Scan barcode
dugoutdug23's review against another edition
4.0
A two person Book Club, between a mother who was diagnosed and is being treated for stage IV pancreatic cancer and her son. They started the Book Club with the simple question during one of her out-patient treatments, "What are you reading?" The book is used as a medium to pay tribute to his mother, his mother's accomplishments, and accomplishments by the way that we mere mortals will never approach. It is also about life, death, his mom's illness and most importantly how they stayed connected by sharing with each other their love of reading during the trying and emotional times when someone you love life is fading away right before your eyes. The book shows that cancer treatment and death is often a slow and grueling process that is emotionally as painful for the family as the physical part of the disease is for the patient. Probably more of an intellectual read regarding the books they read and slightly less of an emotional read until the books end, but still very poignant to anyone who has lost someone they love to a long drawn out disease...
bobonnie's review against another edition
3.0
I love the fact that this "book club" existed and that they were able to share the time together along with their thoughts and ideas. It was a great way for them to connect and enjoy each other's company. Will's mother sounds like a wonderful person and definitely showed a lot of dignity. I found myself getting bored every now and then, and may not have finished it if it hadn't been for the fact that I chose it for my "E" book in an A to Z book challenge. I love the idea but, sadly, it's not a book that I would recommend to others. I guess I like the "summarization in my head" better than the actual book. I think it was too long and drawn out.
ceresas's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book really hit home for me...Both as a reader and as someone who lost a mother figure to pancreatic cancer. It gave me a whole new understanding ofso-called cancer etiquette and nearly doubled my TBR list. The mother was a truly remarkable person, and I'm recommending this book to anyone who will listen!
cokie's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this, and found myself in the odd position of envying someone who had lost his mother to cancer. To have had such a relationship, to have grown up in a house where one was encouraged to read constantly rather than being told "get your nose out of that book"--how amazing. It made me think not just about what and how I read, but how I relate to people. Mary Anne Schwalbe is now one of my heroes. And I have a lengthy list of books to look forward to reading.
lizzieanne771's review against another edition
5.0
I forget how this book came to my attention, but I'm so glad it did. As a life-long reader who now often shares book recommendations with my dad, I really appreciated the ideas behind the book. I love how looking at the lessons in books and how they apply to life shape us all.I'm also very glad that an appendix of all read and/or mentioned books at the end as about halfway through I began to wish I'd written down some of the titles and authors.
My only issue with the book is how long my reading list is getting!!
My only issue with the book is how long my reading list is getting!!
kate_albers's review against another edition
4.0
For some reason, this program doesn't want to save my starred reviews. FIVE STARS. I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it is about books, but it is also about a son his relationship with his mother - how it evolves as she undergoes treatment for Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Not only did it open a world of new books for me, but it also made me think. And the best books are ones that make you think. I have already recommended this to my mother and I recommend it to all on Good Reads as well.
denisestewart's review against another edition
3.0
This was different than what I expected it to be. Not sure how to review it. I was a bit surprised that religion and faith played into so much of it...(the mother...not the son)...however I could see the mother's need or want for faith as she faced her cancer. I loved the discussion of the books for their private book club, but thought there might even be more and better discussions...but even with that said...there are some books mentioned in the story that I plan on looking into and perhaps reading for myself.
nancyflanagan's review against another edition
5.0
A bit rambling and very personal--a touching tribute to a life loving both books and people. Reading "End of Your Life" was rich treat: casual and deep, informative and wondering, spiritual in traditional and non-traditional ways.
Sent me off to read many recommended books (and skip others), and made me miss my own mother, who read prodigiously and whose literary tastes I often disagreed with. What I wouldn't give to have a discussion about a book--any book--with her right now. Will Schwalbe--thanks.
Sent me off to read many recommended books (and skip others), and made me miss my own mother, who read prodigiously and whose literary tastes I often disagreed with. What I wouldn't give to have a discussion about a book--any book--with her right now. Will Schwalbe--thanks.
emmarepp's review against another edition
1.0
I would not have finished this book if it wasn’t for leading a book club for work. I like the concept of this book a lot—discussing all the books you read with someone before they die. But Will and Mary Anne are so insufferable. So pretentious. So extremely privileged and that comes across so poorly. Like, did the author HEAR what he was saying?! Cancer is so hard to read about, and writing about it must be even more difficult so I do respect that. A lot of details were just SO unnecessary and cringe (why did Will say he hated the sweater?! Just don’t say that, it doesn’t do anything to the plot and makes you look like a fool!). Overall, I can definitely see why some would love this book but it did not hit right for me at all.