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The Time Keeper

by Mitch Albom (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 24,153 ratings · 3,735 reviews

In this fable, the first man on earth to count the hours becomes Father Time. The inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his fre...more

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Hyperion (first published September 2012)

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Aug 11, 2012 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-review-copy

Albom's fingers on the keyboard turn out golden prose, whether a column or a book. The Time Keeper is like a combination of precious metal. The story opens with Dor who lives four thousand years ago.

(Edited to add that a person named Sidney who has a private profile complained in a comment 9 months after I wrote this review that I should warn there are spoilers. I don't think this review does, but you can stop reading now if you wish).

back to the review... Albom's explanation of Dor's thought...more

59 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2013 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, bookclub, new-agey-stuff

Oh, Dor…..Dor……Dor. You silly man. What possessed you to measure time? You screwed things up for the rest of us. Now we have to BE places at certain times and DO things until the time comes when we are allowed to go home. Why did you do this to humanity? Someone should imprison you in a cave for 6000 years and make you think about what you did, and not let you out until you are truly sorry.

Wait….that is what happened.

Dor was a curious man who lived 6000 years in the past. He wanted to measure th...more Oh, Dor…..Dor……Dor. You silly man. What possessed you to measure time? You screwed things up for the rest of us. Now we have to BE places at certain times and DO things until the time comes when we are allowed to go home. Why did you do this to humanity? Someone should imprison you in a cave for 6000 years and make you think about what you did, and not let you out until you are truly sorry.

Wait….that is what happened.

Dor was a curious man who lived 6000 years in the past. He wanted to measure things, like the movement of sun the moon and the stars. Back then there was little to do, no xbox, cable television with eleventy hundred channels to choose from, no internet……nothing. So he took up a hobby and discovered time.

One day, the king of the land (a former childhood friend) came to visit Dor to ask him for his help on this tower he was working on. The king thought all of Dor’s gadgets he use to measure time would help bring power to his tower, since he was building it to reach heaven, but Dor refused. He just wasn’t that interested. This did not make the king happy so he exiled Dor.

Dor and his wife, Ali, then went out on the road, leaving their children with some family, and on the way they met some strangers. Dor wasn’t too keen on them but his wife was very social, so they always shared a meal with these folks. Apparent Ali was the touchy, feely type and would hug all these strangers, though Dor warned her not to. Ali contracted a deadly disease and died, Dor was kind of upset.

He stormed off towards the Tower of Babel and climbed the steps, he wanted to have a word with God, he wanted more time with his wife. God responded by sticking him in a cave where he didn’t age a day, didn’t need food, water or sleep for 6000 years. During these years, Dor got to hear all the people bitching about time. One day God decided that it was time to release Father Time (yup), but with homework. Dor was to help two people, yes only two after 6000 years, two very unremarkable and unlikeable people.

Ehh, this was a typical Mitch Album book. You are supposed to learn a lesson from it, like in all his books. In this one you are supposed to learn not to take time for granted, not to rush it, not to wish it away and not to take into your own hands. It was a good book, but it didn’t move me like it was meant to.

It in no way made me think differently about time. Love it, hate it, want more of, or less of it……time is what it is and it doesn’t give a crap about you, it’s going to keep moving forward whether you like it or not.

Also posted at Shelfinflicted (less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Tanya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

In the beginning, I kept falling asleep while reading this book. By the time Dor was compelled to action for his two souls, I was able to push through to the conclusion of the book. I found it satisfying as it reinforces the importance of being in the moment and being grateful for those moments, whether they are good or bad. It reinforces the value of being interdependent with those we love and care about, that we need to be open and honest and fully present for them.

I recommend this to others,...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Mal rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Time Keeper is a must read! Mitch Albom does it again with another inspiring story. This particular story forces you to take a long hard look at "time" and how it is a very precious a commodity not to mention how every single moment counts NOW.

I enjoyed every aspect of The Time Keeper - the plot, the characters, the writing style and the elated feeling that always seems to engulf you after reading Mr. Albom's writings. I don't want to give too much of the story away, so please add this to y...more

11 likes · like · see review

Apr 06, 2013 Daniel Kite rated it 2 of 5 stars

For a man so seemingly pre-occupied with how little time we have on Earth and how we tend not to appreciate this amount of time, Albom ironically spends almost no time at all delving into the interiority of his characters beyond the clichéd. Dor is an interesting character on paper, but so little is put into why he has this desire to measure time. The familial and social struggles of Sarah and the devastating childhood of Victor are largely parsed over, so much so that there is little reader inv...more

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 21, 2012 Mrs. Kenyon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

Father Time was once a living man. His name was Dor and he was the first human to measure time. He lived 6,000 years ago when life and time were simpler. After a tragic illness took his wife, Dor wanted to reach the heavens and demand more time. The result of this action was the fall of the Tower of Babel and him being placed in a cave where he had to listen to any mention of time. Sarah is a girl in modern day New York. She wants time to speed up so that she can be with the boy who is showing i...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Lydia Presley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, contemporary, fantasy, fiction

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom has been on my excitement list for a while now. Such a great cover, an author I really enjoy, and a story about Father Time - how could I not be excited!

What I expected and what I got were two different things, however. Instead of getting an interesting, complex story about a fantastical creature, I got instead chopped bits of a story, tossed together like a bit of a human salad, and mixed all up.

This story is part Dor, part Victor, and part Sarah, but does not sp...more

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Aug 14, 2012 thewanderingjew rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this advanced copy of Albom’s latest book, he once again takes a simple theme, something we all think about, and he creates an inspirational, extremely creative avenue to explore it. The book is about time and how it affects our lives from moment to moment. We are all, each and every one of us, preoccupied with its measurement. What would life be like without the constraints of time? The book encourages us to think about how simple life would be if we were just enjoying the moment we were in,...more In this advanced copy of Albom’s latest book, he once again takes a simple theme, something we all think about, and he creates an inspirational, extremely creative avenue to explore it. The book is about time and how it affects our lives from moment to moment. We are all, each and every one of us, preoccupied with its measurement. What would life be like without the constraints of time? The book encourages us to think about how simple life would be if we were just enjoying the moment we were in, without thinking of all our other responsibilities in the next moment, the next appointment, the next day, the next problem.
Three children are playing in a carefree manner, running through the fields. They are Nim, Alli and Dor. Dor is consumed with the need to measure, to watch and to investigate how things occur. Alli is a sweet and gentle girl who becomes his wife. Nim likes power and control and he becomes a powerful king who is sometimes a cruel ruler.
Dor creates the forerunner to the sun dial. He is warned not to tamper with measurements by an apparition, but he ignores the warning. Later, when Dor refuses to help Nim build a tower to heaven, so he might defeat the gods and rule from above, Nim banishes him from his kingdom. Leaving his children behind with his parents, he and his wife Alli move away, dejected and lonely, they resettle elsewhere.
When Alli falls gravely ill, Dor runs frantically to the tower that Nim is building, his stairway to heaven, and he climbs it, seeking to reach the top and force the gods to stop time and help his beloved continue to live. When he reaches the top, he is imprisoned in a cave by the same apparition that warned him, years ago, to stop experimenting with his measuring. This apparition is G-d’s representative. He tells Dor he must stay in the cave until heaven neets earth, until he basically learns the error of his ways, until he learns why he should not have inflicted the knowledge of time upon innocent victims. The three main problematic issues concerning the measurement of time seem to be these: wanting to extend time, wanting to slow time and wanting to stop time. Dor wanted to stop time, Sarah wanted to slow time and Victor wanted to extend it. The need to control it is the source of the problem. It is the need for a power that is not in the control of mortal man.
Finally the day comes when heaven meets earth and the apparition reappears. Dor is instructed that he might free himself from the cave if he listens to the unending pleadings of the voices in the pool that was created by his tears, and chooses two to save, two humans who cannot deal with the time they have allotted or the circumstances within which they are living.
Dor hears two voices above all others. Victor, 86, is terminally ill, and wants to find a way to give himself more time, Sarah, 17, is an unhappy, lonely teenager who has deceived herself and is being bullied by social media. She wants to end her time. Dor, himself, wanted to stop time, and the lesson he must learn, from his next trial, is why what he did was wrong.
Using an hourglass and the sands of time, each is led to see the folly of their ways. Each learns that leaving the world, on their own terms, leaves those left behind to suffer. They realize that time is not in their control, should not be controlled and perhaps should not be given so much attention. They discover the drastic consequences of their own behavior and alter their paths. In that way, they also set Dor free and he returns to his own time to be with Alli in her last moments. Although 6 thousand years have passed, he is unaffected by its passage and is able to return to face whatever fate awaits him.
Albom has created a fable about time, about who measured it, about why and how it was measured, and about the consequences for the measurer and those that eventually must live by the tools that measure it. He creates a fantasy about the problems created when we become preoccupied with schedules and the passage of time. He creates the legend of Father Time.
For me, the ultimate message of this little tale is that although we live by time, and we want to control it, we do not own it, we have no power over it and we are helpless in the face of it. Time is the real prison for all of us. We need to live within the moment we have and not worry about the moment we don’t have, the moment that has passed or the moment that is to come. If we try too hard to control everything we do, we are consumed with the effort and lose sight of the actual living and of the enjoyment life provides.
In the end, I was left with some questions. For instance, were the characters symbols of ancient bible characters? Was Nim the pharaoh in Egypt? Was the apparition the son of son G-d? Were Alli and Dor metaphors for Adam and Eve? Was the Mayan calendar the symbol of the end of days for Father Time? Why was Dor’s wish to learn about measurement of time more of a crime than Nim’s wish for power over the people? Weren't both really desirous of the same thing, control? Why was Alli’s act of kindness punished and not rewarded?
Like the other books I have read by Mitch Albom, this book moved me with its simple premise and message.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Lori Henrich rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked up this book with great anticipation looking forward to turning each page. When I started reading I was frustrated with the style the author chose. I liked his other fiction stories and was expecting to find the same style amongst the pages. When I found a totally different style and was disappointed. But I decided to keep going and this story is so worth the effort.

The story follows Dor, Victor and Sarah. Dor lived during the early Bible times during the time of the tower of Babel bein...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Laurel added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

If I were to rate this book, I'd probably give it 2 stars. I feel bad doing that, though, so I'm just leaving it blank. It's not that it's a bad book. It's a nice little fable and has good intentions. Many will no doubt find it comforting and life-affirming. I just found it all a bit too obvious for my taste. Perhaps I'm just not one who feels I need a fable to remind me how precious our time on earth is, or how important it is to try to live in the moment. I'm all too aware of it every day.

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Apr 10, 2013 Camille Ibarra rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked it. Not really really, but I liked it. It was a light and short read, ideal for passing the time since it doesn't really require intellectual exertion or deductive skills or anything like that. And because it's short, there was very little space for character development and world-building. The plot was interesting and constantly in motion --- sometimes in baby steps and sometimes in gigantic leaps --- which heavily contrasts against the shallow and stagnant emotional development and det...more I liked it. Not really really, but I liked it. It was a light and short read, ideal for passing the time since it doesn't really require intellectual exertion or deductive skills or anything like that. And because it's short, there was very little space for character development and world-building. The plot was interesting and constantly in motion --- sometimes in baby steps and sometimes in gigantic leaps --- which heavily contrasts against the shallow and stagnant emotional development and details sketch. The characters remained two dimensional and generic, the book failed to shape them into unique and deeply human individuals by sketching them along the stereotypes and making them say and do cliche things. The scifi element was well utilized in the plot, although, the use of rather kiddy fantasy (there are adult fantasy which-is-not-that-kind-of-adult-fantasy, teen fantasy which-includes-the-trilogy-long-walk-to-Mordor, and kid fantasy in-which-magic-is-alpha-omega-the-means-and-the-end-the-ultimate-cause-that-exists-by-itself-your-argument-is-invalid) for transition between major events or instant solution to a problem was almost like cheating (I think an hourglass turning into a time tunnel that allowed them to view and review their lives is too easy and convenient). The multi-perspective writing style and parallelistic, symmetrical storytelling was effective, but not especially distinct since a lot of authors have already perfected and, um, got over it like it was a phase in their quest to discovering their own, unique styles. The imagery is also stunning:

"He had plucked a single falling grain of sand, just as it was about to hit bottom.
And this is what happened next…
On seashores from Los Angeles to Tripoli, ocean waves froze in mid-curl. Clouds stopped moving. Weather locked. Raindrops in Mexico hung in the air, and a sandstorm in Tunisia became a permanent grainy billow.
There was not a sound on Earth. Airplanes hung silently above runways. Puffs of cigarette smoke remained solid around their smokers. Phones were dead. Screens were blank. No one spoke. No one breathed. Sunlight and darkness divided the planet, and New Year’s fireworks remained splattered in nighttime skies, drizzled purples and greens, as if children had been drawing on the firmament then had run away.
No one was born. No one died. Nothing drew closer. Nothing went away. The proverbial march of time had gone to its knees.”

Albom has good eyes and sense for beautiful things, and if he masters the art of language and poetry, he may even exalt the already beautiful into life. (less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
The Time Keeper is a fable about time and what it means in our lives. There was a time before clocks, before sundials, before we divided our days and our lives into measured divisions, yet we still felt that we needed more time--maybe not in hours and minutes but in moments. Mitch Albom's latest book follows the lives of three individuals who are all affected by time. The first is Dor, the now immortal inventor of the first time keeper who has become Fathe...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Frishawn Rasheed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-2012

Have you ever really thought about how much time you spend wasting time?

The Time Keeper provides readers with a thought provoking answer to that very question as expressed by Father Time himself.

This book could be seen as a cautionary tale. A warning against the pitfalls of obsession with work, love, or anything else that one might focus on to the exclusion of family, friends, and time spent leading a truly fulfilling life.

Dor's obsession with counting and time led to his missing precious momen...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Orsolya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, other

The first time I read a Mitch Albom book was in my “Sociology of Death and Dying” course during my university days. The above titled course naturally suggests that we read “Tuesdays with Morrie”. Ironically enough, Albom’s latest novel, “The Time Keeper” would have easily blended into the lesson plans of my other elective, “Myths, Symbols, and Rituals” due to the fact that it is a true example of a ‘creation myth’.

If you are expecting a standard, fictional novel, then expect “The Time Keeper” t...more The first time I read a Mitch Albom book was in my “Sociology of Death and Dying” course during my university days. The above titled course naturally suggests that we read “Tuesdays with Morrie”. Ironically enough, Albom’s latest novel, “The Time Keeper” would have easily blended into the lesson plans of my other elective, “Myths, Symbols, and Rituals” due to the fact that it is a true example of a ‘creation myth’.

If you are expecting a standard, fictional novel, then expect “The Time Keeper” to fall short. However, if you are familiar with Albom’s unique storytelling and successes at imploring philosophy, inspiration, and sometimes even theology while wrapped up in a fictional, fable-like concept; then you are in for a treat.

“The Time Keeper” utilizes the imagery and symbolisms common to creation myths while uniting the lives of Dar (Father Time), Sarah, and Victor. Although each character’s story is somewhat thin, they blanket together to form a thicker depth which causes self-evaluation from the reader. Although not in a standard way, the characters grow and incite reader remorse and emotion.

One of the major highlights of “The Time Keeper” is Albom’s creativity regarding the plot. Although simple and not overly emotionally complex; the mythical elements encourage depth and page turning. In fact, the pace of the novel is a hearty heartbeat which seems to come alive as the story progresses. “The Time Keeper” has many moments filled with inspirational lore, yet they aren’t pushy or melodramatic. Basically, although not realistically conceivable; “The Time Keeper” is still approachable.

The format of “The Time Keeper” may be interpreted as choppy because it bounces between the three central characters but Albom answers all questions with time.

The last ¾ of “The Time Keeper” is somewhat cheesy and not as moving as the former portions of the book. Indeed, one could argue that Albom fashioned a rather predictable ending. Nevertheless, the last two pages caused me to tear up slightly but this was more because of my own projected feelings than due to the story itself (however, since “The Time Keeper” cause my inner experiences to be stirred; it can be congratulated). “The Time Keeper” left me noticing my own feelings towards and of my handling of time which was more than likely Albom’s intent. Plus, on a side note, the novel is a very fast read (one day, at the most) which helps not “waste” time!

“The Time Keeper” is suggested for a creative, quick, and inspirational read. I’m sure my old “Myths” professor is altering her current syllabus as we speak.
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Sep 23, 2012 Helensvale Library rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dani

It's Mitch album surely it's good as his other books have been enjoyable. Expecting a great storyline with a depth of meaning and philosophy I found myself becoming increasingly agitated and depressed. Father time starts out as a young curious boy who invents how to read time and marries the love of his life only to have major life changes and ends up in a cave having to listen to people constantly ask for more time in is head. Then we follow a couple of other character storylines.....a young gi...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Savindi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, favourites

Cover Gushing Worthiness: I’m quite neutral when it comes to the cover of The Time Keeper. It doesn't necessarily scream pick me up, but Mitch Albom’s name does, so it’s okay. The cover does work well for the content of the book.

Review: I’ve been a fan of Mitch Albom’s writing since discovering Tuesdays with Morrie nine years ago in Summer School thanks to my Summer School English teacher. What drew me to pick up this book was a quote my friend Sadie had liked on Goodreads and it was this:

Try

...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Theresa Flores rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: with-review

"Remember this always: There is a reason God limits man's days."

Once upon a time, "time"-- didn't exist. Everything started to change when a man named Dor started to count. Soon enough, he had, unknowingly, discovered the concept of time, and had begun measuring it. He was then punished for this, and was sent to live in a cave where everything stopped. After 6,000 years, Dor, or Father Time, was sent back to earth for a mission; to find two souls- one who wants too much time and one who wants...more

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May 21, 2013 J.j. Lair rated it 2 of 5 stars

I didn’t get what happened in production of this book. It seems lazy on Mitch Albom’s part which was a shame because the story had merit.
The story starts with a bunch of echoing “he” words. He took a stick. He looked to the sun. He found pebbles. I wondered if this was supposed to be told in poem form because the sentences were so awkward. It wasn’t. Then, there’s all this opinion from the author about time and rushing moments. Ok, this is how they told stories a hundred and fifty years ago. Ma...more

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May 06, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: choice-award-challenge

Mitch Album has hit another home run with this incredible, thought-provoking, mind-boggling book. His "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is one of my favorite top ten books of all time.

Now comes "The Time-Keeper" a simple, literary work of genius that starts with the fascinating concept where a mere man - later Father Time - develops the concept of measuring time in seconds, minutes, hours, days into infinity. How did someone come up with measuring time in the first place? Never did I even won...more Mitch Album has hit another home run with this incredible, thought-provoking, mind-boggling book. His "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is one of my favorite top ten books of all time.

Now comes "The Time-Keeper" a simple, literary work of genius that starts with the fascinating concept where a mere man - later Father Time - develops the concept of measuring time in seconds, minutes, hours, days into infinity. How did someone come up with measuring time in the first place? Never did I even wonder about this, which just adds to the genius of this book. The complexity of living in the quantity of time versus living in the moment and enjoying rather the quality of life is the central theme, and brought such a fresh perspective to how I will forever approach life. Mitch Albom has always been one of my favorite writers, and this book does not disappoint.

The heartbreaking, realistic story includes Sarah, a teenage social outcast desperately trying to get the attention of the popular boy, all the while feeling alone, miserable, and utterly humiliated - hit so close to home. Many a girl, including myself, has been in this situation, and in the electronic age the humiliation only becomes magnified and more destructive to her self-esteem. Watching and feeling her attempted suicide is painful, for I completely empathized with her pain. Albom does a fantastic job portraying her situation, and you can't help but cheer for her in the end.

And, oh to be able to stop time when you wanted!! My imagination ran wild this this, and thoroughly enjoyed when Dor (Father Time) would use it to learn about the world. The possibilities were endless, and Albom gave us a taste of what it could be like. I wanted more and more of this, and sometimes less IS more. My mind is STILL running with this.

The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because the concept of the hourglass became a bit confusing. I couldn't quite understand all of the imagery Albom was using about going forward, backward, standing still, and moving slowly with the different grains of sand through time.

Live in the moment, and quit looking at the clock every minute. Enjoy what you're doing, who you're with, and why you're there. Love your life, and live it to the fullest.

Thanks Mitch, for another wonderful book. I can't wait to see what you come up with next!!

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May 06, 2013 Teycordero rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book reminded me of the time when I was young I asked myself who invented the clock? I didn't mean it to say who invented the timepiece in everyone's wrist, or the one hanging in the wall. But I did not utter the exact words. I was young that time. Now I know what I really meant by saying "who invented the clock" what I really meant is, who discover the time.
This book is short yet it's filled with important words. Enough to entertain the mind. The idea is simple yet creative. Something sur...more

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May 06, 2013 Liliana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Many years ago I read Dan Millman's, "No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior;s Guide to Daily Life." There are no ordinary moments is what the characters in Mitch Albom's novel, "The Time Keeper" discover as their lives are weaved together in search of the lesson; "There is a reason God limits our days." Each moment in our days is unique, never to return and we should embrace it, breathe it in, capture it if we can. The message is simple, the implementation not so much, or we wouldn't need so m...more Many years ago I read Dan Millman's, "No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior;s Guide to Daily Life." There are no ordinary moments is what the characters in Mitch Albom's novel, "The Time Keeper" discover as their lives are weaved together in search of the lesson; "There is a reason God limits our days." Each moment in our days is unique, never to return and we should embrace it, breathe it in, capture it if we can. The message is simple, the implementation not so much, or we wouldn't need so many reminders to refocus our hurried days. Nevertheless, a reminder of how precious our life is and how we are connected to past, present, and future in unknown ways, may not be wasted on all.

In Albom's now familiar easy to read writing style, with the lessons revealed bit by bit, the novel follows three persons in two time periods, all in need of the same lesson. It takes one, Dor, Father Time, thousands of years to learn and only in present day, out of his time and in the presence of two others who want to extend time into a future lifetime or end time too soon, in the same desperate way Dor sought to pause or manipulate time.

Time is an obsession to humankind. We count the days until that one, highlighted on our calendar: wedding, graduation, moving day, the arrival of a baby, the big game, an anniversary, our promotion announcement, the start of a much needed vacation...and then, that time passes. "Lost time is never found again." -Benjamin Franklin.

Time flies. Time waits for no one. "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." - William Penn. As youth, time drags. As we grow older, aware there is now perhaps more past than future, we wish to slow time down. We doubt in it, we rejoice in it, we curse it, we learn from it. Time heals wounds, sets in the lessons. We spend time, we waste time, we kill time, we find time, we share time, but we can never control it, pause it, hasten it, turn it back. If we could, as Dor is able to, what use would it be?

Albom's fable is simple and complex. It is meant to inspire. It is a good story and a quick read. Those seeking the most inspiration will get the most out of it. Jim Hendrix said, "I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to." In the end, that is what we must all do. Whether the novel inspires or bores you, we do what we want, what is in our best interest with the time we are given. And yet, time is only a concept.
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May 04, 2013 Ruth Job Salamanca rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is like the best book I've read this year... I think that it's even better than Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. That's saying something because Coelho's piece is a very moving book. I broke my personal reading record with this book: 4 hours! I just coulnd't put it down and I have to admit that it moved me to tears.

I knew before reading this that had to brace myself for the onslaught of tears but it's such a touching story that no matter how hard you try not to cry, it just won't stop.

The book...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Lisa rated it 1 of 5 stars

I honestly think this is the worst book I've ever read. I liked Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, but I think it's safe to say Mitch Albom has officially run out of steam. The Time Keeper is supposed to be a story about a lovelorn teenage girl, and an old man who wants to cryogenically freeze himself, who are about to have their perspectives on life changed by, you guessed it, a transplanted prehistoric caveman (who for some reason speaks perfect English). Albom fills...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was very excited to find out that Mitch Albom had come out with a new book. After all, "Tuesday's With Morrie", is one of my favorites.

It is amazing how we, at least speaking for myself, focus so much on the time we have. Not enough time with friends/family, too much time at work, the want for time to never end when in good company, think of all the scenarios where we speak of time. What is the purpose of keeping track of time? "Try to imagine a life without timekeeping.", there once was a ti...more I was very excited to find out that Mitch Albom had come out with a new book. After all, "Tuesday's With Morrie", is one of my favorites.

It is amazing how we, at least speaking for myself, focus so much on the time we have. Not enough time with friends/family, too much time at work, the want for time to never end when in good company, think of all the scenarios where we speak of time. What is the purpose of keeping track of time? "Try to imagine a life without timekeeping.", there once was a time in which people lived each day from sunrise to sunset. They didn’t judge their schedule by a clock but by when they finished what they were doing.

Albom writes, "Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out." This "fear" jumps out at me. Why are we afraid of not having enough time. "... [O]nce we began to chime the hour, we lost the ability to be satisfied... Everything man does today to be efficient, to fill the hour?... It does not satisfy. It only makes him hungry to do more. Man wants to own his existence. But no one owns time... When you are measuring life, you are not living it." I can admit to spending too much time focused on time. I never seem to “have enough time” to do what I want to do. There’s days I spend driving around from event to event in order to appease everyone. Truly, all this does is keep me from indulging in the moment. In the words of one of my favorite musicians, it’s time to “stop clockwatching” and “live in the moment.” I love this because time doesn’t stop. Our lives can end up filled with regret based on how we spend our time. Time isn’t endless. Eventually our time will run out because "[t]here is a reason God limits our days... To make each one precious."

A few other lines I felt worth remembering…

"Time is not something you give back. The very next moment may be an answer to your prayer. To deny that is to deny the most important part of the future... Hope."

"Ends are for yesterdays, not tomorrows."

"When we are most alone is when we embrace another's loneliness."

"With no loss or sacrifice, we can't appreciate what we have."

"We do not realize the sound the world makes - unless, of course, it comes to a stop. Then, when it starts, it sounds like an orchestra."

"But fates are connected in ways we don't understand."
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Apr 12, 2013 Andrea Ika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review : The Time Keeper

Mitch Albom

"There is a reason God limits our days." "Why?""To make each one precious."

About the book
Book: The Time Keeper
Author: Mitch Albom
Format ebook

Description
From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper --a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time. In Mitch Albom's newest work of...more Review : The Time Keeper

Mitch Albom

"There is a reason God limits our days." "Why?""To make each one precious."

About the book
Book: The Time Keeper
Author: Mitch Albom
Format ebook

Description
From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper --a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time. In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time. He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so. Told in Albom's signature spare, evocative prose, this remarkably original tale will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time, how they spend it and how precious it truly is.

Review
The Time Keeper is one of those books that, despite almost farcical sequences, works because of its message. Albom’s style of writing is fluent, simple and with an emphasis on brevity. It explores time from various aspects: its creation, its use and abuse and how its value varies from person to person. This story is so timely! What modern day person isn't obsessed with time. Do you count the days until vacation? Retirement? Special events? There aren't enough hours in the day and the beauty & simplicity of the moment is lost on so many of us. Father Time teaches this lesson to 2 very diverse characters and joins them in a relationship that transcends time.Mitch Albom is like a Yoda of modern literature. The book is simplistic and the concept is not new; however, he makes you become vested to his characters. An enjoyable read like his other novels, this book also makes you look at life through a different lens.

Summary
This was a wonderful book that makes you think deep about your life and has twists.A very worthwhile read again and again. In today's world the message is meaningful!

Reading level: young adult

Rating 3 stars
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Apr 05, 2013 Dianne Joy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, lifechanger, worth-reading-twice

That one word that made me lose it and just cry - page 220, last line, last word - "Grace."

Mitch Albom has a way of capturing hearts with every word he writes and how he writes them. This book is not quite like the other books Albom has earlier written, but it is no less good. It is just as great as his earlier works, and I'm currently deciding if maybe, for me, this has been one of his better works.

The Time Keeper is surprisingly a light-read, considering it is a Mitch Albom novel. But it was...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Ann Jenelle Rotol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational, reviewed

Every time I finish reading a Mitch Albom book, I always get that unexplainable feeling. (Do you also feel that?) And then, when I read the acknowledgments, Albom has written the perfect words to describe this feeling: "May I continue to provide you a fraction of the hope and inspiration..."

Yup, once again, Mitch Albom has inspired me. :)

Moving on, there are three things about this book that I like. First is the book cover. Isn't it beautiful? Kudos for the one who designed it. :)

Second is titl...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Marcy Italiano rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now, given all of the changes I've been going through lately, and in which direction my mind and life are going, this was quite apropos. You see, I had passed it by three times in the library. It was on the "fast-reads" shelf (and after a few hours I know why), and I was determined to NOT get anything new that day. My TBR list is sky-high. I was just getting a movie, checking out a book for the kids. And I came home with it.

I have been reading a textbook, which is about 17lbs and bigger than my...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Frederick Garing rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mitch Albom's latest book is about the story of a man-named Dor-who changed the world by measuring moments. He would later be known as Father Time. Because of what he has done, he was forced to spend 6,000 years locked inside a cave while he listened to the cries of people all over the world. Finally, he was given a mission: to find two people-one who wanted too much time and one who wanted so little-and teach them lessons based from his own experience and finish what he has started on Earth.

The...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Inayat rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book wasn't one of those where I knew instantly that I was going to love it. For me, the book started off slow, I almost didn't want to go on. But the topic was interesting, so I kept reading. The book became interesting around Chapter 20, it started picking up pace, the storyline suddenly became developed enough for me to develop an earnest interest in the characters and the book started raising the eternal questions of time. I mean, everyone tends to think about life from "time to time" (...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Choice ...: May 2013 - The Time Keeper	103	145	May 19, 2013 12:58pm
Can someone please explain the end of the first part?	3	27	May 17, 2013 06:50pm
character, timekeeper	2	8	May 17, 2013 04:08pm
In answer to the mixed reviews...	15	140	May 01, 2013 05:37am
Did anyone find the names a little bit..odd?	19	211	Apr 29, 2013 02:12pm
Willmar Public Li...: Third Tuesday of the Month Book Club	1	11	Apr 11, 2013 05:32pm
Ravelry Knitters: February 2013 Group Read - The Time Keeper	15	72	Apr 01, 2013 10:22am

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About Mitch Albom

Mitchell David Albom is an author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold over 35 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-one territories and in forty-two languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies.

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Quotes from The Time Keeper

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. an alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.” — 389 people liked it

“It is never too late or too soon. It is when it is supposed to be.” — 231 people liked it

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