There's a spot in the middle of your back, just out of reach, that
itches. I've got one. You've got one. What makes it itch?
...
Even though you have this feeling of "been there, done that," the
beauty of Luzzatto's writing style is that it pulls you along into the
story. It makes you turn the page. And after a few pages you begin to
realize that this is not The Sixth Sense revisited. This is a credible
odyssey into the afterlife, a journey taken by people in the hope
of--but with no clear expectation of--a resolution of their condition.
In other words, you don't necessarily get there from here.
...
But it's not a movie, it's an odyssey. Luzzatto's premise is serious,
never doubt that. He has a notion about the afterlife and its purpose
in the general scheme of things, and it is difficult to fault his
reasoning. But from time to time he writes with a lighter pen...er,
keyboard...
...There's some fun in this novel,
and some absurdity, but mostly there are two sympathetic characters,
George and Clara, who are trying to resolve their own demises so that
they can cross the meadow. In many ways, being dead is fraught with
the same perils and tribulations as being alive. You're born, you die.
In between is life. But for Luzzatto, you die, you seek to be born. Is
that death? Or is that life? Interesting question. Luzzatto answers
it. But will George and/or Clara like the answer?
No, of course I'm not going to tell you what it is. I'm no letterman.
Besides, if I told you, you might miss out on Luzzatto's exquisite
writing. Dying without knowing why is bad enough. But missing out on
this novel? I'm afraid we deadies can't let you cross the meadow until
you've read it...which you can do by ordering a copy from this link:
http://www.kfir-l.com/indpg/ctm_em_g-f.htm.
Read the whole review...
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