Just a Few Sleeps Away

by Mike Nichols

The story of a Midwestern family’s heartbreaking loss — and what they have since found.A small-town Wisconsin girl living in Chicago with her fiancé, Andrea Haberman flew to New York on her first-ever business trip late on the evening of Sept. 10, 2001. She walked into the north tower of the World Trade Center for the first time in her life at 8 a.m. on Sept. 11 and made her way to the 92nd floor — just 45 minutes before terrorists flew a Boeing 767 into the floors directly over her head.Just a Few Sleeps Away is a true story of devastating heartbreak. It is, too, an inspiring story of courage and faith and the pursuit of justice amid overwhelming grief. It is a book of discovery about both the endless reverberations of 9/11 and what one victim’s family came to see as the fundamental goodness of America. Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds of every book sold will be donated to a 9/11-related charity of the Haberman family’s choice.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2011

About the author

Mike Nichols was an American multi-award-winning television, stage and film director, writer, and producer.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a true story of a young woman from Wisconsin who was killed on Sept. 11, making her first-ever business trip to the World Trade Center. The local connection made me even more intrigued, thus I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. Andrea Haberman's story is tragic, as is everything connected to that horrible day -- and as a parent, I cannot imagine what her family went through in the early days, and for years afterword. I felt compassion for them, certainly - but as a book, I just couldn't get excited about Just a Few Sleeps Away.

Andrea's story, while horrible, isn't really compelling reading simply because it has been told, again and again, in the tales of all the other victims. While her life was hers alone, her death was really a national event and this book didn't really add anything new under the sun, despite how awful the circumstances. Also, I found the writing to be tough to follow -- not difficult to read, but somewhat disjointed in that the author jumped back and forth between people, places and time. Ultimately, it was a laundry list of the people they met in the aftermath of her death, and the role they played in helping ... but it just didn't make for compelling reading, in my opinion. I'm glad others came forward to offer help and compassion to this family - but it's not necesssarily the making of a great book.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading Just A Few Sleeps Away ....I couldn't put it down. My heart aches for Andrea, Al, her parents, and family.... I still cannot fathom what Her loved ones went through - the story has helped me connect to the events of 9/11
on a deeper, more personal level. Thank you for sharing this story with me.

[Amy Pinkston · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was great, Heartbreaking and devastating. The second half seemed to drag - definitely a pacing issue. I'd have preferred a little more of the relationships and a little less of the hunt to understand the inexplicable.

[Jorjan Loos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book selected by my book club and not one I would have normally chosen. I am very glad that I read it and was moved greatly by it. I am looking forward to the author joing us next Thursday to discuss it.

[Amanda]

A book written about a friend we lost on September 11th.

[Gretchen]

Pretty funny -- the Mike Nichols who is described in Goodreads' author bio as the person who wrote this book is not the Mike Nichols who actually wrote it.