I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom Published by Hachette Books on September 4, 2012
Genres: Christian, Classic & Allegory, Fiction, Religious, Visionary & Metaphysical
Pages: 240
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on Earth to count the hours.
The man who became Father Time.
In Mitch Albom's exceptional work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years.
Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.
He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.
Told in Albom's signature spare, evocative prose, this remarkably original tale will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time, how they spend it, and how precious it truly is.
Well, I requested to review this book via Netgalley as I have heard so many people talking about it. I have to be honest and say that I have very mixed feelings, hence the 3 star rating. While I like the premise of the story, I found it a little hard to get into in the beginning. The book is shorter, only 240 pages, so it is a quick read if you want something that you will get through quickly. I cannot really comment as to format and editing, something I would normally comment on, as this was an uncorrected advanced reader's proof, so there is no guarantee that what I saw is what you will see. The concept of the history of time was intriguing, and I found that I could easily relate with Sarah Lemon, having see quite a bit of myself in the character. I found the characters mostly believable, although Victor seemed a little...off. I really do not know how to quantify that, but something about the character bothered me. The story is well written, of that I am sure. If you like looking at the history of things (whether real or fictional), this book is entertaining and intriguing and it does make you think about how you have lived your life and how you should be living. The point of view/plotline were slightly disjointed, and this is probably why I had trouble with it. Admittedly, I have ADHD, and sometimes story lines that jump back and forth are difficult for me to follow along with, and that could be a big part of why this book just did not seem to grab me like I hoped it would. If you are intrigued by the cover or the description, I would give it a shot. It was an interesting read, just was not my thing.
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