Critique 1

      

      Remember what you see in television dramas, the part where every restaurant staff is in a panic to serve their food to a critique? Just like that, this is The Critique page. Well, rest assured because I am not mean unlike what other people may think of a critique. So that's that,  now, this are my book reviews. :)

         Tuesdays With Morrie

       by Mitch Albom

    Look Death in the Eye and

                          say “Hello, My Friend”

          “Learn how to die and you will learn how to live,”says Morrie Schwartz, a thought perplexing and intimidating at the same time. Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Mitch Albom includes philosophies and outlooks like the one mentioned. It narrates the story of Mitch, a guy who gave up his dream, got wrapped up with work and forgot the valuable lessons he learned from his beloved teacher. Accidentally, he learned that this professor is diagnosed with ALS through ABC news. After years with no contact, he re-connects with his teacher, Morrie.

         The story unwinds with his meetings with Morrie  every Tuesday. Having a different theme and topic each time, including death, Mitch finds a way back to his old self and saw the world in a unique way. Together, they make their final project and it’s evidenced with this book.

            I totally love it! What made the story interesting and unique is that it talks about death in an unusual way – its beauty; it’s an equalizer; and how it makes you appreciate the people around you. Not only that, the relationship of the student, Mitch and the teacher, Morrie is too lovable. It can make a reader yearn to have that kind of understanding with someone.

        It is really heartfelt and gets through. The author narrated the story with feelings, he was able to paint Morrie’s life in a book. He showed everyone how  truly amazing Schwartz is. What makes him different from others is that it would make you say  “I wish I could’ve met him in person and talk to him”.

       The writing style is superb, it was  effective in  expressing the various themes like love, regrets, death, family, emotions, money, culture and forgiveness. The use of flashbacks in between chapters is appealing and takes you back. It’s like you’re there, watching them inches from you. It also featured two people  that the readers could sympathize and relate to – Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom.

         Morrie has an amusing personality. It’s very fascinating to get to know him. I can imagine him talking to Death, look him in the eye and say “Hello, my friend.” Death would have been afraid of him if that happened. Basically, Morrie is a person who does not fear death. He even says that he’s “lucky.” Facing death made him see a window – he tried to see what he saw and tried to see time and seasons. He became able to see things differently. It’s as if death is a good thing.

            Mitch, on the other hand, is one of the reasons why this book became dear to me. I could really relate to him. He had a dream but ended up the other way. He constantly asks himself “What happened to me?” Not that I ended up like him but I frequently ask the same thing. I always try to look back to the “me” before. I figured I was quite different from who I am right now. It’s puzzling to not remember what caused the change. Curiosity creeps up on me and I compare the past and present. He and I also have some tendencies to be a perfectionist.

            Mitch told the readers about his dream and that the world was not interested, that caught my attention. My mind would often wander to some future. I would like to see myself as someone successful but worries come and the truth is, I’m afraid of what would happen. Life’s uncertainties nag at me every time but I try to be optimistic. Mitch’s story is something that I do not want to happen to me. Like him, I have a dream and I would like to offer what I can do to the world. I just do hope that the world would open up to me too.

            Also, even though I have not attended one nor had one, I found Morrie’s “living funeral” quite admirable. I think I would never have the courage to do that. I thought that I’ll do the opposite. Actually, I was thinking of having a notebook where all my loved ones – friends, classmates, family, and everyone I’ve met who would attend my funeral, write down what they feel and what they would’ve wanted to say to me. I was thinking maybe that will be the time that they won’t hold anything back nor be embarrassed about it when I’m gone, contrary to the great funeral Morrie had thought of.

      The relationship of Morrie and Mitch was very engrossing. I was absolutely touched! The idea of having a best friend and a dad at the same time with your beloved teacher is so heartwarming, same with having a student as a son.  It was a very mutualistic connection. Mitch was able to let go of his perfectionism and learn wonderful things once again because of Morrie. Morrie, on the other hand also found a loving and caring student through Mitch and he was able to teach until his death.

            Their way of showing that they care about each other is so tear-jerking.  It’s a relationship that’s very unexplainable and a lot of people who do not know their story would not understand.

            Tuesdays With Morrie presented Morrie’s values and lessons. Each of them can have an impact to different people. One of my favorites is during a basketball game, Morrie asked “What’s wrong with being number two?” Honestly, this line cracked me up! Ever since I was in elementary up to high school, I’ve been number two or second best. Rare were the times that I’ll be the top one in recognition ceremonies. I thought about it and also laughed at myself before on why I couldn’t be better than that. I’m sure that I was desperate one time just to have the first place. When Morrie said this, I laughed real hard and asked myself the same thing. What was I thinking? All the things I’ve been doing before suddenly came back to me and I was able to grasp its meaning. Indeed, what is wrong with being number two if you knew that you gave your best?

          The quote “...if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too--even when you're in the dark,” from Morrie, made me think of my friends. It reminded me how my best friend and I would talk about “trust” most of the time. Sometimes, I would think that it’s hard to trust too much, it might hurt more. Morrie showed it’s other side, trust also means taking risk and it’s a risk that might end up as a wonderful thing – a pleasing thought.

            “If you hold back on the emotions--if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them--you can never get to being detached, you're too busy being afraid." This one really made an impact to me when I read it. It made me understand why I always hold back. The reality is that I’m too afraid to find out the truth and that is why cling to things and I find it hard to let go.

        The story can make a person become aware of changes that needs to be done in their life. The book did that to me. It made me decide that I should not be afraid of death. It’s a topic that I do not avoid but it always troubles me because I want to do a lot of things and I don’t want to be left behind by my loved ones. I want them to always be beside me. The story made me realize that death ends a life but not a relationship. It made me see that DEATH makes you realize how a person takes thing for granted.

            Furthermore, now I want to clearly say what I want to and not hide my true feelings. I do not know when my life will end so I better express myself to others while I can.          I’ll be who I am and stay true, I do not have to copy a culture that I do not like.

            Mitch Albom exhibited a fine true story about life’s greatest lesson. The first chapter of the book already made me think that the story is interesting. The narration opened up questions and curiosity came in. The phrases “last class” and “no grades” would surely get the attention of students like me. Also, “A funeral was held in lieu of graduation,” “What?” was all I could think of. I guess the description of having a class about The Meaning of Life charmed me. I mean, only a few people would talk about this, most of them are engrossed in what they do and not the essential and worthy things. That is why I thought that every page of the book would be worth reading.

            Do you want to know Death? Read Tuesdays With Morrie! You never know, you might think of Death as someone beautiful and see him as a friend. Try this, face him, look him in the eye, and say “Hello, my friend!” He might actually give you a chance to live like what happened to Morrie.

            

          This happened in real life. Life’s greatest lessons were revealed. Eyes, ears were opened, and hearts of many were touched. This story will make you see things differently!

            Inspiring indeed!

The Next review will be on a different page.. .