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Ambrose Saga #2
Eight Days
LIFE’S SHORT WHEN COMPARED TO ETERNITY, BUT ETERNITY IS ONLY WORTH IT BECAUSE OF LIFE.
Clive Kinsella lived a good life. He had a family who loved him and he was never without a job, a place to live, or a warm meal. But Clive died unfulfilled. Despite all his gifts he could only see what he didn’t have. He never wrote for a big newspaper in a big city. He never traveled the world. In fact, he never got out of his small Southern town. And … he never faced the ghosts that haunted him.
At his own funeral Clive meets Pachu, his grandfather who had died years before, and with Pachu he begins a journey through his life where he has to finally face his greatest regrets and agonies. But, if Clive can’t overcome his regrets he’ll be forced to wander the place between Heaven and Earth. Each day Clive revisits events in life in a sort of spiritual recording, the same events that took him from being an optimistic young man to a curmudgeon.
For every day he overcomes he gets to visit a place on earth he never saw before, and the reader is taken to places like Half Dome in Yosemite and Venice, where Pachu and Clive discuss existence and the meaning of life. But, if Clive can't overcome a lifetime of regrets he'll be trapped in the in-between as a ghost, forced to roam the earth alone.
Clive Kinsella lived a good life. He had a family who loved him and he was never without a job, a place to live, or a warm meal. But Clive died unfulfilled. Despite all his gifts he could only see what he didn’t have. He never wrote for a big newspaper in a big city. He never traveled the world. In fact, he never got out of his small Southern town. And … he never faced the ghosts that haunted him.
At his own funeral Clive meets Pachu, his grandfather who had died years before, and with Pachu he begins a journey through his life where he has to finally face his greatest regrets and agonies. But, if Clive can’t overcome his regrets he’ll be forced to wander the place between Heaven and Earth. Each day Clive revisits events in life in a sort of spiritual recording, the same events that took him from being an optimistic young man to a curmudgeon.
For every day he overcomes he gets to visit a place on earth he never saw before, and the reader is taken to places like Half Dome in Yosemite and Venice, where Pachu and Clive discuss existence and the meaning of life. But, if Clive can't overcome a lifetime of regrets he'll be trapped in the in-between as a ghost, forced to roam the earth alone.
- GenresFiction
229 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2016
About the author
Scott Thompson
8 books276 followersLost in '96 is now available.
Georgia Author of the Year nominee, for first novel, Scott Thompson was born and raised in the American South where his stories take place. His debut novel, Young Men Shall See, is a coming of age story set in the 1980s in a time of quiet social change and examines the generation in the South after the Civil Rights Era. Eight Days, released 2016 takes place in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and involves a man who has died, but first must face his regrets and mistakes before finding eternity.
Thompson lives in the Carolina Low Country with his family. He is the winner of the Great American Novel contest in literature for 2010.
"Scott Thompson’s Eight Days earns and deserves a place on everyone’s bookshelf. Rich in character and subject matter, it is a must read, quite possibly a game changer."
— Teri Pietila, Book Reviewer
Review of Young Men Shall See
“This book is a vivid slice of growing up Southern in a time of racial truce if not yet true peace with honor. It's a fresh, honest look at that life in the 80s.”
— Richard Monaco, Two Time Pulitzer nominated author of the Parsival books
Georgia Author of the Year nominee, for first novel, Scott Thompson was born and raised in the American South where his stories take place. His debut novel, Young Men Shall See, is a coming of age story set in the 1980s in a time of quiet social change and examines the generation in the South after the Civil Rights Era. Eight Days, released 2016 takes place in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and involves a man who has died, but first must face his regrets and mistakes before finding eternity.
Thompson lives in the Carolina Low Country with his family. He is the winner of the Great American Novel contest in literature for 2010.
"Scott Thompson’s Eight Days earns and deserves a place on everyone’s bookshelf. Rich in character and subject matter, it is a must read, quite possibly a game changer."
— Teri Pietila, Book Reviewer
Review of Young Men Shall See
“This book is a vivid slice of growing up Southern in a time of racial truce if not yet true peace with honor. It's a fresh, honest look at that life in the 80s.”
— Richard Monaco, Two Time Pulitzer nominated author of the Parsival books
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 15, 2016
An incredibly intelligent and insightful author, Scott Thompson has created a great work. Great because the prose is clear, and flows smoothly like clean water. His characters are complex, a deeply touching book where I was at times brought to the point of tears. This author has what is not as common in novels today, an ability to create an interesting and compelling story that reminds the reader what it is to love and to be human.
This is a great book that leaves you wanting more, and makes you reflect on your own time here on earth.
This is a great book that leaves you wanting more, and makes you reflect on your own time here on earth.
June 16, 2019
As someone who reads a lot of books written by people who have had near death experiences, this book, although a work of fiction, interested me greatly. The author researched people who have had these experiences, and from those he wove a fictional tale of the afterlife of one man.
Clive Kinsella had it all. A loving wife and kids, a nice home, a good job. Although this could have been described as an idyllic life, Clive constantly reminded himself of what he didn't do, mainly, he never achieved his dream of writing for a huge newspaper in a likewise huge city. He didn't think he was a good father, even though his kids adored him. He just wasn't (in his mind only) "enough".
One day as he is packing for a vacation, Clive suddenly dies. He finds himself at his own funeral, where he is greeted by his late grandfather, Pachu, whose job it is to get him through the beginning phases of what happens after death. During this time, Clive must face and relive some very negative things that happened during his life so that he can show that he has learned from them before being allowed to move on. The greatest part of this book revolves around this process. Clive is also allowed to visit places he dreamed of seeing while alive, and he is also allowed to visit his grieving family members. For Clive, this process will last the eight days referenced in the title.
If Clive cannot overcome his deepest regrets, there is a chance he won't be able to get into Heaven.
It's an amazing book!
Clive Kinsella had it all. A loving wife and kids, a nice home, a good job. Although this could have been described as an idyllic life, Clive constantly reminded himself of what he didn't do, mainly, he never achieved his dream of writing for a huge newspaper in a likewise huge city. He didn't think he was a good father, even though his kids adored him. He just wasn't (in his mind only) "enough".
One day as he is packing for a vacation, Clive suddenly dies. He finds himself at his own funeral, where he is greeted by his late grandfather, Pachu, whose job it is to get him through the beginning phases of what happens after death. During this time, Clive must face and relive some very negative things that happened during his life so that he can show that he has learned from them before being allowed to move on. The greatest part of this book revolves around this process. Clive is also allowed to visit places he dreamed of seeing while alive, and he is also allowed to visit his grieving family members. For Clive, this process will last the eight days referenced in the title.
If Clive cannot overcome his deepest regrets, there is a chance he won't be able to get into Heaven.
It's an amazing book!
March 27, 2016
This book is one of a kind to me. It's a story that captivates your soul. It makes your life worth living and creates anticipation for what's to come. It helps decrease fear of the unknown and it strengthen love for God. It is not religious, it's just spiritual. So whatever your faith is, it will work for you. If you believe in the afterlife then you should read it. I would like and recommend my book club members to choose it. It will be a totally different experience and there's lots to discuss.
Highly recommended! Thank you Scott.
I just have a tiny comment, the kindle version has some minor mistakes. Maybe 3 or 4.. Still loved the book though.
Highly recommended! Thank you Scott.
I just have a tiny comment, the kindle version has some minor mistakes. Maybe 3 or 4.. Still loved the book though.
February 12, 2016
Clive Kinsella dies one day, just as he is about to go somewhere and see more of the world he gave up long ago. Isn't that the kind of thing that happens to people? You work your whole life and raise your children, get them off into the world, start to be able to save some money, start to maybe see the light at the end of the "responsibilities" tunnel, putting dream after dream on the back burner until "one day" when you'll be able to finally do and see things you always wanted to do and see. And instead, you drop dead. Or, you get diagnosed with Stage 3C colon cancer on the day before your 47th birthday when all the doctors thought you had was a bad case of diverticulitis.
Clive dies and goes along with his long ago dead grandfather on a journey called "Reckoning." Reckoning is where individuals face the events in their lives that defined them, the things that they held onto, the things that they never quite got over. In Clive's case, he had eight days worth of Reckoning, and the reader gets to follow him on this pre-Heaven "life" experience. We learn why Clive made the choices he made, the struggles he faced, the pain he carried within, and what makes life worth living.
This spiritual story and Scott Thompson's humble, tender and thoughtful writing style remind me of Mitch Albom's work. You feel soothed when you read it, even though you are talking about a man's regrets and pain after his death. You identify with Clive because we all know what it's like to sacrifice our own goals and dreams for love - at least on some level. You appreciate Clive because even if you are not him, you know someone like him. You can understand his unwillingness to let certain things go, and you too hope that your own un-fabulous, unremarkable and simple life was indeed well lived.
Scott Thompson gives us a glimpse into the afterworld, allows us to share his window into the eternal and then later into Heaven, which is a place of hope and love - and in the end, aren't those the things we all most cherish? The things we hold dearest to us? It's why we cry and grieve and suffer when we lose those we love, and why we cling on to the promises of religion or spirituality that we will be with them again in some other realm.
No matter your personal views on those matters of "forever," the truth is, it is up to all of us to Reckon within ourselves - either while here on Earth or perhaps somewhere else in between with our own grandfather guide: the choices we have made and the lives we have led. And then be okay with it as it was. Just because you didn't go to outer space or write for a large newspaper in New York or claim a Nobel Prize doesn't mean that the small delicacies of finding someone to love, raising a family, going fishing instead of traveling to Paris, helping an elderly parent die, holding your wife after she has just told you her deepest darkest secret, providing for your family, forgiving your repentant son, reading to your grandchild...aren't actually even more meaningful.
The moral of this beautiful story is to embrace who and what you are, the things that led you there, and who and what you have right now. Reckon it now. That is how you live with no regrets. And that is how you die with no regrets.
Clive dies and goes along with his long ago dead grandfather on a journey called "Reckoning." Reckoning is where individuals face the events in their lives that defined them, the things that they held onto, the things that they never quite got over. In Clive's case, he had eight days worth of Reckoning, and the reader gets to follow him on this pre-Heaven "life" experience. We learn why Clive made the choices he made, the struggles he faced, the pain he carried within, and what makes life worth living.
This spiritual story and Scott Thompson's humble, tender and thoughtful writing style remind me of Mitch Albom's work. You feel soothed when you read it, even though you are talking about a man's regrets and pain after his death. You identify with Clive because we all know what it's like to sacrifice our own goals and dreams for love - at least on some level. You appreciate Clive because even if you are not him, you know someone like him. You can understand his unwillingness to let certain things go, and you too hope that your own un-fabulous, unremarkable and simple life was indeed well lived.
Scott Thompson gives us a glimpse into the afterworld, allows us to share his window into the eternal and then later into Heaven, which is a place of hope and love - and in the end, aren't those the things we all most cherish? The things we hold dearest to us? It's why we cry and grieve and suffer when we lose those we love, and why we cling on to the promises of religion or spirituality that we will be with them again in some other realm.
No matter your personal views on those matters of "forever," the truth is, it is up to all of us to Reckon within ourselves - either while here on Earth or perhaps somewhere else in between with our own grandfather guide: the choices we have made and the lives we have led. And then be okay with it as it was. Just because you didn't go to outer space or write for a large newspaper in New York or claim a Nobel Prize doesn't mean that the small delicacies of finding someone to love, raising a family, going fishing instead of traveling to Paris, helping an elderly parent die, holding your wife after she has just told you her deepest darkest secret, providing for your family, forgiving your repentant son, reading to your grandchild...aren't actually even more meaningful.
The moral of this beautiful story is to embrace who and what you are, the things that led you there, and who and what you have right now. Reckon it now. That is how you live with no regrets. And that is how you die with no regrets.
March 14, 2017
Scott Thompson is an award winning author, hailing from Georgia. He calls himself a reluctant adult but as his publisher, we see him as the embodiment of the Southern gentleman. Scott shares both his personal reluctance and our vision of him through this novel.
Clive, the protagonist, will take you through the very depths of his soul at a level that every single person can easily relate to. I know that we have all felt like we aren't using our life to it's largest capabilities, or like we might be wasting time. We, as humans, are hard-wired to see what we aren't doing or accomplishing, instead of the blessings laid before us.
When you go through Clive's recognition of his life, it will help you see what many of us have forgotten to be every day blessings. It was this beautiful story and gentle hand to show you to truly recognize your life that made us want to publish this story from Scott. I am so excited to share this story with you on our brand and I know that you will also love it.
Clive, the protagonist, will take you through the very depths of his soul at a level that every single person can easily relate to. I know that we have all felt like we aren't using our life to it's largest capabilities, or like we might be wasting time. We, as humans, are hard-wired to see what we aren't doing or accomplishing, instead of the blessings laid before us.
When you go through Clive's recognition of his life, it will help you see what many of us have forgotten to be every day blessings. It was this beautiful story and gentle hand to show you to truly recognize your life that made us want to publish this story from Scott. I am so excited to share this story with you on our brand and I know that you will also love it.
February 10, 2016
This novel takes you on an existential journey in fascinating way. The author relies on flashback to tell the story of Clive Kinsella. He masterfully weaves through time and space as we get to know Clive's idiosyncrasies. He uses just the right amount of humor juxtaposed with truly heartbreaking tragedy, but it gives the piece an authentic feel.
I am not a religious person, but the author does not take this story to put that in your face, rather to give you a story of what it's like to live a life to the fullest, or what it's like to live a life in regrets. It's a touching story and it's one that will provide you with moments of reflection on your own life and give you hope for the Great Beyond.
Scott Thompson has a natural gift for dialogue and each of his characters were natural and lifted off the page and straight to your heart.
I am not a religious person, but the author does not take this story to put that in your face, rather to give you a story of what it's like to live a life to the fullest, or what it's like to live a life in regrets. It's a touching story and it's one that will provide you with moments of reflection on your own life and give you hope for the Great Beyond.
Scott Thompson has a natural gift for dialogue and each of his characters were natural and lifted off the page and straight to your heart.
March 7, 2016
After his sudden death, Clive came face to face with his long dead grandfather. Pachu came to help Clive go through the Reckoning where he had to relive the most difficult moments of his life and watch as his earthly self struggle with the most difficult decisions he had to make.
It is a masterfully written book with very interesting plot, endearing characters, engaging dialogues and captivating narratives that made me cry at some point in every chapter. It is a touching story of love, friendship, childhood, old age, life, death and forgiveness. It is an inspiring book that will make the reader contemplate on how to live his life, how to set his priorities and how and when to make decisions that he could live with.
It is a masterfully written book with very interesting plot, endearing characters, engaging dialogues and captivating narratives that made me cry at some point in every chapter. It is a touching story of love, friendship, childhood, old age, life, death and forgiveness. It is an inspiring book that will make the reader contemplate on how to live his life, how to set his priorities and how and when to make decisions that he could live with.
February 25, 2018
Absolutely wonderful! I loved the concept, I loved the story. It was beautiful, it was sad, it was happy! The happy parts-especially the end-were pure bliss!
It made me yearn for eternal life. I'm not ready for it but if this is what it's like-and I believe it is-I can't wait for that day! Our pets will be in heaven, I don't care what anyone says.
This is one of those books that just makes sense. Everything about it made sense to me. It waa like the writer took my thoughts from my heas and put them down on paper. Scott is a writer that I would love to read more often. Get to writing! 😉
It made me yearn for eternal life. I'm not ready for it but if this is what it's like-and I believe it is-I can't wait for that day! Our pets will be in heaven, I don't care what anyone says.
This is one of those books that just makes sense. Everything about it made sense to me. It waa like the writer took my thoughts from my heas and put them down on paper. Scott is a writer that I would love to read more often. Get to writing! 😉
August 6, 2024
Interesting take on what dying is like. Definitely some thought provoking moments here. Good writing, rich descriptions and attention to detail which makes reading enjoyable. My beliefs differ somewhat. There’s no real repentance process represented here, and no mention of the Savior or the atonement, although I think it’s implied. That’s so central to my beliefs that I felt its absence. I’m saddened when “inspired Christian” authors take such an accepting approach to premarital sex and swearing. It’s very human, even common behavior, but it’s still not right, and I believe there are moral consequences. Overall a good read. Would have greatly appreciated less language.
July 11, 2016
We meet Clive Kinsella as he is packing for what he believes is going to be the first time ever he will see something of the world. Somewhere other than Georgetown, South Carolina. That is where he grew up and stayed all his life.
Clive’s last day on Earth was a “good day to travel” and travel he would – his final trip from humanity to Heaven. Before Clive can even contemplate going to Heaven he has to go through his eight Days of Reckoning, it's a way of reviewing your life.
If Clive ever wants to enter Heaven, he has to straighten his soul, acknowledge the guilt and the pain and come to terms with it. The lessons are hard and painful, as a consolation Clive gets to choose an Earthly destination to see for every day he has to go through the Reckoning. The irony is that Clive gets to travel to those wonderful places he always longed to see, but as a body in transition, not Earthly bound but not in Heaven either.
In retrospection Clive sees the faults he had made in his life, but also the things he did well, the love he felt for his family and his mother Marion. When it is Marion’s time to go, Clive strives to help her as good as he can, but feels whatever he is doing, it just is not enough.
The book tells a tale of a breathtaking, painful but wonderful journey through a man’s life, seeking to find acceptance in his soul for the choices he has made in his life.
I found the book beautiful and touching, sometimes even poetic “recognition came like a missing boat returning from a voyage on a fog-covered sea”. There were moments that I laughed because of the humorous comparisons such as “the troubles had piled upon him like a dump truck of manure”. Most of the time I was moved to tears, such as at the time when Marion died, but also when Clive decided to let his son stay in jail overnight – himself watching over him in the waiting room next door.
For me, the book could have ended after completing the eight days of reflection. I felt the chapters about the Passage and Heaven were not necessary as a part of this philosophical novel, because I like the mystique and magic to last, not having everything filled in for me. But then again there were wonderful pieces in the Passage and there was one moment in Heaven – such a beautiful event – that touched me profoundly and again brought tears to my eyes. Read ‘Eight Days’ and find out for yourself!
Read the entire review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/eight-d...
Clive’s last day on Earth was a “good day to travel” and travel he would – his final trip from humanity to Heaven. Before Clive can even contemplate going to Heaven he has to go through his eight Days of Reckoning, it's a way of reviewing your life.
If Clive ever wants to enter Heaven, he has to straighten his soul, acknowledge the guilt and the pain and come to terms with it. The lessons are hard and painful, as a consolation Clive gets to choose an Earthly destination to see for every day he has to go through the Reckoning. The irony is that Clive gets to travel to those wonderful places he always longed to see, but as a body in transition, not Earthly bound but not in Heaven either.
In retrospection Clive sees the faults he had made in his life, but also the things he did well, the love he felt for his family and his mother Marion. When it is Marion’s time to go, Clive strives to help her as good as he can, but feels whatever he is doing, it just is not enough.
The book tells a tale of a breathtaking, painful but wonderful journey through a man’s life, seeking to find acceptance in his soul for the choices he has made in his life.
I found the book beautiful and touching, sometimes even poetic “recognition came like a missing boat returning from a voyage on a fog-covered sea”. There were moments that I laughed because of the humorous comparisons such as “the troubles had piled upon him like a dump truck of manure”. Most of the time I was moved to tears, such as at the time when Marion died, but also when Clive decided to let his son stay in jail overnight – himself watching over him in the waiting room next door.
For me, the book could have ended after completing the eight days of reflection. I felt the chapters about the Passage and Heaven were not necessary as a part of this philosophical novel, because I like the mystique and magic to last, not having everything filled in for me. But then again there were wonderful pieces in the Passage and there was one moment in Heaven – such a beautiful event – that touched me profoundly and again brought tears to my eyes. Read ‘Eight Days’ and find out for yourself!
Read the entire review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/eight-d...
April 10, 2017
Though it's not a book that I would normally pick up on my own, I was given a copy of Eight Days to review, and I'm glad I was. The book was well written and had an interesting concept that made for a good plot. Throughout the book I also found myself really considering what the important things in my own life were (won't say more because of Spoilers), so it definitely had some powerful elements to it. The only thing that I struggled with was that for me, the pacing was a little slow. I am fully prepared to attribute this to the fact that it isn't a genre I read very often and just claim personal tastes. But if you like adult contemporary fiction or stories about self-discovery and growth it is a book worth checking out. :)
December 31, 2016
Interesting concept and mostly written well. Could have used a proofread and some quality control at the printer--my copy had several pages clipped at 3/4 and bound upside down.
I enjoyed the first few chapters of this story when the Eternal men were more participatory in the Reckoning, but later in the book they almost seemed an afterthought added as explanatory characters. I also thought Eternal Clive reconciled some of his Reckoning events too easily given that these were the main regrets/failings fro his entire life. All-in-all, a good though-provoking read that prompted some reflection on life.
I look forward to reading more from this author as he grows.
I enjoyed the first few chapters of this story when the Eternal men were more participatory in the Reckoning, but later in the book they almost seemed an afterthought added as explanatory characters. I also thought Eternal Clive reconciled some of his Reckoning events too easily given that these were the main regrets/failings fro his entire life. All-in-all, a good though-provoking read that prompted some reflection on life.
I look forward to reading more from this author as he grows.
February 13, 2023
Eight Days
This was a beautiful story. The story of a man who always wanted to travel the world and leave his hometown. He never did, but instead married the love of his life and raised a family. When he died his dead grandfather accompanied him on a review of his life. Some bad memories, but also some wonderful memories. Many he never even remembered before. And with each memory he was able to travel to one place in the world. Finally he made it to heaven and experienced wonderful things and met people from his past and found true happiness and most of all the most important thing in life...LOVE.
This was a beautiful story. The story of a man who always wanted to travel the world and leave his hometown. He never did, but instead married the love of his life and raised a family. When he died his dead grandfather accompanied him on a review of his life. Some bad memories, but also some wonderful memories. Many he never even remembered before. And with each memory he was able to travel to one place in the world. Finally he made it to heaven and experienced wonderful things and met people from his past and found true happiness and most of all the most important thing in life...LOVE.
March 26, 2017
Eight days is about looking back on ones life our families and eternal life and love. It is a beautiful story of Clive Kensella from the moment of his passing into eternal life and being guided by his grandfather whom he loved tremendously showing him and having him live the most painful moments of his life to "cleanse" him before he could enter Heaven. It is a story of love, pain, family,regret, and redemption. It is one of those stories you do not want to end. It is faith and love in 169 pages. Strongly recommend.
David.
David.
May 24, 2017
I got to page 100 and then had to stop. Sadly, I found this book to have a far more interesting premise than what I was actually presented with. There are grammatical mistakes throughout and the writing comes off very amateurish. Scenes are often rushed, there are hardly any descriptions and everything reads like the summary of a better book. There was also an overbearing amount of religion in it which is not always bad but just not my thing.
October 16, 2020
A salutary tale...
Agreeably narrated and graciously crafted (with just enough typos to make sure you're paying attention) as much about earthly human life as heavenly afterlife, and with some valuable insight on love, loss, learning, living...
"You were put on Earth to live a full life. To see and experience. To dream. To improve yourself and everything around you. To do good and to love. Mostly to love. That’s worship, too, because that’s the primary thing God asks of us.”
Agreeably narrated and graciously crafted (with just enough typos to make sure you're paying attention) as much about earthly human life as heavenly afterlife, and with some valuable insight on love, loss, learning, living...
"You were put on Earth to live a full life. To see and experience. To dream. To improve yourself and everything around you. To do good and to love. Mostly to love. That’s worship, too, because that’s the primary thing God asks of us.”
March 4, 2019
An ST. Novel About The Afterlife. An afterlife presented as a Godly place and where people congregate and wait.
ST. has penned a very unusual novel that present an entirely new approach to heaven or the afterlife. This work is one of fiction. However. If you are religious, have studied religion or just believed and trusted in God you will enjoy this novel.....DEHS
ST. has penned a very unusual novel that present an entirely new approach to heaven or the afterlife. This work is one of fiction. However. If you are religious, have studied religion or just believed and trusted in God you will enjoy this novel.....DEHS
April 8, 2024
Does a heaven truly exist?
I throughly enjoyed this read. Made me think, question & reflect on my life. I believe that going forward I will be a little more tolerant, kind & giving towards others. Will ALWAYS tell my friends & family how much they mean to me & look forward to what comes next when I’m finished with my earthly life.
I throughly enjoyed this read. Made me think, question & reflect on my life. I believe that going forward I will be a little more tolerant, kind & giving towards others. Will ALWAYS tell my friends & family how much they mean to me & look forward to what comes next when I’m finished with my earthly life.
April 4, 2019
This book makes me feel hopeful.
Having lost my best friend a couple of months ago, I read everything I can on death, dying, and the afterlife. Though it is supposition, this book gives me hope that I will be with my loved ones again one day. It's comforting.
Having lost my best friend a couple of months ago, I read everything I can on death, dying, and the afterlife. Though it is supposition, this book gives me hope that I will be with my loved ones again one day. It's comforting.
December 31, 2022
The reason I gave this book a rating of 4 stars is because I really loved the plot of this book. BUT the grammatical errors are so frustrating! I wish someone had proofread this book better before going to print.
April 1, 2019
Peace in knowing
This book has confirmed my hopes, provided answers to questions and left me with a more confirmed expectation/understanding of our next step on this journey.
This book has confirmed my hopes, provided answers to questions and left me with a more confirmed expectation/understanding of our next step on this journey.
April 4, 2019
Interesting fictional account of a man who dies, and his first eight days in the afterlife doing a life "reckoning" before he can enter heaven.
February 26, 2020
Meh
No new concepts to explore here - just more of the same “afterlife” fantasy. Reminded me of “the first five people you meet in heaven.”
No new concepts to explore here - just more of the same “afterlife” fantasy. Reminded me of “the first five people you meet in heaven.”
November 30, 2024
A Must Read
This is a thought provoking and emotionally moving book. It is well written, and I think if you read it to the end, it will fill you with joy.
This is a thought provoking and emotionally moving book. It is well written, and I think if you read it to the end, it will fill you with joy.
April 20, 2016
“Clive Kinsella looked at his body in the coffin and thought how much it reminded him of a stuffed bass. He had several fish mounted on his walls back home, and this must be his payback.”
Odd to be standing at your own funeral looking at your earthly remains. The last thing Clive remembered was being in his driveway packing his car for a trip. He was finally going to see all those places he had wanted to visit for years … thanks to the sudden heart attack that was not going to happen now. Or was it?
So starts the telling of Clive’s “reckoning”. When his beloved grandfather Pachu, who has been dead for many years, arrives Clive is surprised to be told that he would be revisiting pivotal times in his life to complete his “reckoning” – his reconciliation with decisions and actions before he enters Heaven. Although Clive knows he has lived a good life a quick mental rundown of possible “reckoning” moments does not fill him with joy. We all have painful and not-too-proud moments and Clive did not relish the thought of revisiting some of them. But his reward would be, after each reckoning, to travel to one of the places he had planned to visit. Everyone’s reckoning is different and Clive’s would last a total of eight days … would the reward be worth it? Clive had his doubts.
I do not often read spiritual books because whatever faith or belief system I, or anyone else, embraces is personal and I do not want to be sermonized in my reading. But occasionally, as in the case of “Eight Days”, the book description is too tempting to pass up. I was glad I gave in to this particular temptation. Yes, there were mentions of God, Heaven and Hell but they fit perfectly into the context of the story and I found them in no way personally offensive or "preachy" – after all – don’t we all at some moments in our lives call out to one, hope for the other and dread the third?
Mr. Thompson gave me a beautiful story of one man’s life, a life filled with the trials, tribulations, angst, love, guilt and doubt we all experience. There were parts of Clive’s story that had me smiling knowingly and parts that made me laugh out loud. As we all do, Clive experienced sudden tragic events that surprised and shocked me and sad, tender moments that had me in tears. The last few pages of this book were very difficult to read as the words blurred in the eye-mistiness but when I came to the end I knew I had read an exceptionally lovely story. Occasionally it is nice to read a book that warms your heart and touches your emotions; a book that you can feel comfortable gifting or recommending to almost everyone.
My sincerest thanks to Pen Name Publishing and the author for making this book available to me at no charge in the hopes of an honest review.
Odd to be standing at your own funeral looking at your earthly remains. The last thing Clive remembered was being in his driveway packing his car for a trip. He was finally going to see all those places he had wanted to visit for years … thanks to the sudden heart attack that was not going to happen now. Or was it?
So starts the telling of Clive’s “reckoning”. When his beloved grandfather Pachu, who has been dead for many years, arrives Clive is surprised to be told that he would be revisiting pivotal times in his life to complete his “reckoning” – his reconciliation with decisions and actions before he enters Heaven. Although Clive knows he has lived a good life a quick mental rundown of possible “reckoning” moments does not fill him with joy. We all have painful and not-too-proud moments and Clive did not relish the thought of revisiting some of them. But his reward would be, after each reckoning, to travel to one of the places he had planned to visit. Everyone’s reckoning is different and Clive’s would last a total of eight days … would the reward be worth it? Clive had his doubts.
I do not often read spiritual books because whatever faith or belief system I, or anyone else, embraces is personal and I do not want to be sermonized in my reading. But occasionally, as in the case of “Eight Days”, the book description is too tempting to pass up. I was glad I gave in to this particular temptation. Yes, there were mentions of God, Heaven and Hell but they fit perfectly into the context of the story and I found them in no way personally offensive or "preachy" – after all – don’t we all at some moments in our lives call out to one, hope for the other and dread the third?
Mr. Thompson gave me a beautiful story of one man’s life, a life filled with the trials, tribulations, angst, love, guilt and doubt we all experience. There were parts of Clive’s story that had me smiling knowingly and parts that made me laugh out loud. As we all do, Clive experienced sudden tragic events that surprised and shocked me and sad, tender moments that had me in tears. The last few pages of this book were very difficult to read as the words blurred in the eye-mistiness but when I came to the end I knew I had read an exceptionally lovely story. Occasionally it is nice to read a book that warms your heart and touches your emotions; a book that you can feel comfortable gifting or recommending to almost everyone.
My sincerest thanks to Pen Name Publishing and the author for making this book available to me at no charge in the hopes of an honest review.
August 29, 2016
Heartwarming, tear-jerking, and thought-provoking
Heart-warming, tear-jerking, and thought-provoking...this beautiful story took me through all the "feels", and caused me to self-evaluate my life - past, present, and future. It solidified what I've always believed about Love, and its utmost of importance in our lives. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever lost a loved one, or is in the process of losing a loved one, as I believe it will bring them peace, comfort, and reassurance of Eternal Life. Thank you, Scott Thompson!!
Heart-warming, tear-jerking, and thought-provoking...this beautiful story took me through all the "feels", and caused me to self-evaluate my life - past, present, and future. It solidified what I've always believed about Love, and its utmost of importance in our lives. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever lost a loved one, or is in the process of losing a loved one, as I believe it will bring them peace, comfort, and reassurance of Eternal Life. Thank you, Scott Thompson!!
March 27, 2016
I JUST Read & ReREAD ( Many-Times )
The BRIEF Description about "THIS" BOOK ( ! )
It's CONTENT is/are What ( I ) Believe-is/are
The-Very-Special-Keys-NEEDED-To ;
"UNLOCKING-The-MEANING-of/about-LIFE".....
The BRIEF Description about "THIS" BOOK ( ! )
It's CONTENT is/are What ( I ) Believe-is/are
The-Very-Special-Keys-NEEDED-To ;
"UNLOCKING-The-MEANING-of/about-LIFE".....
August 16, 2016
Just Read It
A challenge, a comfort, an adventure. This is wonderful. Have tissues around. If you've ever lost someone, this might be tough to read in places, but I believe it's worth it.
A challenge, a comfort, an adventure. This is wonderful. Have tissues around. If you've ever lost someone, this might be tough to read in places, but I believe it's worth it.
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