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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This was an interesting book. I feel like I have to parition the book into two emotions. On one hand this is a sweet story of an incredible woman (who has done so much good in the world) and her son relating through books as she deals with her cancer (whew! deep breath). But inbetween the "sweet" story I feel like this is a memoir of a son trying desperately to make a relationship with his mom that he has not had in previous years. I feel like things he brought up to say, "Mom, do you remember the time..." were really sad. And when he talked about not wanting his time with his mom to be interuppted by new people she would always bring around my heart just broke for him!
I didn't love the book but I would recommend it. Especially if you are stuck and don't know what to read because then you will finish with a nice long list of books to read and/or reread.
I didn't love the book but I would recommend it. Especially if you are stuck and don't know what to read because then you will finish with a nice long list of books to read and/or reread.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
This is one of the best books I've ever read. I really hate it when people say that. Why is it one of the best books you've ever read? So, I'll tell you. It pulls together so many things that are important to me in one place, where I can read about it and say--yes--I think so, too. It's encouraging and soul searching and poignantly hopeful. It deals with positive ways to look at and deal with actively dying. It explores the life of a working mother from the standpoint of one of her children. It speaks to a life of giving to and working for others in very meaningful ways. And most of all, it is about books. The love of books, reading, talking about what you've read. Wow! So if any of those things appeal to you, you might want to read this book. My only problem is that now I've added to my reading list most of the books that were on their list. (Thankfully, a few I had already read, and some were already on my reading list.) Lovely, lovely book.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m not sure why the average rating isn’t higher, seriously. If I highlighted books, I would’ve highlighted something on every other page. There were so many beautiful tidbits that were inspiring, convicting, and lovely. Mary Anne was a beautiful soul, and we’re all blessed that her son chose to share her incredible life and her love of reading with us. I will be recommending this to everyone!
This is a great book to read if you love to read and love books. My to-read list grew longer and longer with every chapter (I kept stopping to look books up on Goodreads).
My only negative: Schwalbe's excessive use of commas.
My only negative: Schwalbe's excessive use of commas.
Wonderful book....amazing that this family truly exists. The only thing that bothered me was that it told too much about the books they read. It was only a paragraph or two, but I kept thinking "what if I want to read this book someday"? Of course I know I never will, but I still didn't want to know the endings of any book. Regardless, i think this was a very interesting story.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
What a life. What a legacy. What a gift.
Reading this book will make your life better and fill your heart. Truly. Trust me.
Reading this book will make your life better and fill your heart. Truly. Trust me.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
A beautiful book about the connection through books a mother and son were able to make it the years leading up to her death from pancreatic cancer. I lost my mother to cancer six years ago, and I really envy how Will and his mother Mary Ann were able to find a common language to discuss the questions of life, death, and the possibility of the hereafter.
I wish my mother and I had had that common language. And I wish my stepfather, through his own bitterness and lashing out, hadn't poisoned my process of mourning by making some very cruel statements. I'm still processing the loss six years later, as a result.
Reading this book may help bring peace to many people. I recognize how good it is, but it's brought up a lot of angst for me. But at the same time, it's helped me to rid myself of a lot of misplaced guilt that I had been placing on my own head. I do tend to do this; to beat myself up unjustly. I need to stop doing that.
But I remember the time in the hospital room when my mother and I acknowledged death's approach and our love for each other. No one else was a party to that conversation but her and me. And no one can judge that or take that away from me.
I wish my mother and I had had that common language. And I wish my stepfather, through his own bitterness and lashing out, hadn't poisoned my process of mourning by making some very cruel statements. I'm still processing the loss six years later, as a result.
Reading this book may help bring peace to many people. I recognize how good it is, but it's brought up a lot of angst for me. But at the same time, it's helped me to rid myself of a lot of misplaced guilt that I had been placing on my own head. I do tend to do this; to beat myself up unjustly. I need to stop doing that.
But I remember the time in the hospital room when my mother and I acknowledged death's approach and our love for each other. No one else was a party to that conversation but her and me. And no one can judge that or take that away from me.
I wanted to love this book. How could I not love a book about books? And I love oncology nursing. But I didn't love it. It veered towards preachiness at the end and wasn't the memoir that I was expecting.