For One More Day

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom, tells the story of Charles “Chick” Benetto, a retired baseball player fallen on hard times. The story is framed by a prologue and epilogue where a narrator explains that they are telling the story from Chick’s perspective, “because I’m not sure you would believe this story if you didn’t hear it in his voice” (7). The book is comprised of short chapters told in the first person, and Chick’s distinctive voice drives the narrative’s emotional arc. They tell two parallel stories: one, told over the course of one day, in the present, while the other recounts the memories of Chick’s life leading up to his mother’s death. Nearly every chapter ends with a short episode from Chick’s past, or a note from his mother that he saved.

After Chick’s baseball career ends, he struggles to find work, and his marriage collapses. He loses contact with his family, and his alcoholism worsens. When he receives a letter from his daughter Maria telling him that she’s married, he realizes he no longer has a relationship with his family and decides to end his life.