Lost luggage can ruin any trip. But what if it could change your life? A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her perfect sister’s perfect house before her niece’s wedding. A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job. And a young artist pursuing his father’s sports dream so he can keep his own alive. When Gillian, David, and Michael each take the wrong … David, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they can’t imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.
In a similar vein to The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews or Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, The Baggage Handler is a contemporary story that explores one question: What baggage are you carrying?
Praise for The Baggage Handler:
“The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings is an extraordinary novel that lingered in my heart long after I finished it.”–Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of The House at Saltwater Point and the Lavender Tide series
“Throughout the day I found myself itching to get back to this story. You will too. The Baggage Handler is a tale that will resonate deeply with those who have held on too tightly, for too long, to the things hold them captive. That’s me. That’s you. Pick it up and prepare to have your world turned upside down, then turned right side up.” –James L. Rubart, bestselling author of The Man He Never Was
- A standalone, short novel at 42,000 words
- Includes discussion questions perfect for a book club or Bible study
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The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings is an extraordinary novel that lingered in my heart long after I finished it.
The Baggage Handler is recommended… well, for anyone. I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t benefit from it. Written as an allegory, it’s so subtle, that even someone antagonistic to Jesus would allow its truths to seep in.
Look, we all know I don’t like preachy books, but I do like my Bible solidly placed when it should be. So I wondered why I wasn’t bothered those Scriptures weren’t there in all of their Biblical glory. And then it hit me. Sometimes we preach the gospel with other words and through those other words, people are drawn to the Word.
That’s exactly what Rawlings did.
I almost said I didn’t recommend this book for people who want to be crushed by the weight of their baggage, but that’s ridiculous. If anything, they need it most.
Just as I knew it would, The Baggage Handler changed my life. It inspired and encouraged me, yes. But it also ripped off the old, nasty bandages that I’d allowed to sit around and poison me. It washed the wounds clean with subtle reminders of what Scripture says (without actually using the Bible) and left them open so fresh air could form the necessary scabs to healing.
All I can do at this point is to say thanks. Thank you, Mr. Rawlings. Thanks for a painful, beautiful, simple, deep, light book that just topped my 2019 favorite books list.
I enjoyed this book. It was a thought-provoking and unusual. The story had three characters dealing with their internal baggage.
This is a thought-provoking and insightful story about the baggage that we all carry around. David Rawlings has an engaging way with words and keeps the reader’s interest right to the end.
Review I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit different from normal. These people were on a plane and each had the same type of luggage. They each have problems and take the wrong luggage off the carousel. They then call the airport to get their luggage back and are sent to a warehouse where they meet the Baggage Handler. This man tries to get these people to understand all the baggage that they carry around each day and how to get rid of it. This was well written and enjoyable. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Objectionable material
Imagined the impossible which actually is possible. Made me more appreciative of what I have. Also the caricatures showed how people can so quickly change. Both good and bad. Hard to read but very valuable
It deals with an important issue — “baggage” each of us carry whether or not we are aware of it. It’s an easy read, somewhat predictable, with a good message. It falls short of showing that baggage we forgive/ release/ can also build compassion in us and and also help those on the other end. All hurts start in relationships and so does healing.
Three different people, Gillian, Michael, and David, were all traveling by plane for their various reasons; one, to her niece’s wedding, one to an interview for a college scholarship, and one to a business meeting to save his branch from closing. All of them carrying the same type of suitcase, but with different “baggage.” The suitcases get mixed up, which is when they meet the Baggage Handler. All three characters are very believable with realistic issues. This book is an eye opener into the ways that we let our own perceptions define us. It was extremely interesting and very well written! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
A wonderful, thought provoking book!!!
I felt so much more could have been done with the story. It started out with a bang, but fizzled out along the way.
Thought-provoking story with very human characters in realistic situations. You should definitely read it.
This book had me from the beginning and was a deep book without being too deep. Such a great message! I only wish there would have been an epilogue.
A short read? Yes. A great read? Not bad at all, it depends on the individual reading the book in my opinion. I would not say this was the best book about a person carrying baggage (issues, problems, etc.) around with them, but I would say it was the most eccentric book I have ever read about people carrying baggage around with them.
I think that David Rawlings came up with the perfect way to get people to think about the baggage they carry with them on a daily basis. I mean what would you do if you lost your baggage at the airport and they led you to a totally different building to get your baggage and some man walked out claiming to be the baggage handler and sits down on a couch and starts talking to you about why you’re carrying around all of this baggage? I know what I would have done in all reality before I even left with them. But that is neither here nor there right now.
The book is about us carrying around all of the baggage we carry, and for what? Needlessly. A single tear streaked down the Baggage Handler’s face. “That’s been there a very long time. A very long time. I’m sorry about what has happened….but you don’t need to carry this baggage. You have a choice”
I received this book from the publisher Thomas Nelson, through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Three strangers arrive at the same airport and mistakenly pick up the wrong luggage. Michael is an artist but he is in the city to tryout for a scholarship in track to please his father. David is in town for an important meeting to save his business. Gillian has arrived to attend her niece’s wedding and must stay at her “perfect” and rich sister’s home. In order to get the correct luggage all three arrive at a deserted building outside the city There they meet the baggage handler who has them confront their “baggage”. You won’t want to put the book down.
This is a book to take to heart. It was not what I expected when I first started reading, but was so much more and so much better. It is a book I will long remember.
We all have baggage. So many layers in this short book, but it will leave you thinking about your own baggage.
It was thought provoking. I would have liked more character development and a chance to see how they lived once they dealt with their baggage
The theme carries a somewhat false impression, at first, soon followed by an uninvited change of direction and impression. Then it goes into psychological pursuits with the charcters. This kind of story became a surprise to me in a negative way and I was not at all impressed. I do not recommend it for yhe average reader.
Gave me some things to think about…..