Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I felt sad by some of the reviews of this book. I don’t think some got the point. The point was not the solely highlight the books that the club read, but for a son to process his experience of sharing his mothers final days with her. The books were an Avenue for them to distract, and in some ways process, her terminal situation. I thought it was a beautiful testament to the life changing work that she did. They were a family with wrath, and if you spend all your time focusing solely on that, you may not enjoy it. Make it a chance to just appreciate a difficult but beautiful story between a mother and her son.
love how it’s pulitzer winner after pulitzer winner then bam lesbian cult classic the price of salt
This was a very different kind of read. It was sad, for sure, but not terribly so where I ugly-cried the whole time.
Will's mother is dying. They know this, there are certain things they don't discuss because they're not ready or it's awkward. They are always reading and being able to read and share and discuss characters and what they're going through and their choices and all the "what ifs" helps them navigate this difficult time. Its also an opportunity for Will to learn some things about his mother. Asking questions that may be prompted from something they read, but he sees his mother in a certain way. He throws in memories of his own and what he learns of her life as Mary Ann and how she interacts with the world and people. I think this was a very beautiful way to honor his mother and the relationship they have.
Will's mother is dying. They know this, there are certain things they don't discuss because they're not ready or it's awkward. They are always reading and being able to read and share and discuss characters and what they're going through and their choices and all the "what ifs" helps them navigate this difficult time. Its also an opportunity for Will to learn some things about his mother. Asking questions that may be prompted from something they read, but he sees his mother in a certain way. He throws in memories of his own and what he learns of her life as Mary Ann and how she interacts with the world and people. I think this was a very beautiful way to honor his mother and the relationship they have.
A very powerful and emotional story about why we love to read.
I found this book to be a lovely tribute to the author’s mother. It told of their time spent together after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Yes, there were obviously some sad parts where I misted up a bit, but overall it was an uplifting celebration of her life. It told of the wonderful contributions she made, including getting a library built in Afghanistan, and the incredible impact she had on those who met her. She refused to ever feel sorry for herself, no matter her pain or discomfort, and would always remind her loved ones that she had led a great life and was very blessed.
I loved how the author and his mother connected so deeply over books, as I often find that you can learn so much about people by discussing our latest and favorite reads. It was also fun to hear their thoughts on books that I’d read in the past. Though I now have about 20 new books that have been added to my ever growing to-read-list. Argh.
The only issue I had with the book is that some parts were a little choppy. But overall, it was a lovely read that left me inspired, and definitely think (as the title would infer) that it is a great read for a book club.
I loved how the author and his mother connected so deeply over books, as I often find that you can learn so much about people by discussing our latest and favorite reads. It was also fun to hear their thoughts on books that I’d read in the past. Though I now have about 20 new books that have been added to my ever growing to-read-list. Argh.
The only issue I had with the book is that some parts were a little choppy. But overall, it was a lovely read that left me inspired, and definitely think (as the title would infer) that it is a great read for a book club.
Overall, I went into this book with expectations of something that this memoir fell short of, and that's my fault. The essays are moving and the reading list is impressive (with a few I've added to my "To Read" list). From what we gather from the book, Mary Anne was a truly remarkable human being and an inspiration not just to her family but to the reader. While touching, the emotional connection conveyed between mother and son seemed to fall a little short of what one hopes from this book, but maybe that's because their connection was so strong they didn't need a book to describe it. Overall, I'm glad I read it, but not sure I'd recommend.
A touching, somewhat difficult, book. I enjoyed many parts of it, in particular when they were discussing books I have already read and loved. I didn't always love the writing though and probably would go with 3.5 stars if that were an option. I finished with a list of a few more to add to my ever growing to-read list. It was as sad as I was expecting to read the end, but also knowing what is coming makes it a bit easier. While making my way though it, I often thought about how I don't have that much in common with this family. Near the end, Will says this about a book his mom was reading: "Nita was nothing like Mom, other than the fact that they were both readers. But I could see why Mom loved that story the most. All readers have reading in common." So really, I guess I have one important thing in common with them.
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe is another one of those books that has been on every ‘Best of 2012′ list I have seen. It’s also very popular in the world of book blogging, with a few of my bloggy friends having read it already. So, I decided to take the plunge and read the book even though I wasn’t entirely sure how I would feel about it and couldn’t personally relate.
The book is about the author’s last two years with his mother, Mary Anne, who is dying of terminal pancreatic cancer. Through chemo treatments and doctor appointments, the two read and discuss various books (which are provided in an appendix, which has added considerably to my ‘to be read’ list). Although there is never any question about whether or not the author’s mother is going to live or not, I was still surprised and sad in a way that I hadn’t expected. Perhaps it was because Mary Anne was a real person and not a fictional character (it could also be because she spent her last days fluctuating between reading and Law & Order, which are two of my favorite things).
The author punctuates the book with words of wisdom, most of which was gleaned from his mother, who by all accounts was an amazing woman. She was a firm believer in caring for others and devoted her life to spreading literacy in Afghanistan and working for and with refugees. She was able to move in and out of third-world countries just as easily as she could fit in with Harvard administrators (where she was one). And, she wasn’t a fan of e-readers because she couldn’t be surrounded by her books, nor could she hand them down or read the same copy as someone else.
For the full review, click here.
The book is about the author’s last two years with his mother, Mary Anne, who is dying of terminal pancreatic cancer. Through chemo treatments and doctor appointments, the two read and discuss various books (which are provided in an appendix, which has added considerably to my ‘to be read’ list). Although there is never any question about whether or not the author’s mother is going to live or not, I was still surprised and sad in a way that I hadn’t expected. Perhaps it was because Mary Anne was a real person and not a fictional character (it could also be because she spent her last days fluctuating between reading and Law & Order, which are two of my favorite things).
The author punctuates the book with words of wisdom, most of which was gleaned from his mother, who by all accounts was an amazing woman. She was a firm believer in caring for others and devoted her life to spreading literacy in Afghanistan and working for and with refugees. She was able to move in and out of third-world countries just as easily as she could fit in with Harvard administrators (where she was one). And, she wasn’t a fan of e-readers because she couldn’t be surrounded by her books, nor could she hand them down or read the same copy as someone else.
For the full review, click here.
A devoted son and his ailing mother, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, spends the final two years of her life by reading and discussin dozens of books with her. They informally discuss the books at her doctor's office as she undergoes treatments, their "book club". Touching story.
Thank you, Will and Mary Ann Schwalbe for teaching me
1. I need to do something to be kind to someone every day..and make conscious effort to do so-- remembering the difference between kind and nice.
2. I read way too many fiction books.
At first, I was mad I wasn't a vicarious member of the reading club; I have only read a few of the titles you shared and was unfamiliar with some titles. Now that I've completed, The End of Your Life Book Club, I think I would have been even madder having read the books and been unable to discuss points and counterpoints with you and your mother.
But this book isn't really about titles.It's a tribute to a mother's life, the type of person she was and the impact she had in people's lives. It's about books that can tell the whole story the media can not, using characters to discuss hard issues and accepting.
As my first non-professional non fiction read of the year. I'll admit, it took me a few weeks to work through End of your life. But only because I was researching titles, reading summaries and refreshing my memory of international events.
Mary Ann Schwalbe was a remarkable and extraordinary woman, I wish I could have met her. She gave advice and sought it through books ..... Some people(me included) have trouble talking with friends and family about "hard stuff." Sharing books and discussing characters gave Will and his mother the opportunity to talk about issues, as well as help him understand what she was going through for two years of cancer. And I am happy to learn that one other person reads endings first.
1. I need to do something to be kind to someone every day..and make conscious effort to do so-- remembering the difference between kind and nice.
2. I read way too many fiction books.
At first, I was mad I wasn't a vicarious member of the reading club; I have only read a few of the titles you shared and was unfamiliar with some titles. Now that I've completed, The End of Your Life Book Club, I think I would have been even madder having read the books and been unable to discuss points and counterpoints with you and your mother.
But this book isn't really about titles.It's a tribute to a mother's life, the type of person she was and the impact she had in people's lives. It's about books that can tell the whole story the media can not, using characters to discuss hard issues and accepting.
As my first non-professional non fiction read of the year. I'll admit, it took me a few weeks to work through End of your life. But only because I was researching titles, reading summaries and refreshing my memory of international events.
Mary Ann Schwalbe was a remarkable and extraordinary woman, I wish I could have met her. She gave advice and sought it through books ..... Some people(me included) have trouble talking with friends and family about "hard stuff." Sharing books and discussing characters gave Will and his mother the opportunity to talk about issues, as well as help him understand what she was going through for two years of cancer. And I am happy to learn that one other person reads endings first.