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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I loved this book, even though sometimes I couldn't quite relate because of their financially privileged life, I couldn't stop reading and loving the story. It's the memoir about a son and his terminally ill mother and the books they read to pass the time during her treatment. It really shows a son (child) saying goodbye to their mother, which I think a lot of people would find helpful or at least comforting.
I wish there was more in depth discussion about the books. They are two very bookish people, I'm sure their discussions were more complex than what was presented in the book. The books were definitely the theme that got them from the first treatment through the end of her life. It is also a beautiful look at an extraordinary woman's life.
I found myself underlining and making notes in the margin - and using a dictionary a few times to look up words. Anyone who loves books should read this!
I wish there was more in depth discussion about the books. They are two very bookish people, I'm sure their discussions were more complex than what was presented in the book. The books were definitely the theme that got them from the first treatment through the end of her life. It is also a beautiful look at an extraordinary woman's life.
I found myself underlining and making notes in the margin - and using a dictionary a few times to look up words. Anyone who loves books should read this!
I thought it was worth writing my review of ‘The End of Your Life Book Club’ following on from Albom’s brilliant ‘The Time Keeper’ despite having read the former back in August. In many regards there is a similarity between these two authors: both deal with loss, death and faith. However, the fundamental difference seems to be that where Albom succeeds in providing an uplifting message about living and subtly delivers a moral message about faith (and religion if that is your particular proclivity), Schwalbe fails.
On the surface, this book should have been everything that I love about literature. It tells the true story of Schwalbe and his mother, who on finding she has pancreatic cancer that will ultimately kill her, begins a series of chemotherapy treatments. Schwalbe accompanies her on many of these visits and in order to pass some of the time, they begin a book club with only two members. During the course of her illness, they read a series of books that they then discuss in detail and their different perspectives and views of these books are often interesting and enlightening. At the same time, Schwalbe also reveals many of the quite miraculous achievements of his mother during the course of her life, which have included visiting Afghanistan and raising enormous amounts of money for charitable organisations, the last of which is to create a library for children in Afghanistan so that education can continue despite the devastation there.
I did enjoy the opening half of the novel, but as it progressed, I found myself increasingly bored, which is a terrible thing to say about a novel that charts the death of such an amazing woman. So what was my problem? And this is a question I really did have to ask myself as my reaction seemed quite unreasonable.
Well, firstly, the real interest for me lay in Schwalbe’s mother and I increasingly felt that the story that I really wanted to hear was about her, which Schwalbe told only in brief, fleeting snippets. Given all she had achieved, I wanted more and it felt wrong to dwell so long on the dying embers of her life and ignore its brightest flames. In fact, at times this was all about Schwalbe rather than the character who should have been the heart of the novel.
Secondly, I think I resented the way in which her faith was so constantly discussed and thrust down the reader’s throat. Despite Schwalbe’s proclamation that he did not share his mother’s religious beliefs, it felt as if a great deal of time was given over to them and many of the novels that he chooses to discuss in the novel have a distinctly religious bent. Now Albom too has a religious grounding to his works. However, the difference is that he deals with faith and morality rather than forcing upon us a particular viewpoint that seemed forced and uncomfortable particularly when you don’t share those views.
Thirdly, the pattern of the novel became repetitive and the pace far too slow. Schwalbe’s needed a lesson from the brevity of Albom where the precision of his word choice and concise nature of his writing have a far greater impact than endless factual regurgitation.
Lastly, I was not confident in Schwalbe’s narrative voice. At times, there was a resentment and detachment about his style. For all his seeming idolisation of his mother, there seemed an underlying frustration that her charity work had ultimately taken her repeatedly away from her family and left him to flounder alone in a job he hates and ultimately gives up. Yet Schwalbe never acknowledges this, yet it does feel embedded within his writing and this creates a sense of discomfort.
Having said this, I do not think you can fail to be moved by the events in the story or the ultimate sense of sorrow with which it ends. Moreover, the idea behind the novel is original and interesting (which I think accounts for much of its success). However, it felt more like a money making opportunity to become a novelist (I know harsh criticism) rather than a genuine outpouring of grief in the way ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ genuinely was. Yes, interesting, but would I recommend it, would it even make it on to my book club list? Sorry…no.
On the surface, this book should have been everything that I love about literature. It tells the true story of Schwalbe and his mother, who on finding she has pancreatic cancer that will ultimately kill her, begins a series of chemotherapy treatments. Schwalbe accompanies her on many of these visits and in order to pass some of the time, they begin a book club with only two members. During the course of her illness, they read a series of books that they then discuss in detail and their different perspectives and views of these books are often interesting and enlightening. At the same time, Schwalbe also reveals many of the quite miraculous achievements of his mother during the course of her life, which have included visiting Afghanistan and raising enormous amounts of money for charitable organisations, the last of which is to create a library for children in Afghanistan so that education can continue despite the devastation there.
I did enjoy the opening half of the novel, but as it progressed, I found myself increasingly bored, which is a terrible thing to say about a novel that charts the death of such an amazing woman. So what was my problem? And this is a question I really did have to ask myself as my reaction seemed quite unreasonable.
Well, firstly, the real interest for me lay in Schwalbe’s mother and I increasingly felt that the story that I really wanted to hear was about her, which Schwalbe told only in brief, fleeting snippets. Given all she had achieved, I wanted more and it felt wrong to dwell so long on the dying embers of her life and ignore its brightest flames. In fact, at times this was all about Schwalbe rather than the character who should have been the heart of the novel.
Secondly, I think I resented the way in which her faith was so constantly discussed and thrust down the reader’s throat. Despite Schwalbe’s proclamation that he did not share his mother’s religious beliefs, it felt as if a great deal of time was given over to them and many of the novels that he chooses to discuss in the novel have a distinctly religious bent. Now Albom too has a religious grounding to his works. However, the difference is that he deals with faith and morality rather than forcing upon us a particular viewpoint that seemed forced and uncomfortable particularly when you don’t share those views.
Thirdly, the pattern of the novel became repetitive and the pace far too slow. Schwalbe’s needed a lesson from the brevity of Albom where the precision of his word choice and concise nature of his writing have a far greater impact than endless factual regurgitation.
Lastly, I was not confident in Schwalbe’s narrative voice. At times, there was a resentment and detachment about his style. For all his seeming idolisation of his mother, there seemed an underlying frustration that her charity work had ultimately taken her repeatedly away from her family and left him to flounder alone in a job he hates and ultimately gives up. Yet Schwalbe never acknowledges this, yet it does feel embedded within his writing and this creates a sense of discomfort.
Having said this, I do not think you can fail to be moved by the events in the story or the ultimate sense of sorrow with which it ends. Moreover, the idea behind the novel is original and interesting (which I think accounts for much of its success). However, it felt more like a money making opportunity to become a novelist (I know harsh criticism) rather than a genuine outpouring of grief in the way ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ genuinely was. Yes, interesting, but would I recommend it, would it even make it on to my book club list? Sorry…no.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
Age - 18+
Let's be honest. The topic of this memoir probably has a very limited audience but gosh, what an impact! Will recounts the experience of discussing shared books with his mother while waiting for her chemo treatments. Through these books, and subsequent discussions, both Will and his mother are given the timeless gift of learning about each other. They transcend the Mother / Son preconcieved notions. Yet Will also presents his mother to us, the reader. We learn about her passions, her beliefs, and the way she is a lynch pin to the family. Sometimes it is hard for us to see our mothers as individuals, as people with fears, passions, and dreams. Schwalbe does an excellent job of showing us how getting to know a loved one can enrich our life going forward.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I enjoyed this memoir, and hearing about all the books read. My only (not really) complaint (maybe more of an observation) would be that everyone in the family seemed a little too perfect. Maybe they are, I just never knew such a family. Regardless, it didn't take away from the story or my enjoyment.
This book is not depressing. It is a wonderful and charming tribute to a Mother, written by her son. It is W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L and you should read it too.
Sometimes you read a book that you can simply walk away from and not give it much thought. This is not one of those. I think this one will stay with me for a long, long time.
Will Schwalbe's mother Mary Ann is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and while going through treatments she and Will create a book club of sorts. They discuss books they've read, read new ones, recommend others. It's a book club of just two people but full of love. Love of books, love of each other, love of reading, love of life.
Mary Ann Schwalbe is someone I wish I would have known...what a wonderful woman. Ahead of her time, compassionate and friendly to everyone she met and especially those she hadn't yet.
The relationship between Will and his mother comes through each page and with each deeper discussion they have about the things they read.
At one point Will writes about how when he was a child... "There was one sure way to avoid being assigned an impromptu chore in our house - be it taking out the trash or cleaning your room - and that was to have your face buried in a book. Like churches during the Middle Ages, books conferred instant sanctuary. Once you entered one, you couldn't be disturbed."
I love that. Books as sanctuary.
Also at one point Will asks his mom if it bothers her to read about death or to read books of a depressing nature. Her reply, "No - not at all. It's the cruelty that gets to me. Still, it's important to read about cruelty. Because when you read about it, it's easier to recognize....Evil almost always starts with small cruelties."
What a smart woman.
I found this book informative (cancer care, palliative care, refugee crises) — and I didn’t find it too detailed or too sad. I liked being introduced to so many books and authors. I thought the author did a good job of paralleling plots and his current experience. I didn’t like the author’s writing style, which made reading it a bit of a chore.
A great book that manages to talk about a LOT of books, yet doesn't seem to ruin any if them. Instead you find yourself keeping a growing list of referenced books to add to the bedside table. A great Mother/Son story.
