Book Review
Reviewer: Irfan TrambooBook Name: Time Keeper
Author: Mitch Albom
Publisher: n/a
Pages: 240
Price: 290/-
ISBN: 13: 978-1401312855
The book, the Time Keeper has creatively described how the time is precious and why one should always try to live with what one has got. Counting time and not living it to the fullest, is of no use. The book has talked about the importance of the time management and how one cannot undo the things which are bound to happen. The book also talks about that everybody is living for a purpose; rather God has created them for a purpose. The book while being inspirational makes one to contemplate upon various things pertaining to time. The author also talks about how in the race, of getting more time and striving to those things which are far away from us, one forgets what one possess. Its essence is lost and one forgets what actually the living is.
There are very few characters in the book and it revolves around those characters. There is guy named Dor, who is a very technical person. Busy in measuring time. Whatever comes his way, he tries to count it. He even counts his heartbeats. But, never tried to hear that; never tried to think what actually that beat of heart wanted to convey. A superficial man: who counts and measures rather than feeling or touching, what he measured. Another character is Alli—Dors’ wife and a childhood friend, too. There is character namely Nim, who is strong and muscular, proud of his power. Then, there is Sarah: a high school student also working as a social worker. A bit distanced from his mother Lorraine. She used to be very close to her but after her mothers’ divorce, she has isolated herself. She thinks she is overweight and her friends and classmates often make fun of her so, she has somehow, maintained a distance from them and from her mother too. There is another character namely: Victor Delmont. Victor is a business man. Who has achieved a lot after migrating from France after his father’s death and settled in New York.
This book will surely make them understand that: Live the life to its fullest and accept happily whatever comes your way, because there will be an element of good for you, even if that thing seems to be bad at the first place. And more importantly, this book will tell them about time: which is cursed day in day out.All these characters are linked with each other. There is a common thing in all of them: Dor, Sarah and Victor, which is visible. Their perspective of how they see ‘Time’ where Dor busy in counting things, Sarah too seems to miss out what actually the time, which she is trying to stop, is providing her: A loving and a caring mother. She is missing out that and making only a single thing her destiny and that’s that boy ‘Ethan’. In the same way, Victor is somehow, also missing out what the time has provided him with and wants to live more, no matter what.
The book, as stated, is all about time. All the characters have been shown struggling with the time. One wants to cut it short and the other wants to increase it. All the characters are busy with counting time. Dor is counting.
I liked the character of Victor Delmont because he has been shown as the one who is challenging the nature. He has been shown as the one who tries to defeat death, with the help of science. What was fascinating in his character was that very ‘challenge’. Challenging things is very tough at the very first place and Victor has been shown in that light though, he fails.
Given the fact that this book is inspirational and the author has talked about time, which has got great significance in one’s life. But, what is seen is that people don’t respect time. People do not wait for the right time. They do things randomly and then blame their fate. This book has discussed about the proper usage of time and most importantly, it has emphasized on living life to the fullest.
I liked the situation when Dor freezes the time and takes Sarah and Victor to their future. He shows them what will happen in future if they will do what they are intended to. Sarah: suicide and Victor: Preservation of his body. There he shows them that no one cares about you expect those who really love and care for you. That was the favorite moment for me in the book
I would happily recommend this book to everyone, especially to the younger generation who are often seen, depressed, stressed and gloomy. Depressed due to things like life is not in the direction they want it to. They don’t get what they want and things like that. This book will surely make them understand that: Live the life to its fullest and accept happily whatever comes your way, because there will be an element of good for you, even if that thing seems to be bad at the first place. And more importantly, this book will tell them about time: which is cursed day in day out.
About the Reviewer
Irfan Tramboo studies Media at Media Education Research Centre (MERC). With an interest in Literature and International Relations (IR). Author is also a poet.
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