Product Description

As Cecilia lies ill in bed and her family valiantly make their Christmas preparations in the knowledge that she is not going to get better, an angel steps through her window. There follows a series of conversations between Cecilia and her angel as she prepares herself for dying.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62755 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 161 pages

About the Author
Jostein Gaarder is the author of SOPHIE'S WORLD, a huge bestseller in over 40 countries. He was born in Oslo in 1952 and lives there now with his wife and two sons.

Customer Reviews

Magical and full of hope
I found this book in an antique shop not long after my best friend's mum died of cancer and thought it might be of some comfort to her (and myself as I lost my mother to the disease too). I took it home and read it to my boyfriend in bed. Although it may be simply written (which means a child can enjoy the story), there are lots of thought provoking statements provided by the Angel Ariel, and like Cecillia and other readers, I too wrote them in my diary. It really is a moving story and both my boyfriend and I were deeply moved by its wonderful ending, depicting death as freeing, peaceful and beautiful. I personally believe in Guardian Angels and I truly hope that the end comes in the form of an angel like Ariel. I can't wait for my friend to read this book. We like to think of our mothers looking down on us and guiding us through life. It made me smile to think they may have been comforted by a personal angel as they prepared to leave this life. Maybe, just maybe, they are flying through space on an asteroid with Ariel and co!! Who knows?! This book really is a must for everyone, but especially those who have lost someone dear to them. It's lovely and it offers hope.

Through the glass darkly
If you are comparing this book to the breadth of Sophies World, then you will be suprised.It is entirely unlike it.

This book reads with childlike simplicity, having a storyline to match. However, if the reader has the capacity and feeling to look inside and within the simplicity, they will be rewarded with a few cameo's of depth and inspiration, together with exploring, and expecting (!), a little part of childlike imagination, that should always remain forever within us all.

I have never, ever cried over a book. I did this one.

If you want a book to involve you with such simplicity and ignite feeling, then this is worth a read.

A lovely, little story
This is very different from Sophie's World, but it does have one thing in common - it deals with life, death, the universe and everything. However this is much more spiritual. I loved some of the ideas about angels, e.g. that they do not need wings because they do not have flesh bodies to lift like birds do. I won't say too much as this might spoil some of the magic. It has a place on my bookshelf as a beautiful, spiritual and ultimately uplifting story. It isn't a morose read but it does deal with death and loss like we all have to. Suitable for older children and adults.