THE TEN BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

Author: Adena Halpern ISBN: 9780452289406 6/2008 FICTION Publisher: BERKLEY PLUME

A heavenly novel about what truly matters in life In this hilarious and heartwarming first novel, twentynine- year-old Alexandra Dorenfield suddenly finds herself in heaven after an unfortunate encounter with a Mini Cooper. The seventh—and highest—level of heaven to be exact. Her dog Peaches is with her; she is reunited with her beloved grandparents; she has the wardrobe of a movie star; and she lives in the house of her dreams next door to a handsome guy. This is heaven! But there's a catch. Alex must prove she led a fulfilling existence by writing an essay on the ten best days of her life— or she will be demoted to a lower level of heaven, where the clothes are last year's styles, the men aren't quite as handsome, and worst of all, Peaches and her family won't be nearby. Witty and inspiring, this divine debut novel dares to ask a material girl—and the rest of us—what makes life precious.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE TEN BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE by Adena Halpern pushes to mind what's important in life, and shows that the things we sometimes focus on are inconsequential when push comes to shove—or when heaven comes calling.

Alex is killed by bowels, basically. Her dog, Peaches, had to move hers and woke Alex to take her for a nighttime potty walk, bringing them both into the path of a car which kills them. Alex finds herself in heaven, first in a long line but then in the heaven she's always imagined. It's filled with the best of everything, and Peaches and her family are there, too. Unfortunately, if Alex wants to stay in this tier of heaven she must write an essay about the ten best days of her life. She's got two weeks to complete the assignment. If she does not write a good essay she'll be relegated to a lower level of heaven, which wouldn't be so bad except everyone there is wearing last year's styles and shoes that pinch.

Adena Halpern's writing style is warm and witty. Watching Alex examine her life, looking for the ten perfect days, the reader is reminded that every day, every moment, can be a "best" if we let it be. I very much enjoyed this story, and think that anyone who could go for a gentle reminder about the frailty of life would enjoy it, too. Well done!

Kay James