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A review by kats05
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
5.0
Once the excitement had worn off over receiving my first ever ARC (thank you, Ann & Michael!!), I took a closer look at what the book was actually about and realised that I was going to be in for a very emotional ride. As I've been reading it over the last month, I realised that I will not give this book away but hold on to it for good. Not only is it a real treasure trove full of excellent book recommendations, but also because I will want to reread it again for two main reasons; finding inspiration for life and finding an outlet for grief.
My mother died in 2005, aged 57, of ovarian cancer. Just over 2 years ago, my mother-in-law, aged 67, died of the same disease. Both women were avid readers and up until a few weeks before their deaths both would send me books, ask what I was reading, want to discuss something they'd just read and even send recommendations for toddler books (our older son was 18 months old at my mum's funeral). Also, in their cases (being "stiff upper lip" Northern European women of a "certain generation"), books and stories were used to convey personal messages within the family, not unlike Will Schwalbe did with his mother.
Death and dying are still taboo subjects in our society and culture, and often it was easier for us to "discuss" the impending doom and finality of the disease by ways of bringing up a storyline in a book, or a movie. I share Will Schwalbe's grief in so many ways, including the loss of our first true reading companions.
Will Schwalbe's brave descriptions of accompanying his beloved mother to many doctor's appointments and chemo sessions resonates strongly with me - unless someone has been in the same situation, smelled those hospital rooms and corridors, overanalysed the oncologist's every facial expression and been through the last weeks somewhere between wishing she could hang in there forever yet wanting her to be swiftly released from it all, it is difficult to comprehend just how wearing the whole process is.
Mary Ann(e) Schwalbe was an incredibly inspiring woman. After learning so much about her life, her many projects, political and charitable involvements, I can almost not believe that I hadn't heard of her before reading her son's book. She accomplished so many amazing things during her lifetime and whilst it's a truly corny thing to say, Mary Anne Schwalbe was one of these rare specimens of humans who actually succeeded in making the world a better place by doing "their bit" - except Mary Anne did more than a bit. Her relentless will to do good, her incessant thirst for learning about life and people, her endless empathy and kindness to those in need are not only inspiring but also a bit of an eye-opener about the self-indulgent, complacent life I lead in comparison. Looking back at Mary Anne Schwalbe's choices, decisions and achievements in her life, I can say that this book has inspired me to try and be a better person (and mother - and with any luck, I will enjoy a similarly close relationship with my sons when they are adults); well, I have a long way to go.
My mother died in 2005, aged 57, of ovarian cancer. Just over 2 years ago, my mother-in-law, aged 67, died of the same disease. Both women were avid readers and up until a few weeks before their deaths both would send me books, ask what I was reading, want to discuss something they'd just read and even send recommendations for toddler books (our older son was 18 months old at my mum's funeral). Also, in their cases (being "stiff upper lip" Northern European women of a "certain generation"), books and stories were used to convey personal messages within the family, not unlike Will Schwalbe did with his mother.
Death and dying are still taboo subjects in our society and culture, and often it was easier for us to "discuss" the impending doom and finality of the disease by ways of bringing up a storyline in a book, or a movie. I share Will Schwalbe's grief in so many ways, including the loss of our first true reading companions.
Will Schwalbe's brave descriptions of accompanying his beloved mother to many doctor's appointments and chemo sessions resonates strongly with me - unless someone has been in the same situation, smelled those hospital rooms and corridors, overanalysed the oncologist's every facial expression and been through the last weeks somewhere between wishing she could hang in there forever yet wanting her to be swiftly released from it all, it is difficult to comprehend just how wearing the whole process is.
Mary Ann(e) Schwalbe was an incredibly inspiring woman. After learning so much about her life, her many projects, political and charitable involvements, I can almost not believe that I hadn't heard of her before reading her son's book. She accomplished so many amazing things during her lifetime and whilst it's a truly corny thing to say, Mary Anne Schwalbe was one of these rare specimens of humans who actually succeeded in making the world a better place by doing "their bit" - except Mary Anne did more than a bit. Her relentless will to do good, her incessant thirst for learning about life and people, her endless empathy and kindness to those in need are not only inspiring but also a bit of an eye-opener about the self-indulgent, complacent life I lead in comparison. Looking back at Mary Anne Schwalbe's choices, decisions and achievements in her life, I can say that this book has inspired me to try and be a better person (and mother - and with any luck, I will enjoy a similarly close relationship with my sons when they are adults); well, I have a long way to go.