Second chances

Alfie’s story begins when he’s in his 50s in an interrogation room with a determined and hardened detective. He had just been arrested for allegedly cheating at a casino in the Bahamas and suspiciously winning millions of dollars. Also, it turns out, Alfie is dying.

His life story unravels slowly through a journal Alfie has meticulously kept for his unnamed boss to read upon his death. But he gives it to the detective to read as his only means of trying to defend his actions.

And so this magical, uplifting and mysterious story begins — part fantasy, part time travel, part suspense and mostly about a woman Alfie loves.

Twice is the newest of about a dozen works of fiction and non-fiction by Michigan-based Mitch Albom. One of Albom’s most beloved books is the beautiful Tuesdays With Morrie, reported to be the bestselling memoir of all time.

Albom has received numerous awards for his films, stage plays, a nationally syndicated sports column and more. He has founded several charities and spends much of his time involved in philanthropic work, especially with poverty-stricken children. There is so much more than can be mentioned here.

It’s through Alfie’s notebook, which he is forced to read out loud to the detective, that we are transported back to when Alfie was eight years old. Living in Kenya with his young missionary parents, Alfie is lonely and becomes attached to a playful elephant there, Lallu, and also mysteriously bonds with a young girl nicknamed Princess. The three become best friends.

And it is in Africa that Alfie discovers he has a magical, powerful gift that allows him to have a second chance at everything.

Inherited from his mother, Alfie accidentally learns he’s able to travel back in time in order to correct anything he wishes. All he has to do is tap himself and say the word “twice.”

There are some negatives. If a person is meant to die on a certain date, he can’t alter that. Also, once he has changed something, he must live with the consequences of that choice — including choices made in love.

Alfie soon moves back to America and breezes through his life, time travelling whenever he needs to save himself from embarrassing or foolish moments. He changes moments both big and small.

Alfie mostly alters things that help him try to win the affection of Princess, whose actual name is Gianna and who is now grown and living in America.

The nature of the book means there are several surprise endings in Twice, some of which may seem a bit implausible. However, this is fantasy.

Albom’s prose is sparse, his sentences short and his chapters brief, all of which make for an exceedingly quick and enjoyable read.

Mitch Albom writes with his heart, which is likely part of the reason he has sold 42 million copies of his books worldwide. Many of his novels and non-fiction works are imbued with several life lessons. Twice is no different, and as a result may not be for those who prefer more serious types of works.

If you like short, uplifting and imaginative stories, Mitch Albom’s latest may very well be to your liking.

Cheryl Girard is an Interlake writer.