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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A beautiful memoir. A story of how books can bring us together.
I was pleasantly surprised that this joined my canon of favorites.
Very loving book about how books themselves help us get through life. And death. Kind of morbid in topic, a mother with cancer and her son read throughout her treatments, but the cancer is not the focus. I really liked this book even though political and religious views portrayed were not very congruent with some of my own beliefs.
A great book about the bond of books. This was a great read about the relationship between a mother and a son and how books can help us grow closer together.
I think I have identified another sub-genre of memoir that I enjoy. The "Men Eulogizing the Extraordinary Women in Their Lives" memoir, enjoyed even more so with a generous helping of BOOKS. TBR explosion.
Absolutely fabulous!!! As an avid reader, I had wanted to read this book simply for the discussions of the books they read over the 2 years of her battle with cancer. Turns out, I have only read a small percentage of the books discussed. What I fell in love with was not only the role books played in their lives but more so the relationship the author has with his mother and her selfless love of others. Yes, one could say he portrays his mother almost saintly but based on all she has accomplished in life….it’s both believable and deserving.
Another part I enjoyed about this book is their experience and insights with dealing with incurable but treatable cancer. Their acceptance and continued upbeat (yet sometimes cautious) attitude through it all was amazing. I have friends and family that have lost their battle with cancer and some who have won, but I also have both a friend and a family member currently battling incurable but treatable cancer. Maybe my opinion is a little skewed because of that, but I think this is one of the best books I have read lately and highly recommend it.
A take away – always smile at people, even strangers. You never know just how much difference a simple smile can make in someone’s life. :)
Another part I enjoyed about this book is their experience and insights with dealing with incurable but treatable cancer. Their acceptance and continued upbeat (yet sometimes cautious) attitude through it all was amazing. I have friends and family that have lost their battle with cancer and some who have won, but I also have both a friend and a family member currently battling incurable but treatable cancer. Maybe my opinion is a little skewed because of that, but I think this is one of the best books I have read lately and highly recommend it.
A take away – always smile at people, even strangers. You never know just how much difference a simple smile can make in someone’s life. :)
I thought this was a beautiful tribute to Mary Anne Schwalbe, the author's mother. It documented the time they spent together after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and followed her struggle to the end of her life. I loved how books were weaved throughout the narrative. It really showed how books can touch lives and lessons can be learned from what we read. "...books are the most powerful tool in the human arsenal, that reading all kinds of books... is the grandest entertainment, and also is how you take part in the human conversation."
A must-read for anyone who loves books. I was drawn in from the beginning. The End of Your Life Book Club is like listening in on a wonderful, ongoing conversation between two highly intelligent people who truly love to read, and who really think about what they are reading.
The books and the conversations venture all over the map, and the result is a beautiful & meaningful tribute to both an incredible woman and the power of the written word, as well as a story about the importance of reading and the conversations and possibilities that come from reading books.
The books and the conversations venture all over the map, and the result is a beautiful & meaningful tribute to both an incredible woman and the power of the written word, as well as a story about the importance of reading and the conversations and possibilities that come from reading books.
Will's book is a reminder of all those we hold close, those we have lost, and those we should take the time to get to know better. It was an amazing journey told through books, and I absolutely loved it.