Advantages: True story of a fascinating man
Disadvantages: True story of a fascinating man

...This is a fine book. Not over-complicated, very easy-to-read (I went through it in 2 days or to put it another way 4 bus journeys), and anyone would admire the sentiments in this story as well as the title character. Mitch Albom begins his debut book when he sees one of his former tutors from University on a television show. This tutor had affected his life greatly at University and they had been close friends. However, he had lost touch with him. Upon seeing his tutor (Morrie of course) on the show he learns that his mentor has developed a crippling illness and has not long to live. The story is of how Morrie deals with his time left and how he reaches out to his family and loved ones, never allowing his hardship to overcome him. Once Albom locates him, Morrie makes no mention of them having lost touch and instead welcomes... Read review

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Advantages: Heart warming true story, simple to read.
Disadvantages: Quite short if you're wanting a book to last for your holidays.

...The most remarkable thing about this book is that it is a true story. It is written by Mitch Albom an American sports journalist and is about his old college professor Morrie Schwartz. After the initial introduction the book flashes back to Mitch's graduation, these flashbacks are written in italics so it is easy to identify past and present. Morrie is Mitch's favourite college teacher and from this brief chapter we realise they had a close bond. The chapter ends with Mitch promising to keep in touch with his college professor. The book then skips several years until Morrie now in his 70s begins to have problems with his balance and his walking. He is then diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) a progressive neurological disorder which affects all the muscles of the body progressively weakening them... Read review

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Advantages: Short
Disadvantages: Patronising

...Oh dear - I'm going to sound like a party-pooper again. I was offered this book to read by a well-meaning friend, and read it on his recommendation. The reason he thought that I would like it is that I was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and published the diary i kept during the first year after my diagnosis (It's called The Purple Butterfly, if anyone is interested). This book is about a man called Mitch who starts to visit the terminally ill Morrie, who used to be one of his college professors. It's about the way he reacts to Morrie's illness, not so much about Morrie. Anyway, I read the book. Perhaps it was too soon after my own diagnosis, or perhaps I just didn't like the tone, but I am afraid I didn't like it. Sorry to all those people who did, but this is my opinion. I think I was looking at it from Morrie's point... Read review

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Advantages: A heart warming tale that will make you view the world differently if only while you're reading the book
Disadvantages: I didn't have any tissues with me when I was reading it

...I bought this book while I was on holiday in the US and read it in one evening. I was that engrossed in the story and the character of Morrie. Morrie is dying and Mitch learns this fact almost too late but manages to spend time with Morrie before he dies during which time Morrie imparts his wisdom and experiences he has learnt from during his life. I found this book deeply moving and have recommended it to numerous friends and family or lent them my copy and have added it to my list of favourite books for the year if not my all time list. It makes you think and view the world in a slightly different manner, it makes you aware of other people and their feelings and reminds you that everyone is special and deserves your time/kindness. These thoughts/ideas may not last with you but at least it's a nice reminder that people... Read review

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Advantages: Great fun, great company and good exercise too
Disadvantages: Sometimes they sing

..."Costwold Morris" The stereotypical image of a morris dancer is a middle aged to elderly man, probably with a beer gut, dressed all in white, waving hankies and jingling to the tune of a concertina. If this is your view of morris men, stop! You need to be more specific. What you see before you is a cotswold morris dancer. Let us examine him more closely and, most importantly, more accurately. Your cotswold dancer need not be old; the youngest one in the team which I "'follow', for want of a better word, is 11, and the team has eight or more members under the age of 35. They even have a following of teenage girls. So your dancer may be young or old; let's say for the moment that he is in his twenties. He probably drinks, this is almost universal, but there are exceptions. He may be tall or short, fat or thin, but if he's any good he... Read review

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Advantages: Beautifully written and touching.
Disadvantages: It is too short....

...I recently read, and loved, a book called The Five People You Meet in Heaven, written by American author Mitch Albom. I loved this book so much that I rushed out to buy another of his literary offerings: Tuesdays with Morrie. A Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lessons and I wasn't disappointed. Tuesdays with Morrie was published 8 years before Albom wrote The Five People You Meet in Heaven and the book tells the true story of his relationship with his old college Social Psychology professor: Morrie Schwartz. In the 1970's when Albom was a student, Morrie was his favorite professor and they regularly spent time together outside of classes. Sadly, after he graduated Albom lost touch with his old professor and he did not hear from him until years later, while he was in his 30's, by pure chance. During these lost years... Read review

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Advantages: Delicious, hand-made, veggie option
Disadvantages: Full of calories

...Let me first announce that from January 1, 2007 I am turning vegetarian. As you must have guessed, yes it's going to be my new year's resolution. I am sorry to say if you do any reviews relating to meat, I am not reading them! Lol just joking. Okay, get ready for a taste explosion now. I will tell you about my experience at Morris, Home of the world's finest pasty. I have been living in Milton Keynes for the past two years and surprisingly, it was only recently I came across this shop in shopping centre. ♣ ABOUT MORRIS PASTIES: Originally from Peter Morris butchers in St Columb Major, Cornwall, Morris pasties have been described as `The finest pasties in Cornwall' by The Daily Telegraph. Featured on BBC 1, channel 4 and sky one, these Cornish made pasties are frozen, transported overnight... Read review

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Advantages: Uplifting, important, touching, honest...
Disadvantages: Too easy to put to the back of your mind...

...“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.” When Mahatma Gandhi spoke those famous words he was inviting us all to live our lives to the full – for after all, if we don’t use the precious life we have then we may as well be dead – what difference would it make? It can take some people a good long time to learn the sense in those words. Mitch Albom learnt that lesson: relatively late in life he learnt it at the feet of a small dying man who had been his professor at college. Morrie Schwartz had been a robust and energetic lecturer in Social Psychology in the 1970’s and would always stay in Mitch’s heart as his true mentor, his advisor and his coach. Yet as is the way of the world he hadn’t seen him for nearly two decades. Mitch had graduated and been thrust into a successful... Read review

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Advantages: Good history, interesting topics
Disadvantages: -

...'Londinium: London in the Roman Empire' by John Morris is an absolutely wonderful book on the history of London's origins. A narrative history that is thorough and interesting, this text covers a wide range of historical issues. Morris organises the book in three sections: The Making of London, Roman London, and The Survival of London. Apart from these three primary sections is an Introduction, notes, bibliography, and an index. Morris correctly identifies that prior to Rome, there was no London, and after Rome, not much is known about/heard of from London for hundreds of years. Therefore, to understand London, one must have at the very least a basic understanding of Rome -- Roman architecture, Roman social structures and hierarchy, Roman military and economic institutions, and Roman concerns. There are two primary sources... Read review

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Advantages: A great history of the earliest days of a great city
Disadvantages: -

...'Londinium: London in the Roman Empire' by John Morris is an absolutely wonderful book on the history of London's origins. A narrative history that is thorough and interesting, this text covers a wide range of historical issues. Morris organises the book in three sections: The Making of London, Roman London, and The Survival of London. Apart from these three primary sections is an Introduction, notes, bibliography, and an index. Morris correctly identifies that prior to Rome, there was no London, and after Rome, not much is known about/heard of from London for hundreds of years. Therefore, to understand London, one must have at the very least a basic understanding of Rome -- Roman architecture, Roman social structures and hierarchy, Roman military and economic institutions, and Roman concerns. There are two primary sources... Read review

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