Book Review: THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN

If I could, all of you would find a copy of THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN under your Christmas tree this year. You're welcome.

Mitch Albom is an author that I read regularly. Starting with Tuesdays wit Morrie, his books are always inspirational and entertaining. Some have been better than others, I agree, but each has given me something to think about.

THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN takes place in a small town where eight  residents have received phone calls from people who have died. One is from a beloved sister, one from a mother, one from a son who was killed in the military and so on. As word of these calls becomes known, the town is thrown from being a quiet, peaceful place to one over run by tourists and the news media...all seeking to be part of the miracle.

Everyone wants to be assured that Heaven is all that we have been led to believe. The town is showing growth. The churches are full, Store fronts are re-opening. Tourists and townspeople alike are caught up in the fever. But, several people are not so sure of the authenticity of these calls. What if they are a cruel hoax?

Sully Harding is not a believer in this miracle fever. Recently out of prison, Sully has returned to his hometown and his son. While he was in prison his wife had died and his young son has taken to caring a toy phone with the hope that his mommy will call him. Sully has to prove that the calls are a hoax for his son's sake as well as to help heal his own broken heart.

What follows is a mystery as well as a study of mob mentality and our need for human connection.

Interestingly, the author has thrown some historical facts on the invention of the telephone into the story. Some facts were new to me and made Alexander Bell more real and not just another name from our history books. I am not sure if the book needed these interruptions; they seemed to stop the flow of the plot at times.

Albom really is in top form in this book. His characters are well defined and heartbreaking human. His feel for the hope and devastation of the eight people who have heard from the dead is touching. But, through it all the mystery of who is behind the phone calls and why, if it is a hoax, keeps the story moving.

In the end, the reader can decide for himself if such a miracle is possible. Things may wrap up a little neatly and sometimes I have problems with new information being sprung on me to make the ending a "neat" one, but in this case, it works. THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN will give you several things to ponder. One that stays with me is, if a miracle is a "hoax" can it still be a miracle?

If you are already a fan of Mitch Albom's books don't miss this one. If he is a new author to you, this is a good place to start.