The End of Your Life Book Club (original 2013; edição 2012)

This is a book full of love, respect, commitment, wisdom, hope, courage, acceptance, and so much more I surely forgot to mention here. I adored Schwalbe's mother, this genuinely amazing woman, more and more while turning the pages. The discussions of dying and impermanence made me grateful for the life I have and eager to increase my volunteering efforts. At the same time, Schwalbe's passionate praise for other books steadily extended my TBR list to an unforeseen length. There is so much more to do and to read!

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Not quite what I expected. A lot more religious that I anticipated and a not enough about books.

Memoir of Will Scwalbe's last year or so with his mother after her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. It is rich in detail about the books they read together and discussed during her chemo sessions -- and a testament to their beautiful relationship, not to mention his mother's impressive life. When my time comes, I definitely want to go out reading! Includes complete list of books/authors in an appendix ( )

A unique, intimate and personal biography of Will and his amazing mother, Mary Ann, as they travel from her cancer diagnosis, treatment, trials, and to her death. Along the way they read and discuss many interesting books, not in great depth, but enough to give you an idea if you want to read it.
The mother son relationship is explored by their reading and discussions, covering many areas of life.
Mary Ann had a tremendously fulfilling life, achieving so much in helping those in need.
One standout passage for me was when he was discussing The Etiquette of Illness, by Susan Halpern:
[Halpern wants the reader to think about the difference between asking "How are you feeling?" and "Do you want me to ask how you're feeling?" Even if it’s your mother whom you’re questioning, the first approach is more intrusive, insistent, demanding. The second is much gentler and allows the person simply to say no on those days when she’s doing well and doesn’t want to be the “sick person,” or is doing badly but wants a distraction, or has simply answered the question too many times that day to want to answer it again, even to someone as close as a son.] ( )

Will Schwalbe has managed to write a book that not only commemorates his late mothers life, but celebrates it as well. Following her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, they start an informal book club together, hence the title. Throughout the book they read and discuss a large number of books as her treatments take place and her health deteriorates over a couple of years.

Mary Ann Schwalbe comes across as a remarkable woman; she spent time in Afghanistan and Thailand working with refugees and vulnerable people who society had abandoned and sought to bring them small simple pleasures. Not only does she has a big, generous heart, she has insight, sharp political nous and compassion. Whilst the ending is ultimately known, and expected, the way that she grabs hold of life is inspiring. Through the book the pancreatic cancer advances and retreats and she accepts the necessary pain and steady deterioration in health with humility and decorum. She also realises her privileged position, and seeks a political solution to the lack of heath care to these at the very bottom of the American health care system.

Schwalbe wears his emotions on his sleeve. And that is understandable, it is his mother after all. The books that they read together act as a comfort blanket at times; sometimes as a prism revealing their anxieties and fears, and sometimes as a mirror that shows things as they are. The book is punctuated with passages and quotes that has significance at that time. What Mary Ann Schwalbe leaves is a legacy of an immensely strong family unit and she shows an ability to look beyond where you are. The books that her and Will read add punctuation and relief to the end of her life.
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