When I read the back cover of this book, I was a bit apprehensive. A guy has conversations with his newly deceased wife. Sounded a little hokey to me, but being a devout Catholic and an extremely spiritual person, I decided to give it a look.

I read this book in the course of one evening. I couldn't put it down for the life of me, and I was disappointed when I reached the last page.

Written by Michael Weinberger, a writer and producer in Hollywood, this story chronicles his deep devotion to his wife Jakie and their children. When Jakie learns that she has cancer at the age of 45, Michael is her devout caregiver. When she passes, he is beside himself with grief and unsure what his next steps in life should be.

Suddenly, and without warning, a few days after her death Jakie begins to speak to Michael. Surprised by this, as well as trying to reassure himself that he's not going insane, Michael begins to tape record his conversations with Jakie, although I'm pretty sure the only voice heard upon playback is that of Michael's, asking Jakie question after question.

Jakie reassures Michael that the place she's in is the best possible place that anyone can ever imagine. She explains that the courses we all take in life are for a reason, and that the amount of love we give to others here on earth will count once we leave here. Michael hits the nail on the head when he reminds the reader that the Beatles must have delved into some higher place when they were recording Abbey Road - The love we take with us when we die is equal to the love we make while we're here.

In other conversations, Jakie tells Michael that the tears that he's crying are perfectly normal and that his love for her has not gone unnoticed in heaven. She goes on to tell him that it's okay for him to get laid, and that she is in a constant state of awareness and beauty. She describes her transition process, when her soul began to leave her body and I have to say, Jakie made it sound pretty damn good!

The chapters were easy reads. Funny, tender, compassionate and sad, some of the chapters had titles that were lines taken from Beatles songs ("It Was Twenty Years Ago Today", "I Heard the News Today, Oh Boy" and "There Are Places I Remember", among others).

This book was excellent. Having lost more than a few close friends and family members in the past few years, it gave me a lot of comfort.

Written with candor, humor and a lot of tears, Michael Weinberger did an excellent job. This was not your typical run-of-the-mill book about death, dying and grief written by someone in the medical field. It was exceptionally well-written by a grieving widower, who with the help of his wife, showed the reader that life, indeed, does go on.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved and lost, as well as caregivers, hospice workers and those in the field of spiritual bereavement.

Reading this book was as comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a gray winter afternoon.

—Dana Vigilante, ezineplug.com
June 2006

Michael Weinberger was enjoying a perfect, happily-ever-after love story with his wife and writing partner, Jakie, as they wrote situation comedy scripts for television shows that included "Happy Days", "Saved by the Bell" and "Three's Company". Then Jakie died at age 46 from cancer, leaving him behind to raise four kids. To say he was distraught is putting it mildly. A Message from Jakie: A Spiritual Journey of Love, Death, and Hope ($15.95, Sentient Publications, Boulder, CO) shares how he made that journey with the estimated 14 million men who are likewise widowed. He tells of the grief and of his rebirth, how to triumph over tragedy, come to grips with the great mystery of death, and to celebrate life.

—Alan Caruba, Bookviews
March 2006