I chose this book as I thought the premise was interesting - What would you do if you won the lottery? I started my wish list with a simple wish - “I wish this book was more optimistic” as the beginning felt rather sad and depressing to me. I don’t like to stop reading books; once I start one, I feel compelled to finish it. That, along with the fact that it is an international best seller, made me keep reading.

I was glad I did. The action in the book picked up and it became apparent that the beginning was a necessary set-up for the remainder of the book. What seemed like mundane and complaining details, in the beginning, became insightful reflections on what makes a life worth living, what makes a marriage enduring, does having money impeded your dreams, can you have both love and money, life’s simplicity, and the gifts other people give each other.

The book reads like a diary and seems more like an extended short story or novella rather than a novel. For such a short book, it is very thought-provoking. It focuses on what is truly important in life versus the things people ultimately will regret. In the end, I found the book to be a delightful little read and was glad I did not give up on it.