Time and Tide

Released Sept 2012

While shopping for my running shoes, the literary part of me drew me to take a pit stop at a posh book store. Laid down pretty to greet me was the cover of the book above, 'The Time Keeper' by Mitch Albom. For the uninitiated, Mitch Albom is famous for his non-fiction books. His 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven' that I managed to read was a real mind opener. After that thought provoking deep book which basically told that everything on Earth happens for  a reason and a good one at that. Subsequent to that I managed to grab 3 of his other books - 'Tuesdays with Morrie', 'For One More Day' and 'Have a Little Faith'.
Another philosophical book (this time a fiction) from the man who writes about life and death. This time around he deals with time and how it controls life. He narrates about 3 different characters. The first character is an ancient man, Dor, who had supposedly discovered the concept of time at a time when life was easier and it started with sunrise and ended with sunset with no means of quantifying time. Dor, called the Father of Time, invented the sun dial and water clocks and forever brought the curse of quantifying time and rushing people through deadlines. For his misdeed, he is punished by being 'suspended' in time and is later propelled into the 21st century to see the effects of his discovery. His mission is to save the second and third characters from their mistakes.
The second character is a multi millionaire,Victor, who has terminal cancer. He is a self made millionaire who shined from the ashes of poverty. He is 80 years old but refuses to lose to his ailment just like how he had dodged all the adversities in his life. His research brings him to cryonics which promises conservation of his body till a time when modern medicine can cure him of his illness.
The third character is a teenage girl, Sarah, with low self esteem who attempts suicide after her love is rejected by the famous guy in school and is humiliated on social media.
Dor saves them from their wrong decisions. He shows them the future of the effect of their actions.
Sarah's love interest carries on life with no remorse or sorrow. Her mother is devastated and has to pick up the pieces alone as she is a single parent.
Victor left a very sad wife who never bade farewell to her husband. In the future, his body is not rejuvenated because of legal wrangles but instead his images embedded in his memory bank of the brain are screened to public as a showcase of a time deemed peaceful!
After performing his duties, Dor goes back in time to be reunited with his deceased wife, Alii, in death.
Sarah is sent back to be saved in the nick of time. She excels in her studies and is later honoured as a leading researcher. She is supported monetarily from Victor's trust. Victor says his final farewell to his wife and dies peacefully.
The take home message is 'God limits ones' days to make each one precious'!
An easy read but somehow nothing beats 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven'.