Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

This topic is open for discussion of The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

As a lot of you liked how Cathie led the discussion for A Discovery of Witches last month I'm going to try and follow her lead and run a similar discussion (not that I'm convinced I'll do it as good as her).

Questions will be posted throughout the month. Please don't jump ahead and discuss the middle or the end before the questions are posted.
Feel free to discuss how you like the writing of the author, the tone of the book, etc. however specific details / plot of the book should be kept until we have reached that point of the book.

Some people read faster than others and some like to read ahead of time but the discussion for this book will be spread out.

To start with:
Chapter 2 - "Try to Imagine a life without timekeeping"
Would you prefer a world without timekeeping or do you think it's impossible to live without it?

When I started the book I was unsure if I even wanted to continue but after the first 12 or so pages I could not put it down. The authors style of writing was different to say the least and yet it was captivating.

After reading this book I would say that I would still want a world with time keeping. I want to look back in time to my life and those special moments on certain dates.

I really enjoyed this book. It was not as fast paced as many of the books that I've read lately, but I liked the relaxed feel. There were a couple minor points that I found frustrating - but, I'll leave those for later in the discussion. Overall, I thought this book was definitely worth the short time required to read it.

I don't know that I can truly picture a life without time keeping. I do think that I am much to tied to the clock, as is most everyone, but I just can't imagine life with the technology we now have and no time keeping. I do think that less time keeping might be nice, but I don't know if that's even feasible in our society.

Tamra wrote: "I want to look back in time to my life and those special moments on certain dates. "

You know, I never even thought about that kind of time keeping! lol
When I was thinking about this question I thought about the day to day stuff; what time to get up, how many hours in a working day etc.

However do you need specific timekeeping to look back on memories and special moments?

Kristie wrote: "I do think that less time keeping might be nice, but I don't know if that's even feasible in our society. "

Well some people do it, by moving to the middle of nowhere and living a life outside of the regular world. However no, I don't think it's feasible for the majority of the world.

Lynn wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I do think that less time keeping might be nice, but I don't know if that's even feasible in our society. "

Well some people do it, by moving to the middle of nowhere and living a life outside of the regular world. However no, I don't think it's feasible for the majority of the world. "

It definitely wouldn't work with me! I need to bill for insurance down to the minute! I'd love to just say...oh, I was with them an hour or so, but that definitely wouldn't go over well. I don't know what I'd do for a living that didn't require clock-watching to some extent.

I find The Time Keeper an interesting read. Although not as much thought-provoking as I expected, but really nicely written and pleasant to read, also rather uplifting all in all.

When it comes to timekeeping, I feel I'm addicted to it, it's difficult for me to imagine a day or even a minute without my watch, usually, the first thing in the morning I do is checking my watch. I have it constantly on my wrist. This seems to be an extreme case of timekeeping, but even primitive tribes measure time by the occurances of the sun and moon, observing nature and environmental changes. For me it is an integral part of human structure.

A world without timekeeping would be so relaxing and so different. Time does seem to have become our least talked about commodity but the one that we always desire to have, check on, even worship. I read an interesting statement the other day that said the thing you spend the most time thinking, analyzing, wishing for, etc., is really your Higher Power, the thing you revere the most, even if you don't realize you are doing it.

Imagine the freedom if we didn't have to watch our clocks or someone else's clocks. I know I would be more fully immersed in doing an actual task; concentrating on what is needed to be done and not what time I have to do it. Time does seem to divide our full attention.

That's so interesting Cathie! There are some chronic health issues in my family and I work in mental health and I'm in grad school, so my "Higher Power" would probably be health and knowledge. I think what's interesting is that the thing you revere the most changes over time. When I was a child those would definitely not have been my top two.

I think that I would be more immersed in my tasks as well, if I didn't have to look at a clock. But I also fear that I would get completely absorbed by a novel or something and just end up not even going, if I didn't need to be there by a certain time.

I definitely agree with your last statement, Kristie. I can already immerse myself in a task and forget about running time, that's why I'm so conscious about it, to avoid such situations, and our society, generally, the world does not approve of those slips.

My two main "Higher Power" would be teaching and reading/learning, as I'm a teacher and student at the same time :), and Cathie, I do find this concept extremely interesting in terms of therapy and soft-skills' training :).

Well, Anima, that is my background, so that's probably why the question intrigued me so much. It also made me think about the things I think about that I don't even notice take up space in my mind :-) (and how much time I waste thinking about them, lol)

This deep insight is sometimes unnerving, but I would never willingly give it away :), my second degree is in psychology, and I can't imagine doing my work without it, equally live my everyday life .

I found The Time Keeper to be interesting. It took me awhile to get into it, but I'm glad that I finished it. I have to honestly say that I've liked his other books more.

I think I'd want to keep track of time. I want to remember special events: birthdays, weddings, etc. This is a little off topic, but I do special events and I set the times at 5:08 or 2:34. People remember these times because it's not your usual 5:00 or 2:30. Guess it makes me a little anal.

On the other hand, I would love to not have to worry about time and just set my own pace for doing things.

Chapter 16, At the end of 'The Beginning' - So it would seem we have the 3 main characters that we are following; Dor, Viktor and Sarah. What are your feelings about them? Do you have a favourite storyline / character so far?

Lynn wrote: "Tamra wrote: "I want to look back in time to my life and those special moments on certain dates. "

You know, I never even thought about that kind of time keeping! lol
When I was thinking about th..."

I do need those dates and time to look back....the date and "time" my children were born and marrying my best friend. How he proposed to me etc... They are etched in my memory by seasons, dates and times.

Totally get it Tamra, was just playing Devil's Advocate :o)

Awww, Tamra, you made my heart smile with your post about remembering special times :-). Thank you.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 16, At the end of 'The Beginning' - So it would seem we have the 3 main characters that we are following; Dor, Viktor and Sarah. What are your feelings about them? Do you have a favourite s..."

I didn't have my favourite character or storyline in this book, but different characters and events evoked various emotions.

Dor annoyed me slightly with his daydreaming and constant focus on measuring. For Victor, I felt sorry, I know too many people who need to do, achieve, be active all the time, delusional about the passing time, thinking they will not die, that they have all the time in the world ahead. Sarah seems to be the most tragic character as many of her actions are driven by the lack of love and feeling of acceptance. What's more some events are definitely not her fault although she suffers due to them. Her story caused anger in me, mainly because of injustice and pain that she experiences.

Lynn wrote: "Totally get it Tamra, was just playing Devil's Advocate :o)"

Tamara, thank you for this beautiful reminder, when I think of it more and more, I see that I also need dates back in time as crucial points of my biography, marking happiness and sadness, my own achievements and developments equally with those of my beloved :)

Chapter 19 - At the age of 86 if given a couple of months to live, would you be try to fight the terminal illness or believe you've had a 'good innings' and try to live your life to the full with what you have left?

That's difficult to say. I would want to live my life to the fullest. I wouldn't give up on medication, etc, because it helps to prolong your life and keep you comfortable. But if I got to the point where the medication was interfering with me living my life more than helping me to live it, I would probably give up on it and try to enjoy my final moments.

Chapter 22 - The subject of Cryonics has been introduced; do you believe it can work and in the future we will see people live an extended life because of it? would you be interested in doing it for yourself? do you think it's right to try and 'cheat death'?

I don't know enough about the technology to know if it could work and I'm not sure if people, in general, would do it if they could. Though, I'm sure some would want to try.

I don't think I would ever try it. For me, it's not just about cheating death. There are so many other factors around it that would freak me out.

First - If it worked perfectly, I wouldn't want to wake up after all my friends and family were gone. That would be so sad. I would hate to outlive my children and grandchildren. The whole point of living life is enjoying all those moments you would miss. Even if it's just several years...can you imagine being physically younger than your children or grandchildren. That's so creepy.

Second - What if something went wrong? Can you imagine being stuck in there and aware of your surroundings for however many years, but not being able to communicate? That is terrifying to me! Or what if something goes terribly wrong during the reawakening process and you are physically or mentally ruined, not just damaged. I don't know....too many risks for me.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 19 - At the age of 86 if given a couple of months to live, would you be try to fight the terminal illness or believe you've had a 'good innings' and try to live your life to the full with w..."

I don't think that I would try to "outsmart" the illness like Viktor. I would seek treatment to minimize any pain, if possible. However, if there was no cure I like to believe that I would enjoy the time that I had left. IF for no other reason that to have wonderful memories to leave with my loved ones and have a great time while I can.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 22 - The subject of Cryonics has been introduced; do you believe it can work and in the future we will see people live an extended life because of it? would you be interested in doing it fo..."

Cryonics seems to risky to me. There is no way to know how the world will advance. The possibility that you would end up a side show like Viktor is as likely as the possibility that you may be cured. I would not attempt cryonics.

Lynn wrote: "This topic is open for discussion of The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

As a lot of you liked how Cathie led the discussion for A Discovery of Witches last month I'm going to try and follow her lead a..."

I enjoyed reading The Timekeeper. I hadn't really thought about how reliant on time keeping we are in our daily lives. It would be refreshing to be able to spend some time without concern about how much time passed.

At first I used to prefer, Sarah's storyline but (view spoiler)[now that I'm 70% through I find her ridiculous! Even if I can understand her sensitivity and her age, come on buying him a gift, pretending he's her bf and now she wants to kill herself... (hide spoiler)]

Good questions Lynn!!! :D By the way what are your thoughts? I'd love to know.

I agree with Kristie, outliving your children and grand children and great grand children is not something I would want. It's creepy. And even if they could also be eternal, I find it very unhealthy!!!! There is a time to live and a time to die for everyone. And what would happen to our planet (over populated)?

At 86, I hope I would believe that I had a good time "down here". Fighting a disease is what I would do but at 86 I would try to have some quality time with the ones I love.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 19 - At the age of 86 if given a couple of months to live, would you be try to fight the terminal illness or believe you've had a 'good innings' and try to live your life to the full with w..."

It is a difficult question. I observe my aunt who is 84 and a great fighter, living as fully as possible, and I wonder where she takes all that strength and positive attitude. I would like to be like her being her age, but at the same time, I'm scared to death of dying and leaving my family. Thus, I cannot be totally convinced of my choices, when I face such decision.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 22 - The subject of Cryonics has been introduced; do you believe it can work and in the future we will see people live an extended life because of it? would you be interested in doing it fo..."

I have mixed feelings about Cryonics. I know that it is already done, even Disney allowed himself to be frozen, back in 60's or close, waiting for the discovery of the cure for cancer. I see it as a hope for people who are terminally ill, but not for those who are dying because of old age. I don't believe we can live forever, but I hope we can live longer in good health.

I'm not certain if I have enough courage to do it myself, and I wouldn't definitely like to live without the people I love and cherish. On the other hand I hate the idea of being burried or burned, so being frozen, just as a way of burial ceremony, sounds as an option.

Chapter 27 - Are you guilty of concentrating on the future and forgetting about now?

Yes...definitely. And unfortunately. Though, I try to focus more on the present now that I'm getting a little older.

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 27 - Are you guilty of concentrating on the future and forgetting about now?"

I must admite, I'm guilty. I have loads of thoughts on future: professional plans, family plans, plans for the future of my children, housing plans. And as I notice, I worry to much over future, I gradually turn to now nowadays, which gives me a lot of pleasure. I try to concentrate on small thing as a beginning, and learn to get to those more important ones.

Psychologists, mental health professionals, etc. believe "resentments and anger" are grown in thoughts and thinking about the past, and "fear, anxiety," find their roots in thoughts about tomorrows and only total peace is discovered in this one single moment of now.

It is also very Buddhist and Taoism philosophy centered to be able to achieve the "Now" of the moment and not be removed.

It is something I have tried to practice for the last 30+ years, with a short break of about 3 years where I was future wishing, in the middle of the now thinking. While it is easy to say, it is very hard to actually do, at least for me, and I fail at it everyday and have to renew my willingness to do it many times throughout the day when I find myself distracted from anything that is right now. Even while writing this, I am thinking about the gardening my neighbour is helping us out with and my son is doing and the books I want to read, and the income I need to acquire for future and past bills that are due, etc. To still our minds to be only in the moment takes a lot of concentrated effort.

Now, I'm off to play in the dirt and concentrate on the weeds and flowers of right now :-)

Cathie, ::like::

Chapter 29 - "There is a reason God limits man's days"

What do you think that is?

Back to first question because I just started. It is very hard to fathom no time. It seems it exists wether we measured it or not. But I think memories can be like moments when time stands still, moments frozen in time. And I think it is important to live in the moment, to be fully present where u are. We are a time obsessed society with appointments and deadlines. A vacation is a time to relax and foreget about all that. To simply live and see where an adventure might take you. I have traveled to many islands, and even some cultures, where people are much more laid back about time- people may not be so punctual. Things become more laid back, seem to move at a slower pace. I would even think in these fast paced societies we probably see more stress related diseases and depression and higher rates of suicide.

I see now Cathie you were already touching on this here and now philosophy stuff. So even 25% into the book I am wondering if this is one of the themes Albom is trying to get at.

I just finished tonight right before starting this book and was struck by a quote from Milan Kundera that seems appropriate here:

"There would seem to be nothing more obvious, more tangible and palpable than the present moment. And yet it alludes us completely. All the sadness of life lies in that fact."

I have to say that, as much as I've enjoyed Albom's other books, I really did not enjoy The Time Keeper. I read it quickly and found it "interesting", but the theme, to me, was just too out there. I also didn't find any of the characters to be all that like-able.

I totally agree with what Sarah said about cryonics...what would be the point of doing it when you've outlived your children/grandchildren? It would be a lonesome existence!

I just finished Alycia and I have to agree with you Alycia, I didn't really like it. Sure it's thought provoking but I found myself a bit bored.

Yea, if it wasn't for it being such a short book to start with, I wouldn't have finished it.

Nice quote Sarah. All the happiness of life is right in this moment. (Buddhism)

So I just got to the part where the old man States there is a reason God gives man a certain number of days and right before that I was thinking about what the importance might be of what we do with the time we do have in this life. I am 37 years old. My mom died of breast cancer at age 39 leaving behind five children. I was 15. I was the oldest. I lost a neice at 1½ years old. I lost a pregnancy at 18 weeks. I have a three year old daughter. My time with her is precious. How much time do I have with her?. The older I get the faster time seems to fly by. Childhood is fleeting. Youth is fleeting. Life is fleeting. From the day we are born we begin to die. But what is death? Maybe it is only a transformation. Maybe we are still and always will be connected to those we have loved and lost and we will be reunited in the afterlife. I miss loved ones who have passed but I continue to have a relationship with these entities. I think a big question is what r u going to do with the time you do have in this life and what effect does that have on the whole - the future generations the web of life that is all connected, or I like the idea of the circle of life, there is no beinning or end, things r recycled,matter is neither created or destroyed it just changes form so time is only an illusion. Ramblin g...

No I am not on drugs. And I will post here this is why I hated A Fault In Our Stars. Life and death and our time on earth is a very deep and spiritual contemplation and that book didn't take me to the most fundamental lesson in death and loss - the sanctity of life. Different thread - I know.

Chapter 31 - Imagine waking up decades / centuries in the future. Do you think you'd be able to cope with the changes? Would you want to go to the future?>

From Dor's point of view, it must be very daunting coming from a very simple life to a world were there is continual noise, interruption and a vast explosion of technology and people. I don't think I'd want to wake up in the future, with nobody I know now still here. I can't understand Victor wanting to be frozen to wake in the future, 84yrs is a long life and I think he should accept what fate has dealt him. He has had a good life but now its drawing to a close.

Funny, that as I'm reading The Time Keeper, I keep looking at a clock...

Courtney wrote: "Funny, that as I'm reading The Time Keeper, I keep looking at a clock..."

::like:: :)

Though knowing the near future has some kind of appeal (curiosity is a sin!!!), I would want to wake up in the late days of my life, knowing everything that happened to me (I like surprises). However, I might want a sneak peak at the future in general (How will we live in 200 years, 500...). However, a day will be quite sufficient, I like our society it NOW with all its faults and good aspects.

Courtney, lol, love your observation.

When I think how much our world has changed in just my life time (60+ years). I cannot imagine trying to live day to day in the world even that far into the future without have grown with it first. Not just the technical changes but the cultural ones. When I was a child the Soviets were the bogey men and when you needed gas you sat in the and a high school kid came out and pumped it for you. He checked your oil and cleaned your window while you waited. Those are just small examples of things that would confuse someone from the past.