The Champ

Beautifully written and dealing with so many evocative themes such as life, love, grief and death. The themes and characters are masterfully woven into each other and the author also injects a sense of suspense as the story nears the climax.For me, the end was breathtaking and far from an ending, was a whole new beginning.I loved all the characters and felt totally engaged with them and their stories. I actually felt a sense of loss as my journey with them came to an end as I turned the last page over and said goodbye to the champ. A truly life affirming novel which I highly recommend.

I downloaded this freebie nearly 2 years ago and thought I'd better get it read. The synopsis was a bit off-putting as I don't normally like books that delve into the abnormal, but this one was different. Wilbur is 115 and lives in a Home with his best buddy, a retired policeman named Frank, who is in a wheelchair due to an accident after he retired.There are a few residents mentioned but the other 'leading parts' go to Amanda -Head Nurse with a heart of gold and the subject of Frank's dreams, Jerry the handyman who had a strange and difficult upbringing and Jerome, a one-time thug and gangster, who is now a janitor and he and Jerry have an unlikely friendship, thanks to Wilbur. These characters are well rounded out and there are glimpses into the lives of most of the other people in the book.At the age of 105 Wilbur discovered he could read people's thoughts, a 'talent' he finally confesses to Frank. Wilbur, who can barely walk, spends time each day at the nearby bus-stop and he knows the stories of all the people he sees there. One by one they come to him and in talking to him their lives are changed. Wilbur might be old, but he is as sharp as a tack.Wilbur finally dscovers he also has the power of telekinesis and unintentionally causes a bus accident that changes the lives of everyone involved. There are many funny incidents caused by Wilbur moving items with the power of his mind, including his false teeth, left in a sewer after the accident.Wilbur knows the date and time of his own death and is determined to be back at the Home for it, along with Frank. On that day, he finally meets his nemesis, Al, another mind-reader who uses his 'talent' for evil rather than good - but his last (and only) meeting with Wilbur gives him cause to reasses his life.Wilbur touches everyone with whom he comes in contact and helps them turn their lives around. The book ends in a rather strange way and a little abruptly. It is the ending that is unsatisfactory and why I give it 4 stars, not 5. Otherwise I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are about the impossible!! I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.

I loved the twists and turns, the expanding scenes and the characters. I could almost imagine I was there. Great book.

This book was a pleasant surprise - on the basis of the blurb I was expecting to enjoy it, but the story took an interesting direction early on and totally sucked me in. The style was a compelling mix between Stephen King & JD Salinger (at least, that's how it felt to me :-) Perhaps the blurb could have given more of a hint of the nature of the story - I suspect more people would read it on the basis of such an intro. Overall, highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. A beautiful story of hope and love. Threaded together with patience and a genuine feel for people. It made me laugh and cry. At the end I felt uplifted. A book to change your view of life.

Quirky and different, the book developed the characters' personalities well as the book progressed. The storyline was well set, and the ending witty. All in all, a very good read

This really is a beautifully written and moving book. Resolutely small in scale, it effectively captures those tiny moments that makes life meaningful. Eckhart has created a wonderfully warm and eccentric main character in 115 year old Wilber Patorkin. Highly recommended.

this I definitely decline

115!? The oldest man still alive actually. Wilber can still remember everything.Ya see, our pal Wilbur has certain.... powers.They are strange and varied and meet the immediate needs of whomever happens to be in the general area. He can lighten a crushed heart to breath free again, bring people together that are too shy on their own to act. Other times he can change the weather.....and he even knows when he'll die, right down to the day and time and its not that far away.But the friends he has and the interactions between himself and even his most vile counterpart is a wonder to behold.You might find yourself " misting up" at times, but also getting a good laugh or two. ( the flying dentures come to mind)This is a highly enjoyable and uplifting romp and I was sorry it had to end. ( no...not sorry, sorry is a useless word.....change it to...looking forward to more works from Mr Eckhart ). A beautiful story!Ps... there are a few "F" words sprinkled around but they are within character

Written in an interesting style. Although the end seems inevitable, is filled with many heartwarming story lines which are nicely knitted together. Highly recommended!

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but I found it interesting nonetheless. It leaves the reader with plenty of food for thought about what it means to grow old. I found the "paranormal" aspect of the story unusual, but it didn't affect what I believe is a story of growing old, looking back on your life and trying to do a few good things before you die.

I absolutely ADORED this book! I have two favorites and this is one of them. I've read probably 10,000 books in my life and VERY few even come close to being on my Top 10 list. This one made it! I fell in love with Wilbur right away. All the characters seem so real. I got involved in their lives, miseries, joys, goals, successes and failures. Each one felt like a real person to me and although a couple could be aggravating at times, can't we all be that way? It's just life and how it treats us sometimes, right? The story-line grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go. I cheered, cried, agonized, rejoiced....over and over again. There are many small life-changing moments in this book, nothing that blatantly hits you upside the head, but they get you to thinking and can seriously change your life for the better if you stop and think about them. I hate to sound all gushy about it, but it really did give me goosies in a good way. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone, even teens. I'd love to see this made into a movie.

This is an extremely enjoyable read that shows perspectives on mortality and eternity that I’d never thought about. Patorkin embodies so many things I’d love to be—but one needn’t be telepathic, telekinetic, or 115 years old to show the kindness and concern that this character does. I appreciate stories with multiple narrators, and Ekhart clearly has a talent for this style. Patorkin’s connection to others makes me think of a little game I often play in public. I try to imagine strangers’ names, lives, relationships, jobs, and hopes, just to build them into characters in my head while I’m waiting in the checkout line or at a stoplight. But Wilber Patorkin actually knows all these things, and that’s what makes him a character who will stick with me long-term. Great read!