"Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom : A Review

 

"Finding Chika" is a heartwarming memoir written by Mitch Albom.

The book tells the story of his time spent with a little girl named Chika, whom he and his wife, Janine, met while operating an orphanage in Haiti. It takes us through their journey together, from the moment they met Chika to the heartbreaking loss of the little girl, who passed away at a very young age due to a rare brain tumor. The book is a poignant reflection on life, death, love, and the importance of family.

Albom's writing is honest, sincere, and heartfelt, and he has done an excellent job of sharing Chika's story with the world. In this review, we will explore the book's overview, lessons that can be learned, and some of the most interesting quotes from the book.

Overview:

Mitch Albom and his wife Janine run the Have Faith Haiti Mission and Orphanage, a charitable organization they founded in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Their work takes them to some of the poorest and most deprived parts of the country, where they care for and educate children who have been abandoned or orphaned.

One day, they meet a three-year-old girl named Chika, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Albom and his wife decide to take her into their care. The book chronicles their journey together, from their initial encounter to the moment they say goodbye to the little girl.

The book is divided into three parts.Part one, titled "Finding Chika," covers the period from when Albom and his wife first meet Chika to the time when they decide to bring her to America for treatment.Part two, titled "Loving Chika," describes the years they spent with her in America and the joys and challenges of caring for a terminally ill child. The final part, titled "Losing Chika," details her final days and the profound impact she had on Albom and his wife.

Lessons:

"Finding Chika" is a book that offers many valuable lessons to readers. Some of the most important ones:

Lesson 1 The power of love:- 

Throughout the book, Albom demonstrates how love can transform lives. He and his wife take Chika into their care and give her the love and attention she needs, and in return, they receive a little girl who fills their lives with joy and meaning. Mitch writes "Love, like rain, can nourish from above, drenching couples with a soaking joy. But sometimes, under the angry heat of life, love dries on the surface and must nourish from below, tending to its roots, keeping itself alive." This quote is a beautiful metaphor for the ups and downs of love, and how it can sustain us through difficult times.

Lesson 2 The importance of family:- 

Albom's relationship with Chika shows how family can be defined in many different ways. Despite not being related by blood, Albom and his wife consider Chika to be their daughter, and they give her all the love and support that any parent would give their child.

Lesson 3 The value of life

Chika's illness is a stark reminder of how precious life is and how easily it can be taken away. Her story encourages readers to appreciate the time they have with loved ones and to make the most of every moment. The author quotes "Sometimes our losses bring us closer to the ones we love, and sometimes they drive us farther away." This quote highlights the idea that loss can affect people in different ways, and it can either bring them closer together or drive them apart.

Lesson 4 The impact of community:- 

The book highlights the power of community and how people can come together to support each other. Albom and his wife receive help from their friends, family, and supporters, who come together to raise funds for Chika's treatment and to offer emotional support during difficult times.

Lesson 5 The importance of resilience:

Chika's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing many challenges in her short life, she remains optimistic and full of hope, inspiring those around her to do the same.

Conclusion:

"Finding Chika" is a beautiful memoir that tells the story of a little girl who touched the lives of everyone she met. Mitch Albom's writing is heartfelt and honest, and he does an excellent job of sharing Chika's story with the world. The book offers valuable lessons on love, family, resilience, and the value of life.It is a must-read for anyone who wants to be inspired by a story of hope and love in the face of adversity.

Link of the book “Finding Chika”

Paperback edition : https://amzn.to/3LKXZpR

Hardcover edition: https://amzn.to/3z4PAGd

Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/3FQsWoO

 

 

Review of "Benjamin Franklin's Way to Wealth"

Genre :Business/Personality Development
Publisher :Media Eight
Price :Rs. 150
Rating :5/10

What are the things that a start up or an entrepreneur should do to grow/develop? There are innumerable number of tasks that an entrepreneurs have to deal with for the enterprise to flourish. The tasks are so humongous that many books and many courses have been developed for this topic alone. 

One of the books that relate to this subject is Benjamin Franklin's Way to wealth. It is a small/thin book with only 160 pages having 52 Chapters. Each chapters is of two pages. There is thought of Benjamin Franklin in every chapter. The thought are presented in a paragraph within a box. Further there is a box which illustrate the subject better and there are spaces in the chapters for us to records our thought on the given subjects. The language utilised are simple. The tones is pedagogical. 

Many advices for entrepreneurs have been given. There are unique and distinct title for each chapter. There are titles like Eating the Elephant,Do Be Do Be Do, etc which makes the book unique. The topics that are discussed ranges from budgeting to time management to how to select a financial adviser. The topics are wide ranging however, the discussion given are short and sometimes not that much illustrative. It is a book mainly aims at the first time entrepreneurs. 

I would suggest to read it if only you want to start a new business or an enterprise.   

Review of "The Thinking Life"

Genre :Non-fiction/Personality Development
Publisher         :St. Martin's Griffin
Price :Rs. 299 (Paperback)
Rating :Must read

"To live in the world of creation--To get into it and stay in it-- to frequent it and haunt it--to think intensely and fruitfully-- to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and meditation-- this is the only thing..."

-HENRY JAMES

The above line is the sum and substance of the stupendous book written by P. C. Forni. He is profeesor at Johns Hopkins University. Besides this book, he has written CHOOSING CIVILITY and THE CIVILITY SOLUTION. 

The book is structured into 12 Chapters beginning with the introduction titled THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT SERIOUS THINKING. It opens up to the next chapter WHY YOU DON'T THINK AND WHY YOU SHOULD THINK. This chapter gives us the idea why we lack concentration and the consequences of not concentrating enough. It shows us a frightening consequences of not concentrating enough. The main culprit for decreased in focus being the internet. The book not only discusses the problem but it also offers solutions as to how to find the time to think. A whole chapter (FINDING THE TIME TO THINK) is dedicated to the topic. We, the people of present era, tend to do many things at mediocre level. The book,however, prescribes to do few things and do them well, speak only when necessary. Human beings as a whole dread work, however, if we practised what has been preached in this book regarding WORK AND LIFE BALANCE then our life must be much happier and more fulifilled. He describes the stage as BUSILY AT PEACE. IF LIFE IS VALUIABLE, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO ATTEND TO IT CONSTANTLY. In chapter 11 (MANAGING ADVERSITY), you will be open to the truth about suffering that it is not part of life but the fabric of life. These many others eternal truth about life and how to live a life has been doctrined in this wonderful book. 

If you are serious about your life then this is the book for you. Go ahead, read and lead a thinking, purposeful and meaningful life.     

Review of "All Time Favourite Books and Movies and their Epic Journey"

Genre : Non-fiction/History/Translation
Publisher         : Niyogi Books
Price : Rs. 595
Rating : Must read

What you have learned from the day of your birth to the present day is based mostly on history. So, the importance of history in our life can't be underestimated. This fact is also confirmed by the book "All Time Favourite Books and Movies and their Epic Journey"translated by Nadeem Khan from the Marathi book "Not Gone with The Wind" written by Vishwas Patil. Vishwas Patil is an author, historian and civil servant who writes in Marathi. He has written other books like Panipat (a novel about the third battle of Panipat), Jhadajhadati and Mahanayak. The translator, Nadeem Khan has done several translations. He is comfortable with Hindi, Marathi and Urdu. Together, they have created an absolute gem of a book.

The book is written about some of the writer's favourite books, dramas and movies which include Othello by W. Shakespeare, Tess of the D'Uberville by Thomas Hardy, Anna Karrenina by Leo Tolstoy, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria  Remarque,Mother India, etc.  There are 14 fascinating chapters in the book. Each chapter narrates the story of the novel, drama or movie in a brief, precise and tantalizingly readable synopsis. Then, it discourses on the history of the writer and how the book was written. For example, the author of Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky was held for treason and conspiracy to overthrow the ruling clan in 1849. He was about to be hanged. However, due to last minute pardon by the Czar he was incarcerated in Siberia. Further there is the story of the great director, Roman Polanski. He has witnessed the worst atrocities of the second world war in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It happened that once Nazi soldiers had decided to use his head as a target which is escaped due to sheerest luck. Further, there are chapters which relate the troubles that the producer or the director has to undergo while filming the epic movie based on the books. The Anarkali of the movie MUGHAL-E-AZAM was based on a fiction written by Abdul Halim Shara around Pomegranate and that work has produced one of the greatest movie in the history of Indian Cinema. Prithiviraj Kapoor was told during the shooting of Mughal-e-Azam not to pick up anything from the floor, issue diktat and other other royal things both on-stage as well as off stage. Further, the movie directed by K. Asif took sixteen years in the making. It started making the movie in the year 1944 and was released in 1960. During this time a lot of trials and tribulation of making the movie has been described in a gripping manner.

The author has written about the books and movie in such a manner that will compelled you to read the books or see the movies once. For instance

"The novel was burned.

The film on the book was banned.

The writer was exiled from his homeland.

But the truth?

Nobody can slay the truth or stark reality."

This is what the writer edifice about "All Quiet on the Western Front" written by Erich Maria Remarque. Another example of the intensity of his writing is  that of the movie Spartacus

"John F. Keneddy was the President of US in 1960, when he heard great reports about the movie Spartacus from friens. He insisted on enjoying it sitting among ordinary filmgoers of the country and walked into a cinema hall in Washington DC. The 196 minute epic on celluloid left him stunned. The little known 19510 historical novel written by Howard Fast, had been rendered into an epic by Director Stanley Kubrick."

Not only has the writer done a extensive researched into the subject matter but he can explain how the novel was written and how it was adapted into movie in a enthralling manner. All this information he present in an extremely decent and delighting manner that will leave you spellbound by his magic.  You will just gobble up the historical facts like never before. In fact I will like to compared it to Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam translated by Edward FitzGerald.

Just go through once and let the combination of Vishwas Patil and Nadeem Khan takes you in a magical land of arts.

Review of "Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World" by Zig Ziglar

Publisher         :Jaico Books
Price :Rs. 295 (Paperback)
Rating :Must read for every parents and parents to be.



This is definitely not the first book of Mr.Zig Ziglar that I have gone through and it will not be the last book of his. Everytime you read his book you are going to learn lots of new and useful things and expand your horizon. As a matter of fact, I read it because I want to be a better parents to my two beautiful and lovely kids (Diti and Jitesh). They are a very important part of my life and they will continue to be.
Well to be very frank those who have read my earlier blogs must have become very familiar with Mr. Zig Ziglar. He is a tremendous motivational speaker and bestselling author of books like See You at the Top, Secrets of Closing the Sale, etc. He is also the Founder of Zig Training Systems and has been also recognized three times in the Congressional Records of the United States for his work with youth in the drug war.
Before I tell you about the book, let me quote an important lines from this book
"Raising positive kids is not an easy trip by any stretch of the imagination but it can be fun, exciting and tremendously rewarding."
And that is definitely true.
The book lays great stretch on loving your child unconditionally. It will teach you the importance of honesty while you raise a positive kid. If you are honest then your kid will see you and try to imitate your honesty which is great, isn't it. Further, there are three stages of child viz., the age of regulation, the age of imitation and the age of inspiration. You will also have to learn to deal with the negative influence of the present living condition like drug abuse, child molestation, influence of bad music, single parenthood,etc. Further, you will
realise the importance of giving your child the sex education yourself before anyone give it to him or her. Two chapters are dedicated for these very important but often neglected topic. You will get an idea of its importance when you know the reasons. Not only this it also guide you when your child should be allowed to date. It will make you a better parents than before. It also highlights the importance of parents,environment,spanking the young soul and discipline in bringing up your child.
The book is structured into 16 highly educating and interesting chapters. The chapters are written in easy English so that the reader won't have any problem understanding what is being taught by the author. It is filled with stories, anecdotes and examples of well known and not so renown person. The sentences are simple as if the author is conversing with you (You will feel like it).  
I have read this book because I want to see my children grow up to be a wonderful, amazing, loving and talented global citizen. But as you read this you will come to know that the harder you are on your own life the easier your life will be. To be a parent is not an easy job. It requires a lot of sacrifices. We need to build our character. How and why we should build our character is explained in this book? I thought that sex education should be given by teacher only. Now I know I need to give it to my children myself at an early age lest any untoward incident takes place. Further, I don't like to spank my children but I need to spank them for their own betterment. These are some of the new and useful things that you will learn as you go through the book.
It is a book for all who wants to see their children become a better global citizen.  

Review of "A Survival Guide for life"

Review of "A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LIFE" BY BEAR GRYLLS

Price: Rs. 499
Publisher: Rupa Publication India Pvt. Ltd.

Life is an adventure. Like an adventure life has its fair share up and down. Just like an adventure, it involves conquering the unsurmountable mountain, crossing the dark and deep forest, swimming across the seven seas and reaching out to the unknown. But at the end of the life what matter is the process not the destination. It is not the monetary gain that ultimately counts but the experience we have got, relationship we have built, dreams we have pursued and we have lead our life that is important. All these things can be gained when we read the book SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LIFE.
Written by the renown television personality Bear Grylls of the widely watched survival guide series" MAN VS WILD". He is a adventurer, writer and scout by choice. He is also the author of many books like Facing Up, Facing the Frozen Ocean, With Love, Papa and Mud, Sweat and Tears. I wonder how he manege to do (go on an adventure, saving the people and write books) all the things. He is indeed a super human.
The book open with a short but appropriate lesson titled "HAVE A DREAM". As you go through you will understand why he is performing all the things that seems impossible to be done by one man yet he does it. This is because he HAS A DREAM. I don't what his dream is/are but I surely know that he has a dream. Further, you will find many interesting as well as useful tip of how to live a life. You will a chapter aptly named "DREAM REQUIRE SACRIFICE" which say everything about its contents.You will wonder how Mr. Grylls have achieved so much in life yet remain humble. The secret you will uncover in the Chapter "HUMILITY IS EVERYTHING." Besides this lots of other interesting and useful tip on building a team, the importance of having a great relationship with your loved one, parents, family, and friends. A wonderful book to read and to act upon the teaching. One thing is certain if you act upon the wisdom contain in this thesis your life will become much better.
What makes this book is unique that most of the Chapter is precise yet very meaningful. Most of the Chapter are of only two pages, so that you can read it any time and get the pearl of wisdom from a man who have live his life to the fullest.
I will rate it as a very readable book.  

Review of Mother Teresa -The Saint of tHe Gutter

REVIEW OF "MOTHER TERESA-THE SAINT OF THE GUTTER"

    There is only one thing that I like to say about this book is that it is awesome. Mother Teresa-The Saint of the Gutter is  a book which is entertaining, informative, well researched and, above all,  written in a simple language. We all should thank Naresh Kinger for gifting this biography to the world. Well writing a biography is a difficult task. Moreover, if you are writing about a person who is regarded as a Saint then the job become almost impossible. But Mr. Naresh has turn this impossible into possible.  May God bless him and let us pray that he continues to write more of such books.
    The book, as the name suggest, is a biography of Mother Teresa. It chronicles not only the life history of Mother Teresa but also includes many other interesting as well as appropriate history. You will realised that you are reading the history of a nation. You will be familiar with the city of Skopje(the birthplace of Mother Teresa), the shrine of Madonna of Letnice (the beginning of Holiness of Mother Teresa) and other vital informations.  You will know the history of Albania in a enjoyable manner.
    The family of Mother Teresa consisted of Her father, mother, and two other sibling. The influence of her mother, Drana Bojaxhiu, was interestingly describe in the section titled "Home is where the Mother is". The childhood of Mother Teresa has been succintly discussed. The institute of Blessed Virgin Mary is describe in a brief but detailed manner. The influences of this institute started the turning of Agnes Gonxha into Mother Teresa. How does the Agnes Gonxha turn into Mother Teresa can be seen in the section titled "Life in the Loreto Convent". The life of her in the  famous Saint Mary school of Calcutta has been also been detailed in this manuscript. The role of her mentor Father Van Exem is examined also in this book. You will realised the struggle that a Catholic Nun (Mother Teresa) has to faced when she decides to leave the mission and work among the downtrodden. Her first journey to Motijheel to the recieving of Nobel Peace Prize has been tantalizingly written in this amazing book. Not only the good things about Mother Teresa has been engossed but also the opinion of her detractor has also been given. This is the USP of this book. 
    This book is written in a very simple yet entertaining manner. The great thing about this book is that lots of information are packed in a small space. You will realized the research efforts that the writer must have done before undertaking such a huge project. Not only has he done the research but also presented the results to the whole world in a straightforward yet enjoyable manner. Thank Naresh Kinger again. You can also learn new and unknown things about Mother Teresa. Not only this, the criticism that Mother Teresa has to undergo. We can learn from this that even if a person like Mother Teresa was also criticised then what about us.
So, in the end I will suggest everyone to read it once in your lifetime. You will learn a lot.