Review of Mitch Albom's 2012 "The Time Keeper" (Hyperion Books)
After two biographies, "The Time Keeper" is Albom's fourth book (his fifth is a philosophical/sociological book) that fits into the mystical genre of time/space/ultra-realism/moral definitions of human behavior and mores, including "time-wise" the Mayan calendar where.time was supposed to stop in 2012 (the book publishing year).
The plot of "Time Keeper" revolves around three main characters - Dor/Father Time, teenager Sarah, and mid-80s wealthy Victor. Albom cleverly juxtapositions their three highly different interpretations of how time affects their lives, and their resolution of how to regard time.
A special strength of "Time Keeper" is the breath-takingly incisive character delineations that Albom creates as they reach the denouement, especially in view of the two totally disparate "our time" characters: Sarah, the intelligent high school "geek", and Victor, the millionaire. His attention to detail is perfect, and it adds to the quality of the novel.
Another Albom writing tour de force is how he threads the Mayan millenium into the final plot resolution. It is a reading thrill to see how a human mind can create such use of this wonderful English language.
A Gulfport Library patron
