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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A moving story of a son connecting with his mother through a shared love of books as she battles with pancreatic cancer.
deeply depressing but deeply absorbing - gave me ideas on what to read in the next few years - or what to try to re-read
3.5
The tale of the end of an extraordinary woman's life (really, she did so many things-good things) and how she and her son find a way to bond over books. And not even so much find a way, books were just a central part of their lives, so of course they played a part at the end.
So much cool book talk! I came away with at least ten titles that I want to read and there were lots of books mentioned.
Summary: The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close.
The tale of the end of an extraordinary woman's life (really, she did so many things-good things) and how she and her son find a way to bond over books. And not even so much find a way, books were just a central part of their lives, so of course they played a part at the end.
So much cool book talk! I came away with at least ten titles that I want to read and there were lots of books mentioned.
Summary: The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close.
A well written, well narrated memoir that I found resourceful both in book recommendations and in knowing someone recently diagnosed.
Mary Ann(e)‘s life of charity and action is incredible, and the nuggets of wisdom throughout the book are wonderful (even as a secular reader).
P.S. I don’t know why so many reviews complain that Mary Ann/e was too perfect. Very early on we are told that she never finished any antibiotics she was given and that she always read the end of a book first. I can’t believe this woman was allowed out of the house.
Mary Ann(e)‘s life of charity and action is incredible, and the nuggets of wisdom throughout the book are wonderful (even as a secular reader).
P.S. I don’t know why so many reviews complain that Mary Ann/e was too perfect. Very early on we are told that she never finished any antibiotics she was given and that she always read the end of a book first. I can’t believe this woman was allowed out of the house.
Wow. Not a happy book - sad because you know what will happen at the end. Really enjoyed the choices of books and the reviews. Great family relationship. I want Will Schwalbe to succeed!
Not enough about the books, and with the gimmicky title designed to draw in readers like me, that was disappointing. I enjoyed the memoir that it was, but it needed more book discussion.
This is a heart warming book that’s about several things. One woman and how she touched the lives of everyone around her, the difference she made in the world, always striving to be of service to others. The relationship she had with her son, her love of books and how she took what she learned from them and applied it to her being. And finally, how she chose to face death and did the things she loved until her final moments. Recommended.
I'm not sure I can do any better than the little blurb on the front cover of my edition, from Entertainment Weekly, which reads, "A graceful, affecting testament to a mother and a life well lived." It is truly that. I would have enjoyed knowing Will Schwalbe's amazing mother, Mary Anne, & I bet I would enjoy knowing Mr. Schwalbe as well, because how can a guy who writes with such intelligence and love for his mom, be anything less than sweet?
Don't get me wrong, this is not a schmaltzy, sickeningly sweet book. I believe it succeeds in showing us something about Mr. Schwalbe, lots about his mom & their relationship, and things about what it means to be human and be a member of a family, through the lens of a "book club". During the time when Mary Anne was being treated for cancer, she & her son Will spent lots of time in waiting rooms & chemo treatment rooms, & to pass the time they talked about the books they were reading. Sometimes they read the same book & other times not. I found plenty of books I'd like to add to my own reading list.
The book struck me with the realization that all the passages I marked, but one, had to do with prayer. I imagine this means it's time to look at the role of prayer in my own life & what I might be able to learn in terms of peace, acceptance & understanding by allowing a little more spirituality in. Since I marked passages having to do with new age prayer, Unitarianism, Christian prayer and Buddhist prayer, I imagine it is an indication that it's OK to just be a seeker! I was drawn to the book just out of curiosity & the fact that any book about books is intriguing to me - but I am happy to have learned something deeper from it.
Don't get me wrong, this is not a schmaltzy, sickeningly sweet book. I believe it succeeds in showing us something about Mr. Schwalbe, lots about his mom & their relationship, and things about what it means to be human and be a member of a family, through the lens of a "book club". During the time when Mary Anne was being treated for cancer, she & her son Will spent lots of time in waiting rooms & chemo treatment rooms, & to pass the time they talked about the books they were reading. Sometimes they read the same book & other times not. I found plenty of books I'd like to add to my own reading list.
The book struck me with the realization that all the passages I marked, but one, had to do with prayer. I imagine this means it's time to look at the role of prayer in my own life & what I might be able to learn in terms of peace, acceptance & understanding by allowing a little more spirituality in. Since I marked passages having to do with new age prayer, Unitarianism, Christian prayer and Buddhist prayer, I imagine it is an indication that it's OK to just be a seeker! I was drawn to the book just out of curiosity & the fact that any book about books is intriguing to me - but I am happy to have learned something deeper from it.
The mum of Will Schwalbe had a great life, it was sad for me to "meet her" only in the end, but the way she handled the situation was egregious. The books are my favorite part anyway, and my never ending to read list, is getting bigger and bigger.
La vita della mamma dell'autore é stata impressionante per svariate ragioni, non ultima il modo in cui ha gestito gli ultimi due anni della sua vita. Comunque la mia parte preferita resta quella sui libri, il che ha portato la mia lista, giá infinita di libri da leggere, a sforare in un universo parallelo.
La vita della mamma dell'autore é stata impressionante per svariate ragioni, non ultima il modo in cui ha gestito gli ultimi due anni della sua vita. Comunque la mia parte preferita resta quella sui libri, il che ha portato la mia lista, giá infinita di libri da leggere, a sforare in un universo parallelo.
Interesting book in that it gave a lot of an overview of many pieces of literature, old and new, that I probably wouldn't have looked into on my own. I was worried they would tell too much about the books, but that wasn't an issue. Really more of the story covers a loved-one's upcoming death and how the family works through it. Good read.