genre: fiction
Wilbur is an old man. He knows that being able to grow old means he's lucky, but when he passes away, he suddenly is on a train that is taking him back through his life. Starting from the beginning, Wilbur sees it all - all the pivotal points that loom large, the grand love and the ache of loss. Of course, this means he also sees where he wished he'd done things differently. In a VERY Christmas-Carol like way, Wilbur has a chance to realize how he could've done things differently - but what good can that do now that he's dead?
The format worked for me. I thought the train device was interesting and the story definitely moved along fast enough. It didn't pack as much of an emotional punch as The Midnight Library but it DID make me think and assess my OWN choices. I know it was TRYING to get me to do that, but I let myself be taught. I let the pedantic nature of the book sink in a bit. I know it might not work for other readers but I don't think the author is wrong with the point of this book: to be PRESENT. To honestly turn NOW into what matters instead of what's COMING. I'm on this journey myself anyway, in general, and so I appreciated this nudge. 3.5 stars. OH and the narrator's Northern England accent is delightful.
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