Tuesdays with Morrie

Book Review

The story in general –

Can death be ever made into a story? A story that takes away the hearts of millions?

One might argue that it’s the ideas of Morrie and the philosophies of life that he has preached in this book but it is also undeniably the style of narrative – simple and so authentic which makes it appear like a song, as if Morrie the coach is sitting beside us and whispering the secrets of living straight into our ears. It’s soothing and warm and so very personal.

 If Morrie’s lessons make the book what it is, it’s Mitch’s narrative that makes us feel them.

The author has in the entire story made the silence speak. From noting the gestures and ever-changing moods and expressions of his beloved professor to capturing something as small as public expression at the Logan airport with no air-conditioning, or Morrie’s kitchen counter having all kinds of notes and medical instructions, he has made every effort to make the story sound natural.

Mitch is observant. He realizes how a human touch is a therapy for comfort.

‘A slightest human contact was immediate joy.’

It’s also a moment of pride when the philosophies of the father of our nation touches human hearts worldwide and also finds mention in this book –

‘Each night when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning when I wake up, I am reborn.’ – Mahatma Gandhi

In Mitch’s own words – it’s a story of a ‘dying man talking to living man, telling him what he should know.’

The novel unfolds the beauty of a teacher-student relationship which doesn’t always need to be serious or preachy but can be friendly, humane and fun –

Like when Mitch is trying to aid his professor in his physiotherapy, he had to hit his back and Morrie says – ‘I knew you always wanted to hit me.’

Mitch jokes along – ‘yeah, this is for that B you gave me sophomore year!’

The author is curious in questioning nature with its miracles – ‘how could there be life in his beard when it was draining everywhere else?’

In the end the story leaves us in tears thinking how lucky Mitch has been, wondering if we had somebody in our lives to guide us like that, a mentor who would call us ‘Dear Player…’!

But then Mitch still misses his coach, after his death. Were all his questions seeking meaning of life addressed? I don’t think so as in the end he witnesses – ‘the teaching goes on!’

If we aren’t so lucky to find one mentor in life, we can still seek to make a community. Like Michelle Obama says in her speeches, how it served her well or can learn lessons from everyone around us – friends, parents, children, ourselves, our mistakes and life in general. We just need to listen.

The Message -

The story dares us asking some basic questions involved with death – when it comes, are we ready for it? Are we living in self-denial? What are we doing to value our life of which death is the inevitable destination?

The professor of Mitch’s story has a unique approach to death. Unique it is, not because the Budhhist philosophy that he preaches about a bird on the shoulder reminding of death is unbeknownst but because Morrie practices it with utmost sincerity, every single day of his life as death closes in on him and tells us why it is important to practice it also when we are young , when death might not be as close.

His lesson makes Mitch ponder - “I tried to see what he saw. I tried to see time and seasons, my life passing in slow motion.”

He teaches his student how close we become to nature when we are dying slow, that grieving has the healing power, how family is all about love and support, a firm ground we can fall back on, ‘a spiritual security’. The impermanence of all things makes it important for us to practice detachment, by allowing any emotion to fully penetrate our beings and leave us detached.

“Without love, we are all birds with broken wings”. 

Morrie says and quotes Aden the great poet –

“Love each other or perish.”

And the crux Mitch draws from the last thesis of his life with his old professor –

·         To be more open

·         To ignore the lure of advertised values

·        To pay attention when your loved ones are speaking, as if it were the last time you might hear them.

·        There's is no such thing as ‘too-late’ in life. Morrie was changing until the day he said good-bye.

For summary of the story, refer to - YCteen