Five Days: Which days would you choose?

by Matt Micros

Imagine this. You die heroically, and meet the Angel Gabriel. He tells you that as a reward for your good deed, you can go back to Earth and relive any five days of your life that you choose.

How would you select five days from your whole life? Would you pick days so perfect that you wouldn't change a thing about them? Or would you choose days that required you to make pivotal decisions -- and, with the benefit of hindsight, would you now make different decisions during those days that would change the course of your life and the lives of your loved ones?

That's the dilemma that greets high school Algebra teacher Mike Postman during a particularly draining day in Five Days. The protagonist, Mike, is a 40-year-old who walks along the Connecticut shoreline on an Autumn day, and hears the faint shout of a little boy as he comes around the bend. "Mister! Mister! My friend just fell off the pier...please help!"

Mike doesn't hesitate. He throws his jacket onto the ground, kicks off his shoes, and dives off the pier headfirst. He manages to get the drowning boy over to his friend who lifts him onto the pier so that he's safe, but then he finds it's so much easier to just close his eyes, let go, and float away peacefully rather than to swim to the pier himself and save his own life, too.

So Mike dies a hero with one hitch: he may have committed suicide, and suicides are not encouraged by the management team of the afterlife. While it's not condemned outright, suicides certainly don't get treated in the same way as heroes ... except in cases, such as Mike's, when it's tough to differentiate between the two.

Will Mike choose to have one last day with the person he loved the most so he could say everything he'd always wanted to say? Will he elect to try to reverse a mistake he once made? Or will he opt to simply experience the most blissful day imaginable one more time?

The character takes us on a journey through events of modern history both heroic and tragic. And on the question of ending one's life prematurely, readers are left to ponder whether suicide is always a mistake that overshadows everything good you've done for others, or whether it's just ... a choice, perhaps one that's made on the spur of the moment and wouldn't ever be a choice you could defend or would repeat. Could it be that suicide isn't enough to prevent you from entering heaven ... but that the important thing to remember is that things are seldom as dire as they may appear?

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2014

About the author

Matt Micros received a B.A. in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and his M.S. in Television, Radio and Film from Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications, before spending the better part of a decade in Los Angeles working in television production. He followed that with a stint at Creative Artists Agency before returning to the east coast. He is the author of nine works of fiction, including the best selling Five Days and the recently released, Another Five Days, one of the highest rated new books on Goodreads. Matt currently resides in Stratford, Connecticut with his wife, Katy, and their crazy but lovable yellow and black labs, Mr. Beans & Mr. Bode.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out this book's title! Wouldn't you be intrigued? Wouldn't it make you think?

Well, the title seems to be the only thing going for this book. Even though I tried to keep an open mind to this philosophical question, the following points negated my reading experience:

1. the main character, Mike Postman, was a popular kid in school, excelled in academics and sports, the most admired teacher at his high school - an all-round great guy! So, why don't I like him? Answer: he's too one-dimensional;
2. the plot was confusing at times! Some parts dragged out or seemed redundant, repetitive and/or haphazard. I had to keep flipping back to figure out where I was in the story! The ending was too syrupy for me; and,
3. this book needed an editor! Descriptions were mundane, and the teacher in me wanted to pull out my red pen to correct all the grammatical, capitalization and punctuation issues! Too many problems like these are difficult for me to get past!

Overall, I think this is an awesome premise for a book, but it would probably be better off with an author who uses beta readers and copy editors!

[Megan Overholser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for a review of it. I enjoyed this story. It was interesting and thought provoking. I am fairly certain that if this were to happen in real life, it wouldn't have ended so happily. I'm glad it ended how it did though.

[Sarah Rife · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, if you came here to look at thr ratings to see if you should read this book the answer is YES YES YES READ IT!!
I won this book from a giveaway on this site, & I could not be happier that I did! I honestly think this is the most perfect book I've ever read in my life! This book made me feel every human emotion one human can feel in one sitting!! I did not expect this book to be funny in any way shape of form after reading the back of it! One page I was laughing so hard my dogs were about to admit me into a hospital, next thing I know I'm balling!! This book made me feel so many feels! I am hoping to find someone to pass this book onto, but I have to find someone that will really give it the time it deserves! This book does NOT deserve to waste away on a shelf this book deserves to be read! Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Ashlei A.K.A Chyna Doll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this for a giveaway!!

This was in the same vein as What Dreams May Come, or The 5 People You Meet In Heaven. A middle aged high-schools teacher saves a drowning boy and drowns himself in the process. When he arrives in heaven the angel Gabriel informs him he can pick ANY 5 DAYS he wishes to relive..... Will he right wrongs, Will he waste thus opportunity, Will he make the right choice?????

GREAT READ! Perfect start for the new year!

[Alisha Jarosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book thru this site and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once started I didn't want to stop. It makes you think a lot about what days you would pick if given the chance to revisit 5 days. Makes you realize that the days you pick will also affect the outcome of your life in the end. Very thought provoking. One of those books that once finished still has you thinking about it.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man in Heaven given an opportunity to live five days over. Put yourself in his shoes and choose your own five days. The book's basic premise.

This is a nice story with a happy ending. Certainly not something my five days would add up to, as I am way too selfish and too self absorbed. I am not sure that's what I was supposed to get out of the book, but there it is.

Three out of five stars. Thanks to Goodreads for the Kindle copy.

[Veronique Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! I couldn’t wait to finish it and I can’t wait to start Another Five Days, which I won in a Goodreads giveaway.

I’ve always thought about going back to a certain day and doing it over again, but I keep thinking what butterfly effect would it have on where I am now.

There are parts where you laugh and cry in this book.
I’m not into sports but how it gets integrated into the storyline is perfect!

I highly recommend this book! :)

[Alisha Jarosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book thru this site and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once started I didn't want to stop. It makes you think a lot about what days you would pick if given the chance to revisit 5 days. Makes you realize that the days you pick will also affect the outcome of your life in the end. Very thought provoking. One of those books that once finished still has you thinking about it.

[Charlotte Brackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently won the sequel to this and, though the two books contain different characters and seemingly have no overlap, I figured I might as well read the first one beforehand.

This was well-written and well thought out. It's definitely unique. I thought it was cute and meaningful and a nice quick read.

[Cathy Bazan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

I like the concept of this story. It is written well, and the five days chosen make sense with the characters reasoning. It makes you think which ones you would choose.

I received this book free from GoodReads.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well done look at which 5 days you would relive if given the chance. What would you choose to do?

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a small book that once I started I couldn't put down.
The impact one can have on others and the choices we make.
I highly recommend this.
I won this book through Goodreads.

[Georgine · Rating 4 out of 5]

won this on Goodreads
What a lovely short story. I enjoyed it immensely.
Would recommend this.

[Cristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was received in a giveaway. Enjoyable short story.

[David Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting idea but some of the concepts re choosing lost me, a good ending though

[Cheryl Pinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you could relive any 5 days, what would you choose? Thought provoking! The book was a quick read on a plane. As I was reading, I was considering what days I would choose.

[Michael Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway and am very pleased I did. A very entertaining story.

[Ladonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really made me think about life. It was very well written. I do hope that it turns into a movie.

*received this as a giveaway winner*