For One More Day

Type: Novel
Genre: Non-Fiction
Author: Mitch Albom
Main Characters: Charley "Chick" Benetto (protagonist)
Pauline "Posey" Benetto (Chick's mother)
Leonard "Len" Benetto (Chick's father)
Catherine Benetto (Chick's wife)
Maria Benetto-Lang (Chick's daughter)
Year Published: 2006

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Summary:


Charley "Chick" Benetto was a baseball player who decided to commit suicide realizing that his life has become a trash. His mother died when he was out fullfilling a baseball endeavor for his father. His daughter disregarded him and didn't invite him to her wedding. His marriage is going nowhere. His work has become his own pandemonium. Fortunately, despite his attempt to kill himself through a 'car accident', he was still alive. However, the next events that occurred were inexplicable. He gained consciousness but saw his dead mother. Not only that, he gets to spend another day with her too. Thus, this day also makes him understand some events in his life.


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"If you had the chance, just one chance, to go back and fix what you did wrong in life, would you take it?"

This was the teaser at the back cover of Mitch Albom's "For One More Day". A book about second chances and definitely, life's value.

Like the author's previous novels, this one also has the power to touch your hearts and make you cry. Why not? A mother's unconditional love for her son. The son's regrets over his life. A person getting tired on his life. All can relate, for it's everyone's story too.

Unlike the usual plots for a novel, the book was divided into four main chapters (excluding the Introduction and Epilogue). Midnight. Morning. Noon, and Night. Perfect division since they truly suit and justify the title of the book. Also, there are pages that fall under two divisons: "Times I Did Not Stand Up for My Mother" and "Times My Mother Stood Up for Me", which contain the protagonist's memories of his Mom.

Chick's experiences and his mom's struggle on life will move you despite yourself. if you have been tired of your life, this book will give you hesitations now in case you are planning on suicide too. Though if you are not, still "For One More Day" is a good aid for your weariness. It will help you start looking at life on a different angle.

What does this book have? Well, from the very start of the story, you'll already wonder where the narrator will lead you. Is it a ghost story? Or, will it end as a dream? Truly, you will get hooked to it until you don't notice that you've already read almost the entire book. The charm of the author's words and heart-smashing autobiographical experiences will lure you to finish the story in one sitting.

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Memorable Lines from the book:


* "Kids chase the love that eludes them" (Chick Benetto)

* "An education is how you'll make something of yourself" (Posey Benetto)

* "All divorce does is divert you, taking you away from everything you thought you knew and everything you thought you wanted..." (Chick Benetto)

* "When someone is in your heart, they're never truly gone. They can come back to you even at unlikely times. " (Posey Benetto)

* "Sticking with your family is what makes it a family" (Posey Benetto)