Book Recommendation: The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

I have just finished this wonderful book and there are many words I could use to describe it: warm, funny, sad, thought provoking, emotional, happy, and … magical. This was such an easy read and such a great story. It is a fictional story, but I found myself wanting to meet the characters in real life.

This was a book that was a suggestion on Goodreads. I don’t recall if one of my friends had read it or not, but I was intrigued by the story. It was one that I had my local library order for me. When the email arrived saying the book was on hold, I had totally forgotten about it. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it within 48 hours.

I was unfamiliar with the author, Joe Siple. According to the publisher (Black Rose Writing) “Joe Siple is the USA Today bestselling author of The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride, winner of The National Indie Excellence Award, The PenCraft Award, and named 2018 Book of the Year by the Maxy Awards. The story topped Amazon bestseller lists in the US, Canada, and Australia.”

Here is the Goodreads synopsis:

With all his family and friends gone, one-hundred-year-old Murray McBride is looking for a reason to live. He finds it in Jason Cashman, a ten-year-old boy with a terminal heart defect and a list of five things he wants to do before he dies.

Those wishes aren’t easy ones.

1. He wants to kiss a girl.
2. He wants to hit a home run in a major league baseball stadium.
3. He wants to be a superhero.
4. He wants to find a boyfriend for his mom.
5. He wants to perform real magic.

Together, they race against the limited time each has left, ticking off wishes one by one. Along the way, Murray remembers what it’s like to be young, and Jason fights for the opportunity to grow old. But when tragedy strikes, their worlds are turned upside-down, and an unexpected gift is the only thing that can make Jason’s final wish come true.

To a degree, the story reminded me a bit of the Pixar movie Up! Both focus on the relationship between an old man and young boy. That relationship starts a bit rocky, but grows into something very special. Let me be clear, though, they are two very different stories. It will warm your heart and maybe even make you shed a tear. Please be sure to let me know if you read it. I would love your thoughts.

I found out from the publisher that there is a sequel. It has a bit of a similar plot line and I may have to add it to my list of books to read. It is called The Final Wish of Mr. Murray McBride.