You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This is a hard book to rate according to how much I like it because, while I think it is a good book, I didn't enjoy it. It is well written, I like the "characters" (real people), there are some very important & interesting topics (& books) discussed but -- and it is a big one -- BUT, it is sad. The book follows a ridiculously wonderful lady (this is written by her son so I realize it may be a little rose-colored)from diagnosis through treatment of pancreatic cancer. This hits a little too close to home for me as I have a cousin who is battling pancreatic cancer as I write this. This was not an easy read and I'd have never chosen it on my own. A friend chose it for Book Club and that, along with my sense of Book Club duty, is the only reason I didn't see the title and pass it by. Generally I read for information or sheer pleasure. This has a lot of information but not a lot of pleasure -- for me. Many people have given it rave reviews and find it uplifting. I didn't get that at all though I wasn't depressed reading it -- just sad & frustrated as many of us are when it comes to cancer. Another problem for me is that pancreatic cancer scares the bejeezus out of me. It, more than most any other cancer, is such a silent & proficient killer that it makes me a little (or a lot) paranoid. This book then was a lot for me to get through. A book this length would usually be finished in a matter of hours but this has taken me at least two weeks. I wouldn't advise not reading necessarily but be fore-warned.
Will Schwalbe's mother is dying of pancreatic cancer. As he sits with her at her chemo appointments, they talk about the books they read. Very early on in the book, they start a book club of two, picking books to read together, specifically so they can discuss them, specifically so they can learn more about each other, specifically so they can draw closer together in his mother's last years, and, specifically, though not consciously so they can begin the healing process even before the end has arrived.
With a synopsis like that, I'm sure it comes as no surprised that I cried.
I am years and years away from having to face any sort of similar situation. At least, I assume I am. Hope I am. Trust I am. Perhaps the real reason that this book hit so hard is that none of us actually know when we will be in a situation like this, on either side of it. But, it is my hope, that when I do find myself in such a situation, books will bring me the same amount of comfort in brought Mary Anne and Will Schwalbe.
Things I loved about it:
1. Mary Ann(e) Schwalbe. Such a beautiful woman. So strong. So true to her convictions. So full of action, and life, and energy. So very unlike myself, but so like the woman I would like to be.
2. Books. Of course. This book is a book for people who love books. In fact, if the only books you read are the most popular ones - you know, Hunger Games, Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey - and if you aren't the type to constantly have a book on the go and have no idea what that's like, you may not even enjoy it much. If you do, this book will make you love books even more. It will make you go out and buy more bookshelves.
3. The beauty of death. This one is hard one. I guess what I found beautiful is how Mary Anne faced it, unwilling to stop living even though she was dying, even right up to her last few days.
4. Besides the books, this was my favourite thing: The End of Your Life Book Club is a profoundly spiritual, profoundly religious book written by a man who "just [doesn't] think about religion." (98) Schwalbe may not be a religious man, but he's written a book that is so beautifully moving, spiritually, a book that can provide great comfort about life and death from a religious perspective.
5. I guess, in relation to point 4, in conclusion of point 4, I adore how true Schwalbe is to his mother, how much he honours her through this work, even though his belief system does not necessarily line up. It's a beautiful tribute to his mom.
I think this might be the next book I recommend to everyone I meet. I'll be passing it on to my parents next. I'm not sure what they'll think of it - neither of them really read much non-fiction, and their parents didn't read much, as far as I know, - but I hope that in some ways, it will give them a glimpse into the gift they've given their children by reading so much, the same gift Mary Anne (and her husband) gave to her children.
With a synopsis like that, I'm sure it comes as no surprised that I cried.
I am years and years away from having to face any sort of similar situation. At least, I assume I am. Hope I am. Trust I am. Perhaps the real reason that this book hit so hard is that none of us actually know when we will be in a situation like this, on either side of it. But, it is my hope, that when I do find myself in such a situation, books will bring me the same amount of comfort in brought Mary Anne and Will Schwalbe.
Things I loved about it:
1. Mary Ann(e) Schwalbe. Such a beautiful woman. So strong. So true to her convictions. So full of action, and life, and energy. So very unlike myself, but so like the woman I would like to be.
2. Books. Of course. This book is a book for people who love books. In fact, if the only books you read are the most popular ones - you know, Hunger Games, Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey - and if you aren't the type to constantly have a book on the go and have no idea what that's like, you may not even enjoy it much. If you do, this book will make you love books even more. It will make you go out and buy more bookshelves.
3. The beauty of death. This one is hard one. I guess what I found beautiful is how Mary Anne faced it, unwilling to stop living even though she was dying, even right up to her last few days.
4. Besides the books, this was my favourite thing: The End of Your Life Book Club is a profoundly spiritual, profoundly religious book written by a man who "just [doesn't] think about religion." (98) Schwalbe may not be a religious man, but he's written a book that is so beautifully moving, spiritually, a book that can provide great comfort about life and death from a religious perspective.
5. I guess, in relation to point 4, in conclusion of point 4, I adore how true Schwalbe is to his mother, how much he honours her through this work, even though his belief system does not necessarily line up. It's a beautiful tribute to his mom.
I think this might be the next book I recommend to everyone I meet. I'll be passing it on to my parents next. I'm not sure what they'll think of it - neither of them really read much non-fiction, and their parents didn't read much, as far as I know, - but I hope that in some ways, it will give them a glimpse into the gift they've given their children by reading so much, the same gift Mary Anne (and her husband) gave to her children.
I loved listening to the audiobook. I think it's a touching memoir of a son and his dying mother, and how all the books they read together brought them closer, and he got to learn more about the amazing woman who was his mother.
Good, thoughtful story. Very good book recommendations.
I thought this book was very well done. As an added bonus, I have a new list of books to read based on their discussions.
While I can't really relate to the author, his family, or their taste in books, I did think this was a very stirring book. It brings up alot of good conversation for book clubs, and good conversations to have with your loved ones. There were alot of good passages to highlight- very good for a book club.
This book helped me better understand what my own mother went through when my grandmother died. I would strongly suggest that you read this book alone. Most of the class discussions have focused on the higher/richer lifestyle the author portrays which changed how I was reading the book.
Alone it is like a secret, best kept.
Alone it is like a secret, best kept.
http://coffeeforthebrain.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-end-of-your-life-book-club.html
I am not sure how to put into words my thoughts on this book.
I can simply state that You Should Read This Book!
Plain and simple
What Will Schwalbe has created is a memoir of sorts of a relationship between mother and son knowing that she will die of her cancer.
I was entranced by this book. It is not a book with action or mind changing events, but a story of life. A story of how books can transform us and leave us with a memory from our past. I have these books on my shelf. When I grab my Catcher in Rye book that I read in high school I instantly go back to the days of trying to identify who I was and wanted I wanted to do with myself. I can grab John Green novels and do the same. Like music, books hold a moment in time.
One of my favorite passages was Will describing his love for a real tangible book and not an ebook. He writes:
Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind. But printed books have body, presence. Sure, sometimes they'll elude you by hiding in improbable places: in a box full of old picture frames, say, or in the laundry basket, wrapped in a sweatshirt. But at other times they'll confront you, and you';; literally stumbled over some tomes you hadn't though about in weeks or years. I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me. They may make me feel, but I can't feel them. They are all soul with no flesh, no texture, and no weight. They can get in your head but can't whack you upside it.
So true. I know when I buy an ebook that if it grabs me I turn around and buy a physical copy to have and hold.
I found the book to be lovely. Sounds cheesy and not something I would typically write to describe the books I read. I loved the dialogue about characters and setting and themes. I wish I had someone or a group to dig into books they way they did.
My favorite part was the list of books at the end. I plan on reading each of these to see how they touch and move me and compare with what they read and felt.
The story was real. The relationships were real and the connections were real. In the end, life is about relationship and making connections. We can do this through many means, but a book allows us to connect with the characters in the story as well as fellow readers. This book was a great reminder about the power of words and story. As a father of three I need to continue to ignite the flame of reading in my children. As a teacher I still do this and as a member of society I need to continue to spread the word about great books that hopefully allows me to connect with more people to share ideas with.
Needless to say I give this book thumbs up. You know the ending before you read, but for once this does not ruin the beauty of the journey.
I am not sure how to put into words my thoughts on this book.
I can simply state that You Should Read This Book!
Plain and simple
What Will Schwalbe has created is a memoir of sorts of a relationship between mother and son knowing that she will die of her cancer.
I was entranced by this book. It is not a book with action or mind changing events, but a story of life. A story of how books can transform us and leave us with a memory from our past. I have these books on my shelf. When I grab my Catcher in Rye book that I read in high school I instantly go back to the days of trying to identify who I was and wanted I wanted to do with myself. I can grab John Green novels and do the same. Like music, books hold a moment in time.
One of my favorite passages was Will describing his love for a real tangible book and not an ebook. He writes:
Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind. But printed books have body, presence. Sure, sometimes they'll elude you by hiding in improbable places: in a box full of old picture frames, say, or in the laundry basket, wrapped in a sweatshirt. But at other times they'll confront you, and you';; literally stumbled over some tomes you hadn't though about in weeks or years. I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me. They may make me feel, but I can't feel them. They are all soul with no flesh, no texture, and no weight. They can get in your head but can't whack you upside it.
So true. I know when I buy an ebook that if it grabs me I turn around and buy a physical copy to have and hold.
I found the book to be lovely. Sounds cheesy and not something I would typically write to describe the books I read. I loved the dialogue about characters and setting and themes. I wish I had someone or a group to dig into books they way they did.
My favorite part was the list of books at the end. I plan on reading each of these to see how they touch and move me and compare with what they read and felt.
The story was real. The relationships were real and the connections were real. In the end, life is about relationship and making connections. We can do this through many means, but a book allows us to connect with the characters in the story as well as fellow readers. This book was a great reminder about the power of words and story. As a father of three I need to continue to ignite the flame of reading in my children. As a teacher I still do this and as a member of society I need to continue to spread the word about great books that hopefully allows me to connect with more people to share ideas with.
Needless to say I give this book thumbs up. You know the ending before you read, but for once this does not ruin the beauty of the journey.
Very, very sweet. (Made me feel like I'm a lazy reader, though.)
A more sober Bachelor Brother Bed and Breakfast, with the portrait of the author's amazing mother as she battles cancer. The bibliography of the books they read and discussed will keep you busy discovering new books or remembering favorites.