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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I don’t know why this one was so hard for me to get into. I tried reading the physical book a few months ago and then picked up and put down the audiobook a few times this month.
The concept is right up my alley but I just could not get into it. I never felt like I quite connected with either of the main characters or the or journey together.
I for sure think that me only liking, not loving, this book was a me thing.
As the author shared books with his mother, he not only gained insight about books, characters, and human nature, but also learned who his mother really is. What a great example of the power of sharing books!
I really enjoyed this book. Throughout the book, Will spends time talking to his mother about the books they are reading together or have read in the past. I enjoyed no. 1 all the great book suggestions and two, the reviews of the books and how he tied it to his mother.
I found Mary-Ann very inspriational and loved the way she saw the world. The work she has done is amazing and really highlights the beauty of humans being humans.
Thank you for writing this book.
I found Mary-Ann very inspriational and loved the way she saw the world. The work she has done is amazing and really highlights the beauty of humans being humans.
Thank you for writing this book.
Strangely, despite the definite front-and-center presence of books in this memoir, they also seem almost like an afterthought, a very nice embroidery to the more important story about Schwalbe's mother and her impressive life. This is as it should be, and I enjoyed how well he explained how some of the books they read related to their particular situations and also to life in general. Very enjoyable.
I'm sad to say I didn't finish this book. I'm not usually one to abandon a book without finishing, but there was something...off about this book. The idea is heartwarming: a son joins his mother for her chemo treatments and they discuss their love of books. I think my problem with this book is that it veered too much. Schwalbe's entire family is very well-to-do, well-traveled, and extremely educated. So much of their lives revolved around family vacations to Geneva, book release parties, famous mentors, and other East Coast luxuries. And we hear all about their fabulous lives. Not often enough did the book actually describe the book-oriented discussions Schwalbe had with his mother.
I never connected with any character, which surprised me, because the premise of the book is a LOVE of books, which is my premise in life. These characters happened to read a lot. And that is all we had in common.
I never connected with any character, which surprised me, because the premise of the book is a LOVE of books, which is my premise in life. These characters happened to read a lot. And that is all we had in common.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A lovely recount of a man's final months and weeks with his mother diagnosed with colon cancer. Part literary discussion, part loving tribute to Maryanne.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This book is one of those books about loving books. A man and his mother share a common love for books and often found themselves in deep discussion about books they had read. With a somber diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and time to spend in discussion during her chemo treatments, they created what they called a book club. It was just the two of them and the discussions usually took place during treatments.
At times the book was so full of itself and I seemed to be reading a very long book report with questions addressed such as how the book made them feel, what were key points and themes, what can we learn from it? Regardless, I couldn't put it down. It was a book about a man remembering his mother and the love they shared of books and how important books are to the world.
Of course, expectedly, by the end of the book I could barely see the pages through my blurred eyes.... Yet it made me wonder... What will I read next and how will that enrich my life?
At times the book was so full of itself and I seemed to be reading a very long book report with questions addressed such as how the book made them feel, what were key points and themes, what can we learn from it? Regardless, I couldn't put it down. It was a book about a man remembering his mother and the love they shared of books and how important books are to the world.
Of course, expectedly, by the end of the book I could barely see the pages through my blurred eyes.... Yet it made me wonder... What will I read next and how will that enrich my life?
Although I have not read many of the books referenced in this book, it whet my appetite for future reading options. Will writes about his relationship with his mom and their two person book club during her illness before passing away. It is beautifully written and a poignant and beautiful tribute to his mother and their relationship.
Having been my mom’s caregiver while she had cancer, I resonated with many of the aspects of this book. Whenever I read someone’s journey through loss and also celebration of life, it helps me go deeper in my own journey of grief and loss and all the layers it included. I loved how this memoir wove significant books throughout it and I look forward to reading them in the future.
Well written and a pleasure to read.
Having been my mom’s caregiver while she had cancer, I resonated with many of the aspects of this book. Whenever I read someone’s journey through loss and also celebration of life, it helps me go deeper in my own journey of grief and loss and all the layers it included. I loved how this memoir wove significant books throughout it and I look forward to reading them in the future.
Well written and a pleasure to read.