline is there for "one more day." As he did in FIVE PEOPLE, Albom has Chick's mother take him for a walk where they encounter people, people at death's door. Chick leaves his mother reluctantly to come back to the real world and begin to make amends for the time he has wasted.

As I write this, it seems to me so maudlin and predictable. I did not find the audio to be either. I enjoy Albom's voice. I know what I will receive when he tells a story. In many ways, this is reflective of our students who turn again and again to their favorite authors and series because they are known quantities. Sometimes, it is like comfort food: it goes down easily and fills some real or perceived void.

Had a great day today with more than 70 public librarians from Baton Rouge and beyond. Tomorrow will be another day with LA librarians, a nice way to bring the week almost to an end.


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