Mitch Albom: Tuesdays With Morrie

Now, if I'm entirely honest... my job might be the problem here.

Being a journalist means you sadly come into contact with death a lot of the time - and you are all too aware of mortality.

Tuesdays With Morrie is the true-life account of the author's reunion with his former university lecturer.

Mitch doesn't see much of Morrie after he graduates... and is only reunited with his former professor when he discovers the elder gentleman is dying.

Morrie's slow decline is clearly life changing for Mitch - a sports journalist who feels he could and should probably do more with his life.

Morrie is a lovely character... painfully truthful about the end of his life and the lessons he feels Mitch and others could learn if only we could accept our mortality.

Except, well, perhaps I'm deluded, but I think I may have accepted mine - agonising self-examination is something in which I indulge on a near weekly basis.

I think this book is well written. There is not a sentence that needs to be read twice and considering it revolves around a man slowly dying, well, it manages to be quite pacey.

But... it's not for me. I'm into literature for pure escapism. I don't mind a hard-hitting book but I don't want to be left depressed (I'm sure that wasn't Albom's intention here... he probably thinks it's inspiring. I didn't) and so, I'm not sure I would recommend this.

If you're going to read an Albom, I'd suggest Five People You Meet In Heaven.

Still, it did receive a few thumbs up from a few at Book Club and did result in one of the most soul-baring discussions we've ever had. Just don't read it on a fragile day.