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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Very original. Interesting characters. Very self reflective. Found it difficult to know where the author was taking us & I found it a very interesting journey.
One of the best book I’ve read.
Very unusual book. Took three days to read to allow me to really absorb the words and thoughts. Do yourself a favor and read it slowly and not race through it. I highly recommend it!
It is so true that we get so wrapped up in “opinions” that we can skew how we live. This was GREAT!
Very uplifting and inspirational. Loved the references to God’s love and forgiveness
It’s always good to be reminded to look at ourselves to evaluate the unnecessary baggage we carry.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to church groups and book clubs. It is thought provoking.
This was a very easy read that will affect me for a long time. It would be beneficial for all of us to take a good look at our “baggage”.
Great theme-we carry our past with us when we don’t have to!
Thought provoking
I thought it was nice because it applied to today and everybody of today. With all the fast-paced living that we must do, with the time crunching in our ears every second, it just reminds us to slow down and take a larger view of our lives so we know what’s really important.
The Baggage Handler really made me think.
Three travelers get their luggage mixed up and return to a baggage warehouse in order to get the correct luggage. While there, they all explore the baggage they’ve been carrying around.
This book has really stuck with me, and I will more than likely re-read it in the future. I listened to this audio book and Rawling’s The Camera Never Lies back to back and boy did he have me examining my life. Why do we carry the baggage we do? Is it really worth lugging around? Now, to successfully unload it and move on…
What an amazing analogy to the “baggage” people carry around with them every day. There are so many things that change our lives. While you’re dealing with the three characters’ baggage, you may find yourself examining your own life and discovering what “baggage” you are carrying around. The story is delivered without forcing Christianity down your throat. But as a Christian, I definitely saw the link between the Baggage Handler helping us lighten our load and being the One who can save you.
This is a good book for someone who needs to examine their life and see what loads you can get rid of. It could ultimately change your future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
“What weighs us down is not our baggage but the decision to keep carrying it.”
Wow, what a great foreward for this book!
So often people hold onto things in their lives that weigh them down. If they would only release them their life would be so much better.
I was captivated and drawn into this story of three individuals who meet the “Baggage Handler.” Each story had parts that I could identify with, and they left me with lots to think about. The author weaved these stories together in such a magical way. Yet, it wasn’t really magical, but eye-opening!
I came away with so many parts of this book highlighted because I want to dwell on these quotes for a long time. I love books that touch my heart and leave me with life lessons. This is one of those books.
David Rawlings is a new-to-me author, but I find I might just pick up any other book he’s written because I know I’ll come away spellbound and changed!
I want to leave you with one more quote from the book:
“Dealing with your baggage is hard. Carrying it appears to be easier, but it’s not, and it can destroy people in the long run.”
I highly recommend you pick this book up and read it. It could change your life for the good!
3.5 stars
“Who are you? . . . I’m the Baggage Handler. Now let me show you the way out.”
Curiously, three different travellers find themselves holding the wrong suitcases, stuck in situations that have receding deadlines, and forced to wade through unneccesary protocols. When finally faced with the Baggage Handler and his nearly imperceptible urgency, they find that not only have the contents of their suitcases become weighted down, but that they must make a decision about what to do with the added weight.
What a perceptive little story! The author cleverly compares life’s self imposed burdens to items in a piece of luggage that cause its carriers to stumble and often fall, under the weight of misconception, unforgiveness, and lack of confidence.
” . . .you don’t need to carry this baggage. You have a choice.”
Great discussion book. Do you carry any baggage?
The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings is good in so many ways. First, I found the story addictive, not wanting to put it down. It was easy to read even as it jumped around between the stories of David, Gillian, and Michael. Second, I could identify with parts of each character’s struggle. I saw a bit of myself in each of them. Lastly, it was emotionally potent for me as I have some emotional baggage. Don’t be surprised if The Baggage Handler makes you cry. I sure did.
I recommend The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings to readers who enjoy inspirational fiction. It’s as short, but powerful book. If I described it in one word, it would be: moving. It is not a blatantly Christian book, but there are clear parallels between The Baggage Handler and Jesus, if you are a Christian and chose to take it that way.
The Baggage Handler, by David Rawlings, begins with three very different people impatiently waiting at an airport turnstile. All three are looking for their black suitcases to come around. The first person is a young workaholic husband/father named David. The second, Gillian, is a middle-aged wife and mother of three overly active, extremely messy teenage boys. The final person is Michael, a high school track star with an underlying passion for art. Despite their different lives, each is under pressure. David is desperate to save his job and his marriage. Gillian compares her life to others and finds herself lacking. Michael is desperate to please his hypercritical father by securing a track scholarship, even though he would rather paint.
For the complete review, go to https://kindredconnection.wordpress.com/2019/05/10/the-baggage-handler/.
The Baggage Handler is a curious story. It’s short, and covers a timespan of mere hours. It’s more like three intertwined (longish) short stories than a typical novel.
But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s shallow. It’s not. The story centres around three passengers who each pick up the wrong suitcase after a flight. Chaos naturally ensues, as they each have items in their luggage they need for the day. Each contacts the airline, and is directed to return to the airport.
There they meet with the Baggage Handler, and find it’s not simply a case of swapping luggage. They each have baggage, and are challenged to deal with it rather than continue carrying it. Each of the three has unique baggage, but also baggage we can all relate to, so it’s interesting to read their reactions.
The Baggage Handler puts a modern twist on well-known allegories, relating ancient yet relevant truths. The writing style is similar to authors such as James L Rubart or Billy Coffey. Rawlings is a strong writer and has woven some deep life and spiritual truths into three universal stories.
The Baggage Handler is a strong debut novel and would make a great book club read. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
The book is similar in content to a few others I have read. I did enjoy the book and meeting the three main characters. We all have baggage we hold on to and don’t realize how it slows us down in life. I loved how the author took three different characters and allowed us to watch them unpack their baggage with surprise and confusion. I often wonder how many people have picked up the wrong baggage and realized it after they left the airport? For each character there is an urgency to retrieve the right baggage and scurry on their way.
It is easier to stuff your baggage with regret, anger, low self-esteem and other emotions and forget about them. What we don’t realize is that someday those forgot about emotions will unpack at a time we are not ready for them. As each character is sent to a place to pick up their correct baggage, we see each one open up the heavy burdens they have been carrying. It reminds me of a backpack filled with bricks. You carry it around because you don’t want to put it down and see what’s inside . When you decide you cant go on, you unburden yourself of the baggage and there waiting is all the baggage called anger, deceit, forgiveness, pride and many other things that stare you right in the face.
As you read this story, immerse yourself in it and allow God to take your burdens away. The lies we have believed and the struggles we have encountered have loaded us down and it is time to be set free . As the Baggage Handler explains to each of the three people, they must be able to let go of the baggage once they give it to him. How many times have we told God that we give our troubles to Him, then pick it up again? At the end of the book are questions that are worth looking at. These questions are for you to examine yourself and see what baggage you need to get rid of. The choice is ours to make: do we want to get rid of baggage that leads us to joy and freedom or hold on to it and continue to be unhappy ?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
The baggage handler
A book that really makes you think. A short book with a lot of meaning to it.
David , Gillian and Michael each get the wrong suitcases at the airport. They find out after getting to their their destinations. Some very important items they really need from their suitcases.
In the process of getting their suitcases back they meet the baggage handler. He shows them the baggage that they have in their life. Love how the author uses mix up baggage to have them learn of what is important in their life.
I received a advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.