AUDIO

The First Phone Call from Heaven

by Mitch Albom
7 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 7¾ hrs. Harper Audio. 2013. ISBN 9780062306425. $34.99; Playaway digital; digital download. F
COPY ISBN
The residents of small town Coldwater, MI, are receiving phone calls from their deceased loved ones in heaven. Some residents believe the calls are real, while others, like Sully, a disgraced veteran recently released from prison, hope to prove the calls are a hoax. Historical information about Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone is interspersed throughout the mystery unfolding in present-day Coldwater. Albom's (Tuesdays with Morrie) experience as a broadcaster is evident in his excellent narration, which creates the atmosphere of a cozy bedtime story written for world-weary adults. The spare use of stock sound effects adds to the production's power as a storytelling vehicle.
VERDICT Part mystery, part meditation on faith, Albom's latest novel will satisfy his fans as well as anyone looking for an inspirational read with religious themes. ["This moving tale of loss, recovery, and the power of love will be snatched up by Albom's many fans," read the starred review of the Harper hc, LJ 11/1/13.]
Reviewed by Julie Judkins, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor , Feb 15, 2014
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

Help Wanted
by Waldman, Adelle
MEDIA

Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future
by Leon, Joél
MEDIA

Sito: An American Teenager and the City That Failed Him
by Ralph, Laurence
MEDIA

Manboobs: A Memoir of Musicals, Visas, Hope, and Cake
by Aijazuddin, Komail
MEDIA

A Dream in the Dark
by Justice, Robert
MEDIA

Hitler’s People: The Faces of the Third Reich
by Evans, Richard J.
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?