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This book is about a mother and son who start a 2-person book club while mom battles pancreatic cancer. Overall, I enjoyed this book for two reasons. First, I like reading books about people reading books. I picked up some interesting selections from the books that the mother and son read together over the course of a 2-year period. Schwalbe does give spoilers in regard to some of the books, though - so beware!
More importantly, what I really enjoyed about the book was reading about Schwalbe's m ...more
More importantly, what I really enjoyed about the book was reading about Schwalbe's m ...more
Certainly a book for people who like to read books, and most of the ones discussed in this memoir I had either read or at least heard of. Definitely not a sad book, altho the title would suggest that. Hard to relate to the family, as money was never an issue, which it would be to someone with a more modest financial situation.
If you are an avid reader like Will Schwalbe and his mother Mary Anne Schwalbe, you will love this book. Will describes a "book club" begun while his mother was treated for pancreatic cancer during the last 24 months of her life. This became their method to share thoughts about life and dying through the words of the books they read together.
Will stated in the book - "We didn't read only "Great Books", we read casually and promiscuously and whimsically. (As I said, my mother was thrifty; if you ...more
Will stated in the book - "We didn't read only "Great Books", we read casually and promiscuously and whimsically. (As I said, my mother was thrifty; if you ...more
Love! A book for book lovers and a truly inspiring story about an amazing woman. I have gained so much from this book.
What a special gem of a book.
I found it to be an uplifting story, poignant for sure but not sad. What an amazing life Mary Ann had, and what an inspiration to others, and to me. So many relationships she had with others were truly exceptional, including the one between mother and son. I pray that my children and I will stay that close and connected and I will make the effort to do so.
I added many books discussed to my to read shelf and was reminded of others I have read and loved hearing Will ...more
I found it to be an uplifting story, poignant for sure but not sad. What an amazing life Mary Ann had, and what an inspiration to others, and to me. So many relationships she had with others were truly exceptional, including the one between mother and son. I pray that my children and I will stay that close and connected and I will make the effort to do so.
I added many books discussed to my to read shelf and was reminded of others I have read and loved hearing Will ...more
Dec 08, 2012
Janna
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May 15, 2018
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