A Novel Life: The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out. An allegory about the power of belief--and a page-turner that will touch your soul--Albom's masterful storytelling has never been so moving and unexpected.

Readers of The Five People You Meet in Heaven will recognize the warmth and emotion so redolent of Albom's writing, and those who haven't yet enjoyed the power of his storytelling, will thrill at the discovery of one of the best-loved writers of our time.

Phones in a small Michigan town begin ringing and their loved ones on the other end are calling from heaven. My heart stops. I think of my mom. Can I recall the sound of her voice. Yes. Tears begin to fall. What wouldn't a person who lost a loved one do to hear their voice, to know, to get an assurance that they are ok, not only are they ok, but they are in heaven and they don't want you to lose faith, stay the course. Everything is ok.

But not everyone gets a phone call from heaven. Sully Harding has just been released from prison. His wife is dead and he is left to try and make a new life for himself and his six year old son, Jules. As more people come forward admit they too are receiving phone calls from heaven, Sully makes it his mission to foil the mystery...as his little boy begins to carry around a toy telephone (my heart broke).

Each call changes the lives of the people receiving them. For some it brings healing, to some it brings hope and to others it opens up painful wounds. The novel has multiple points of view and tidbits of Alexander Graham Bell are woven in. A very quick read.

This was my first Mitch Albom book. I have heard nothing, but great things about his books. I was very excited to read it. I ended up with a bit of mixed feelings about the novel. I went in with an expectation that this would be a really inspirational story. I didn't find The First Phone Call from Heaven to be overall inspirational. I mean yes there was some, but like I said I had a high expectation. I found it to be more a mystery to disprove someone else's miracle. This made me sad. I wanted Sully to stop. I didn't want anyone to have to have their hearts broken, again. It would be like losing that person again, and losing face for believing they were contacting you.

As I'm sitting here writing this review, I'm thinking back to the book. I'm realizing how we aren't given phone calls from heaven to make us believe...that is where faith comes in. If you are given absolute proof than there is no need for faith, is there? The novel isn't about the ones who believe, it's about the one who doesn't. There are no guarantees in life, but if you believe then the afterlife is a guarantee. If Sully proves it's a hoax, he doesn't disprove the existence of heaven--but maybe his journey will open his eyes to what is unseen.

I went into this book wanting proof. I wanted a phone call, too. I wanted to believe my mom and dad are just a phone call away. I ended up sitting on this story long after the last page was read. I was reminded not to put my faith in this world. I'm recommending The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom--a perfect Christmas gift.

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

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