Carrie Albom Quotes

Chrysen park

Honors Summer Reading Book Choice

1. Mitch Albom, the book's narrator, recalls his graduation from Brandeis University in the spring of 1979. While at Brandeis, Mitch says his farewells to his favorite professor Morrie. He promises Morrie, who is crying, that he will keep in touch, though he does not fulfill his promise. Years after Mitch's graduation from Brandeis, Morrie is diagnosed with ALS. Morrie's wife, Charlotte, cares for Morrie while doing her job as a professor at M.I.T. Sixteen years after his graduation from Brandeis, one night, Mitch is flipping the channels on his television and recognizes Morrie's voice. Morrie is being featured on the television program "Nightline" in the first of three interviews with Ted Koppel. Mitch is
stunned to see his former professor on television. Following Morrie's television appearance, Mitch contacts his favorite professor and travels from his home in Detroit to Morrie's home in West Newton, Massachusetts to visit with him and following their first Tuesday together, Mitch returns regularly every Tuesday to listen to Morrie's lessons on "The Meaning of Life". Each week, Mitch brings Morrie food to eat, but everyday Morrie's condition worsens. His visits with Morrie are flashbacks to their days together at Brandeis, when Mitch and Morrie shared a relationship more like father and son than teacher and student. Soon before Morrie's death, when his condition has declined so much that he can no longer breathe or move on his own body, he confesses that if he could have another son, he would choose Mitch. Nearing his death, he and Mitch often hold hands throughout their last sessions together. In his lessons, Morrie advises Mitch to reject the popular culture in favor of creating his own. Morrie also stresses that Mitch must accept death and aging, as both are unavoidable. After meeting up with Morrie, Mitch attempts to restore his relationship with his brother Peter who lives in Spain. Morrie prophetizes that Mitch will once more become close with his brother, a prophecy which, after Morrie's death, is realized. At Morrie's funeral, Mitch recalls his promise to continue his conversations with his professor and conducts a silent dialogue with Morrie in his head. Mitch had expected such a dialogue to feel awkward, however this communication feels far more natural than he had ever expected. 2. The narrative’s point of view is in first person and is Mitch Albom from the book. 3. The setting is West Newton, Massachusetts in Morrie’s house. This setting is significant because it shows how sick he was that he couldn’t even get out of his own bed and that he was able to give his last teachings, to one of his favorite students in the comfort of his own study at home. 4. Morrie schwartz- Mitch's favorite professor from Brandeis University, Morrie now suffered from ALS, a devastating, incurable disease that affects his body. He had taught sociology at Brandeis, and continues to teach it to Mitch, instructing him on "The Meaning of Life". Mitch Albom- Was Morrie's former student at Brandeis University. After, having abandoned his dreams of becoming a famous musician, he is unsatisfied how he lived his life. He has been working himself nearly to death, but suddenly finds himself a job in the newspaper business. Each Tuesday, he learns from Morrie, his that he needs to reassess his life, and to value love over money, and happiness over success. Ted Koppel - One of the most famous living television interviewers, Koppel conducts three interviews with Morrie for the news show "Nightline." Charlotte Schwartz- Morrie's caring wife, who, at his insistence, keeps her job as a professor at M.I.T. throughout Morrie's illness. Peter Albom- Mitch's younger brother who lives in Spain. Peter flies to various European cities seeking treatment for his pancreatic cancer, though he refuses any help from his family, He is unwilling when Mitch first tries to restore a relationship with him, but eventually warms. 5. One theme from the book is to not let life pass you by. Enjoy everything you have and don't take it for granted. Don't let things like work, get in the way of the important things in life. 6. The first important quote I chose was “Take my condition. The things I am supposed to be embarrassed about now — not being able to walk, not being able to wipe my ass, waking up some mornings wanting to cry — there is nothing innately embarrassing about them. It's the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it.” This quote is important because Morrie speaks to Mitch about how culture is a dictator over our lives. Mitch lived a way that made him fit into the culture because he wanted to be like the majority. Morrie gives him a lesson to make his own path instead of letting the culture make his future for him. Another quote is “The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” On the fourth Tuesday, Morrie says this quote to Mitch. This quote is meaningful because it describes that whatever you do you cannot escape death. Once you learn and accept that, you can live everyday like it is your last and cherishing life every second.
Lastly, another quote that was significant to me was “As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed as ignorant as you were at twenty- two, you'd always be twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. It's growth. It's more than the negative that you're going to die, it's the positive that you understand you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.” This quote was said by Morrie as Mitch and him talked about aging and death. This quote signifies that aging is not just one step closer to dying, but having more knowledge and experience in life. Morrie never feared aging, but embraced it. He explains to Mitch that to fight age is a hopeless battle, because aging and death are inevitable, and a natural part of life. So he tells Mitch to learn not to mourn every year of growing, but to understand and witness new things as he grows. 7. This book is a heroic and moving book in many ways and is displayed in many characters, but I think the most heroic and moving character in the book is Morrie Schwartz because of his life-changing lessons that he tells to Mitch. When he is about to die he listens to Mitch’s life problems and helps them with
them even though he is worse problem to deal on his own. He shows compassion and kindness to Mitch and helps him to live life freely. Lastly, I think this is really moving to see him spend his last minutes holding Mitch’s hand and crying with him the end of the book.