The Baggage Handler

Written by David Rawlings

Narrated by Jon Watson

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.
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 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's more in their baggage than they've packed, and carrying it with them slows 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 and Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, The Baggage Handler is a modern-day parable about the burdens that weigh us down—and an inspiring invitation to lighten the load.

Praise for The Baggage Handler:

“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 stand-alone, short novel at 42,000 words
• Christy Award winner for Best First Novel of 2019

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Mar 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780785224952

David Rawlings

David Rawlings is a Christy Award-winning Australian author and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face. Website: www.davidrawlings.com.au; Facebook: David Rawlings – Author; Instagram: davidrawlingsauthor.

Reviews for The Baggage Handler

[Jason Mann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very thought provoking and needed. Christ is the answer for our burdens. Casting all of our cares for he careth for us.

[Joipressley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book definitely makes one think about the different types of baggage that we ALL carry and how it affects our perspective of the world and ourselves, how it limits us, and our body’s natural responses. Overall, I think this is a great book with a great message but there’s this ONE line that is repeated so many times that it drove me nuts!! “He looked...with clouded blue eyes, a look approaching wistfulness.” Had it not been for that one thing, I would have given 5 stars.

[Blair Warner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Short, captivating, and not too long. Really had me thinking about my own baggage.

[romonko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this little book. it's an allegory, but it is so much more. In it we meet three people, each battling their own demons. I challenge those who read this book to find someone or even themselves in this book. How much baggage do each of us carry around? How does it limit our our options? How does it adversely affect our lives and our health? I really can't say I loved the three people's stories. I can't say that i found myself in one of these three people, but I can say that it made me realize that I had baggage of my own. Is it going to change my life? I don't know, but self awareness is worth something. I think we all need a baggage handler to help us through this life of toil and trouble. I highly recommend this book. And I have my own copy which makes it so much more special. I intend to share it with anyone who asks.

[jkj94 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had heard a lot of great things about The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read this debut novel. The buzz said it is a parable, and it certainly is. This book made me dig deep into my own attitudes, expectations, experiences, and insecurities — the baggage that is part and parcel of who I am. Insightful, thought-provoking, and a real conversation starter, this book gets a very highly recommended rating from me.

It all begins with three people with lost baggage. Each is facing struggles at the end of their plane rides, and the experience of searching out their lost baggage is not pleasant. Add an enigmatic baggage handler who forces them to face their real selves, and you have a riveting look into what people carry around with them and their inept means of dealing with it. The characters Rawlings created are well-developed, not the stereotypes often found in parables. They were very real and relatable from the opening chapters. Did I see myself in any of them? Maybe. ? The baggage they carry, often unrecognized or not of their choice, includes envy, unforgiveness, and unworthiness. The doubts and fears each exhibit come from the depths of the human experience. And that is what makes The Baggage Handler so powerful — its universal message. A light is shown on what we all need to deal with. The setting of the baggage facility is masterfully depicted — you’ll see when you read the book. Not everything is resolved in the way I would have liked, leaving me feeling both hopeful and sad. But isn’t that how it is in real life as well?

Perfect for a book club discussion ( you will want to talk about this book!), The Baggage Handler is a must-read! I cannot wait for more from Rawlings.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[beautyinthebinding · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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. (less)

[harley0326 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found myself doing some real introspection as I read this modern day parable. The author has taken three travelers that clearly are carrying baggage that doesn't belong to them or shall we say, appears to be incorrectly assigned. Are you trying to live out someone else's dream, or is it really your own? Perhaps by not always looking for more, enjoyment and love will grow for the people and life we have already been given. Removing the wrong bag from the baggage carousel of life will possibly send you down a path that is not preferred. Are you ready for the results?
I received an ARC through CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very quick read, that once I started I was finished in one setting.
You will soon feel like you have stepped into another dimension, a bit like the twilight Zone.
I could see this book quickly continuing with sequels, there are lots of hurting people out there.
Will the three chosen individuals here have life changes? Surprises are seen as we continue with the stories, and we wonder what is going to happen, and as with real life, not always as we hope.
This one is going to make you think, could this, be you?

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.