Yet another tearjerker has hit bookshelves by word-crafty sports journalist Mitch Albom, author of bestsellers Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven.

His newest novel, For One More Day, chronicles the story of a middle-aged, former professional baseball player as a man who lost everything he once loved. Albom takes the reader on a touching venture using the notes, papers and thoughts of Chick Benetto.

Chick’s story revolves around his stifled relationship with his mother after Chick’s father leaves his family. When Chick tries to kill himself at age 53, Albom grants him “one more day” with his mother, during which nostalgia reigns and memories abound — but most are not pleasant.

Many chapters are titled “Times I did not stand up for my mother” or “Times my mother stood up for me.” One chapter when he did not stick up for his mother flashes back to a rainy Halloween when Chick’s mummy costume unravels. With all the kids gawking, Chick yells at his mother, “You ruined my life!”

Albom has a knack for cashing in by making people cry — and not because of his depressing story in the Detroit Free Press about Ohio State's loss to Florida in the national championship. He manages to make baseball sad and to make even the toughest athlete weep.

Albom writes, “I saw (my father) whenever I swung a bat or threw a ball, which is why I never gave up baseball … A boy can always see his father on a baseball field.”

For One More Day exudes the kind of sappiness that is not unexpected from Albom, and it sings a tune too close to Five People You Meet in Heaven.

In each story, a man near death gets the chance to unfurl the secrets that had been haunting him. What’s really haunting to the reader is that Albom believes in this “close to heaven” idea enough to use it in two novels. Instead of using the same fictional premise twice, maybe he could write an entirely new book, with new characters and a new plot.

For Albom’s sake, the thing is exquisitely written. It’s filled with words timed perfectly to every sob. But For One More Day is really nothing more than a beautifully written encore novel to Heaven.

Title: For One More Day

Author: Mitch Albom

Publisher: Mitch Albom, Inc.

Pages: 197

3 out of 5 stars