For One More Day

''For One More Day'' is a 2006 philosophical novel by Mitch Albom. Like his previous works ('' Tuesdays with Morrie'' and '' The Five People You Meet in Heaven''), it features mortality as a central theme. The book tells the story of a troubled man and his mother, and explores how people might use the opportunity to spend a day with a lost relative.

Plot

The book's theme is mortality: it analyzes how people might react to the chance to have a dead relative back for a day.

The book tells the story of Charles "Chick" Benetto, a former baseball player who encounters a myriad of problems with his career, finances, family and alcohol abuse. This leads him to become suicidal. Charles goes on a drunken rampage and decides he is going to end his life in his old home town, but when he misses the exit, he turns around driving down the wrong side of the highway causing an accident, Benetto flees to his old home – his suicide attempt an apparent failure – to see his mother, who had died ten years prior.

Benetto returns to his old family home, and spends one more day with his mother, where in a number of previously unknown factors related to his difficult childhood and troubled relationship with his father are revealed to him. His mother assists him in resolving his issues and getting his life back on track. The day ends when Benetto regains consciousness at the scene of the accident in a police officer's arms.

The book's epilogue describes how Benetto was inspired by his experience to quit drinking and reconcile with family, including his daughter, Maria, before his death five years later. At the end, Maria is revealed to have been the narrator of the story.

Reception

The book received polarised reviews from critics. Some praised the book heavily, remarking that it was "hugely effective" and "exceptional". Other commentators criticised the book as "syrupy" and "lazy, sloppy literature". Nevertheless, the book sold well, making it to the top of ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list.

Television adaptation

The book was adapted in a made-for-television movie. '' Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day'' starring Michael Imperioli and Ellen Burstyn. It aired on ABC on December 9, 2007.

Despite praise for both Imperioli and Burstyn's performances, critics described the film with phrases such as "ludicrous" and "phony sincerity". The film won the 2007 Satellite Award in best television film category.

References

{{reflist, 2,
refs=
{{cite news, url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-153821625/author-uses-mortality-teach.html, title=Author uses mortality to teach lessons about life: Mitch Albom is coming to Norfolk to sign copies of his new book, "For One More Day."., date=November 4, 2006, work=Daily Press, publisher=Newport News, access-date=2009-10-31, location= VA , first=Mike , last=Holtzclaw

{{cite news, url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-151099664/starbucks-perks-up-day.html, title=Starbucks perks up 'Day'., last=McClintock, first=Pamela, date=August 8, 2006, work=Daily Variety, access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite news, url=http://www.hindu.com/lr/2006/12/03/stories/2006120300220400.htm, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106173041/http://www.hindu.com/lr/2006/12/03/stories/2006120300220400.htm, url-status=dead, archive-date=January 6, 2007, title=Literary Review, last=Behal, first=Suchitra, date=December 3, 2006, quote=In that small, but ''hugely effective'', book was a message for everyone., work=The Hindu, access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite news, url=http://media.www.quchronicle.com/media/storage/paper294/news/2007/12/05/Artsentertainment/Book-Review.For.One.More.Day-3136779.shtml, title=Book Review: For One More Day, last=Agosto, first=Elisa, date=December 5, 2007, work=Quinnipiac Chronicle, quote=What makes this book so ''exceptional'' is that it shows how deceiving life can be., access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite news, url=http://www.observer.com/node/52715, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629131202/http://www.observer.com/node/52715, url-status=dead, archive-date=June 29, 2008, title=Brewing Up Bestsellers- Frazier, Albom, Ford & Co., last=Begley, first=Adam, date=September 24, 2006, work=New York Observer, quote=Mitch Albom: His second novel, a ''syrupy concoction'' called For One More Day (Hyperion), is going on sale a week earlier—in your local Starbucks. Now that’s synergy: coffee and a sweetener, sold side by side., access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite web, url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1543103,00.html, title=Book review: For One More Day (2006) Mitch Albom, last=Reese , first=Jennifer, date=October 6, 2006, work=Entertainment Weekly, quote=''SIMPLE SYRUP'' In his schmaltzy new novel, Albom ladles out more cloying sentiment, access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite news, url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-154062413/one-more-cliche-mitch.html, title=For one more cliche by Mitch Albom., date=November 8, 2006, work=Lexington Herald-Leader, quote=All I can tell you is that every penny you give Albom enriches the forces of ''lazy, sloppy literature.'', access-date=2009-10-31, location= Lexington, KY , first=Cheryl , last=Truman

{{cite news, url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156466787.html, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106111430/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156466787.html, url-status=dead, archive-date=November 6, 2012, title=BEST SELLERS.(Spotlight)(Bibliography), date=December 29, 2006, work=Rocky Mountain News, access-date=2009-10-31, location=Denver, CO

{{cite web, url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20164925,00.html, title=Mitch Albom's For One More Day {{! TV Review, last=Flynn, first=Gillian, date=December 7, 2007, work=Entertainment Weekly, access-date=2009-10-31

{{cite news, url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172319815.html, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106111456/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-172319815.html, url-status=dead, archive-date=November 6, 2012, title=SAP RUNS TOO FREELY IN 'MITCH ALBOM'S FOR ONE MORE DAY'.(LA.COM), date=December 9, 2007, work=Daily News, access-date=2009-10-31, location=Los Angeles, CA

External links

Official UK site

2006 American novels
American novels adapted into films
American philosophical novels
Little, Brown and Company books
Novels about alcoholism