Customer Reviews
nice idea, possibly unwriteable - By: T. Rowe, 19 Jun 2007 
I was prepared to stretch my credulity considering this was a book writtenin the mid 1970s & there was plenty of off wack new age stuff floating around at that time. However, I cannot forgive some of the stiled & cringemaking writing inside it. It's a really nice idea, it's fairly well constructed, but I get the impression that Mr Matheson ran out of ideas or steam or something & ended up taking the focus away from the very thing that made me pick the book upin the first place.
It's not Shakespeare, or if it is, then it's cymbeline.
A book that should be read by everyone - By: magic1@btinternet.com, 28 Aug 2001 
This book is the best I have ever read. It is a journal dictated to a medium by a man who has died. It tells of what lies beyond death. It reads like reality & not fiction & one feels uplifted & hopeful after reading it (which is surprising as it is simply a work of fiction). However it was thoroughly researched & the author has drawn from near death experiences, the amount of research shows & the eternal nature of the human soul shine through & make one feel alive. It will also make you examine your lifein the here & now & wonder which of your actions will follow you through to the next life & which are superfluous. An amazing read. RUN out & buy it!
The most thought provoking, evocative novel ever. - By: G. M. Ranson, 15 Jul 2001 I read this book with great regularity - as a hospice nurse, having spiritual views can help enormously to cope with death & dying on a daily basis. Whilst it is, indeed, fictional the expansive list of references included demonstrates the amount of research conducted by Mr Matheson. Most of the references are non-fictional studies into near-death experiences. I would urge readers who enjoy this story to take a look at work by Raymond Moody & George Ritchie. The story is all-absorbing - one feels acquainted with Chris Neilson (the dead guy) & desperate for him to find peace. The description of 'Summerland' is fantastic, reassuring (especially if you've been bereaved)and very convincing. It's hard to remember this is a novel not an eye witness account. The film adaptation was a travesty - this book is ahead of its time & an absolute gem.
Fantastic Book Brings Reading Alive! - By: yikeswebsite@hotmail.com, 22 Aug 2000 I loved this book. Right from the start, it whisks you right into its brilliantly conceived plot & Richard Matheson's brilliant descriptions of the beautiful afterlife are truly marvellous. I am 16 years old & part of a new generation that seems to be more partial to television shows with violence & films with the word 'Destruction'in the tagline. But this brilliant book has brought reading alive for at least one of the new generation. Me. It carefully balances sentiment with horror & at certain points throughout the story I was actually worrying so much for the main characters. Although they are ficticious, I feel like they are brilliant people who really do exist. The film was the same as the book, & yet so different - those of you who have read the book & seen the film will agree. I watched the film first & reading the book second has proved to be a great idea. I wonder is there may be a sequel to when Chris finds Annie? I hope so. I read every word on every page of this book like a hawk in three days I was so impressed by it. I think you will be too.
Affirming my own beliefs - By: , 29 Nov 1999 What a great book, having seen the film with my husband, (my very own lost love) I had to read the book, & loved every page of it. I have been a spiritualist for seven years & all my beliefs were affirmedin this one book.
