allegorical tale of a man who wakes at the entrance to heaven. Themes of relinquishing our own will to that of God, the effects of even the smallest choices on our spiritual growth, that each person has a different way of learning life's lessons. For this character who raised flowers, he is helped to learn from messages inhaled as scent of the various fantastical flowers he is led to. ( )

This is one of those books where a person goes on a journey (in this case through heaven) which enables the author to present some philosophical ideas about life and death. Heaven here takes the form of a garden (though it is explained that it isn't that way for everyone) and our journeyman is guided through it by several mentors--such as C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, etc. that meant a lot to him in his spiritual journey on earth. Several of these scenes were the most memorable of the book, like him walking through a rolling field where the land was moving like waves--a scene remniscent of C.S. Lewis' space adventures.
I enjoyed most of the lessons presented, but this kind of fiction blended with sermonizing isn't something to read for pure pleasure. More as a different way to learn. Phillips points to several other authors as the source of his ideas, and the book can open up a desire to exlore there ideas. It is also only a brief summary of concepts that require more exploration. ( )