Twice by Mitch Albom
A Soul-Stirring Story That Demands Reflection
In a reading year that has seen few true standouts, Mitch Albom’s Twice achieves a rare feat: it earns my absolute and wholehearted seal of approval. This deceptively little book delivers an enormous, soul-stirring story that immediately claimed a permanent space in my heart and on my re-read shelf.
Though I’ve never been a devoted follower of time travel narratives, Twice masterfully utilized the concept. Alfie, the protagonist, is immediately sympathetic, yet his attempts to change his past provided the story’s riveting tension. While I understood his pain, I frequently wrestled with his choices, seeing how his desire to “erase” one thing for himself inadvertently compromised the lives of those in his orbit.
This moral complexity is the novel’s greatest strength. Reading it over two days compelled me to analyze my own daily choices, words, and time with far greater intention. It’s a powerful, sticky lesson that will resonate long after the final page.
The novel is endlessly thought-provoking and kept me relentlessly invested. It’s peppered with genuinely interesting, and at times devastating, surprises that ensure the plot feels unpredictable and fresh. The unique structural breakdown, particularly the “Notebook” aspect, was a stunning literary touch.
A definitive five-star read from start to finish. I urge readers looking for a deep emotional dive—a book that forces you to sit with your deepest thoughts and feelings—to pick up Twice. Thank you, Mitch Albom, for writing a book that will stick with me for a long time and that I will want to read again and again.
