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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I enjoy books about people reading books, and that's exactly what this was. The author's mother -- a Radcliffe grad, an admissions officer for Radcliffe AND Harvard, and an activist on behalf of refugees -- was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that was destined to kill her. As book-loving son sits with his book-loving mother through chemo treatments and in doctor waiting rooms, they decide to create the only foodless book club. This chatty book is both Will's remembrance of those times, and a memoir of his mother.
Despite the inevitable sad ending, this book wasn't depressing. I liked their discussions about not only the books, but about Mary Anne's life and the choices she made throughout. I have a feeling that due to filial loyalty, Will smoothed over Mary Anne's character a bit. (That stuffed turtle story - things like that don't happen just once.) And I think that Mary Anne actually wrote more of the book than just the few stories she told him to add. But if actual Mary Anne was half as lovely as Will's portrayal, the world is a sadder place for losing her.
And I'm adding a few books to my "to-read" list to boot!
Despite the inevitable sad ending, this book wasn't depressing. I liked their discussions about not only the books, but about Mary Anne's life and the choices she made throughout. I have a feeling that due to filial loyalty, Will smoothed over Mary Anne's character a bit. (That stuffed turtle story - things like that don't happen just once.) And I think that Mary Anne actually wrote more of the book than just the few stories she told him to add. But if actual Mary Anne was half as lovely as Will's portrayal, the world is a sadder place for losing her.
And I'm adding a few books to my "to-read" list to boot!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
A beautiful and moving memoir of the author and his mother on the last leg of her journey in life and an examination of how books connect us and make the unbearable more bearable and shine light into darkness.
I don't know how else to describe this besides lovely. I love a book about the love of reading and it was a touching portrayal of his mother and her battle with cancer.
2.5, rounded up out of guilt, I think.
I had higher expectations for this story; I was picturing the second coming of Tuesdays With Morrie. As much as I was able to relate to the basis of this story (as a book loving daughter of a book loving parent who also passed away from cancer), I thought that this was a reach of a memoir. Mrs. Schwalbe sounded like an amazing woman, no doubt, but the story was mostly just depressing rather than moving in any way. The "bok club" seemed a stretch to me, and the conversations, or at least what was written of the conversations, about each book were superficial. I wanted to love this one.
I had higher expectations for this story; I was picturing the second coming of Tuesdays With Morrie. As much as I was able to relate to the basis of this story (as a book loving daughter of a book loving parent who also passed away from cancer), I thought that this was a reach of a memoir. Mrs. Schwalbe sounded like an amazing woman, no doubt, but the story was mostly just depressing rather than moving in any way. The "bok club" seemed a stretch to me, and the conversations, or at least what was written of the conversations, about each book were superficial. I wanted to love this one.
So many good book suggestions are scattered throughout this memoir. To hear about another's life is always a gift.
Loved this book, so touching. Reminded me of my dad and his battle with cancer. I cried at the end and absolutely loved the story of a mother and son bonding over the love of the written word. Well done!
Really moving memoir - about the love of reading and the love of family. This mother and son team seemed to have more high brow taste in books than my mom and me, but the feelings were the same - the joy of finding, sharing, reading and re-reading great stories. The ending was sad, as to be expected, but I am so glad that I at least got to meet his mom this way (though she might not have approved of my kindle).
I have to add that it is quite the opposite of Jeannette McCurdy’s book - this author was definitely not glad his mom died!
I have to add that it is quite the opposite of Jeannette McCurdy’s book - this author was definitely not glad his mom died!
I got so many recommendations during my reading of this book
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed; there were also parts that I didn’t enjoy that much. It is certainly a poignant tribute to a mother who was obviously a tremendous personality and force of good in the world. The books that tied this end of her life together with her son were interesting and served as wonderful connections in her last times on earth. I did feel that the chapters ended up meandering to their ultimate points, and that the collections of chapters would have worked better as a more succinct and focused essay or personal narrative. The later chapters did end up being particularly meaningful. Shwalbe’s honestly in writing the end of his mother’s life is admirable. It did irk me that there was a halfhearted attempt I advocate for healthcare reform, mostly because it felt like it was an afterthought. But, I gave it three stars because the Shwalbe family is right. Literature connects us and provides us opportunities to live far outside our immediate experience.