The End of Your Life Book Club

A Memoir

By: Will Schwalbe

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

"What are you reading?"

That's the question Will Schwalbe asks his mother, Mary Anne, as they sit in the waiting room of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2007, Mary Anne returned from a humanitarian trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan suffering from what her doctors believed was a rare type of hepatitis. Months later she was diagnosed with a form of advanced pancreatic cancer, which is almost always fatal, often in six months or less.

This is the inspiring true story of a son and his mother, who start a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close. Over the next two years, Will and Mary Anne carry on conversations that are both wide-ranging and deeply personal, prompted by an eclectic array of books and a shared passion for reading. Their list jumps from classic to popular, from poetry to mysteries, from fantastic to spiritual. The issues they discuss include questions of faith and courage as well as everyday topics such as expressing gratitude and learning to listen. Throughout, they are constantly reminded of the power of books to comfort us, astonish us, teach us, and tell us what we need to do with our lives and in the world. Reading isn't the opposite of doing; it's the opposite of dying.

Will and Mary Anne share their hopes and concerns with each other - and rediscover their lives - through their favorite books. When they read, they aren't a sick person and a well person, but a mother and a son taking a journey together. The result is a profoundly moving tale of loss that is also a joyful, and often humorous, celebration of life: Will's love letter to his mother, and theirs to the printed page.

©2012 Will Schwalbe (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"With a refreshing forthrightness, and an excellent list of books included, this is an astonishing, pertinent, and wonderfully welcome work." ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"A wonderful book about wonderful books and mothers and sons and the enduring braid between them. Like the printed volumes it celebrates, this story will stay with you long after the last page." (Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Time Keeper)

"Will Schwalbe's lyrical tribute to a life well-lived and a death graced with love and literature is a precious gift bestowed on all of us. What a unique and beautiful book this is, and how privileged we are to have it." (Sherwin B. Nuland, author of The Art of Aging and How We Die)

Turned into something different than expected

This book wasn't what I expected when I first read about it. I thought it would be about a mother and son reading books and gleaning insight from the books that they read. I was disappointed at first. But quickly I realized that this is a story about Mary Ann Schwalbe told through numerous conversations between her and her son Will. Their conversations happen during their two person "book club" which develops as a way to pass time while she is getting chemotherapy. The insights that are revealed in this story are not from the books that they read but from Mary Ann herself. She is an amazing woman with strong commonsense convictions and worldly life experience to back it up. I ended up really enjoying this book once I got over my preconceived ideas of what it was supposed to be about. I really think this is a must read for all because not only can you learn life lessons, but I discovered many books I now want to read!

A book lovers book

Would you listen to The End of Your Life Book Club again? Why?

I enjoyed the speaker and the story, but it could be a little sad/depressing at times. This may or may not be a good book for someone who is going through a similar experience with cancer or has a loved one with cancer.

Would you be willing to try another book from Will Schwalbe? Why or why not?

Yes

loved it

It has been six years since the loss of my mom. I loved thr relationship you had. Thank you for sharing .

Enjoyable, but less about books than relationships

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of Your Life Book Club to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, so I can't say.

What other book might you compare The End of Your Life Book Club to and why?

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Books that Mattered by Frye Gaillard

Which scene was your favorite?

It's non-fiction, so there wasn't a "scene," but there were some funny incidents. One would be the dad's jokes in church. Another would be the loss of "turtle." A third would be when the mom took a deworming pill by accident and gave the dog a birth control pill.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several nice moments. I enjoyed learning about some new books I'd never heard of (Strangers on a Train, Felicia's Journey, etc.) and will probably have to read. I also enjoyed the mom and son's relationship.

Any additional comments?

The author has recently released a follow-up of this book. I feel sure I'll read it, too.

If you're a book lover you must listen to this one

Not just because it's beautifully written, or because it is warm, honest, or because as some fellow listener said: "it gives you a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary human being" or not even for the amazing list of great books it provides. Ii's all that and much more, it's because is like listening to someone who speaks your same language. The language of books.
The narration is excellent.
It's been a privilege to listen to this book.

Poignant, Uplifting & Comforting

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of Your Life Book Club to be better than the print version?

N/A

What did you like best about this story?

The insights shared into who Mary Anne was, what she believed in, what she accomplished, how she chose to look at and live her life. Certainly this book is something most adults can benefit from by gaining more life insights from this remarkable woman's perspective.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Harding – was your favorite?

Mary Anne

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not for me.

Any additional comments?

As someone who has experienced first hand a very similar experience watching my mothers final journey. I feel blessed and honored to be able to revisit that journey along with the author as he retells what this personal experience meant for him and his family. Not being a "everyone should" kind of person I still feel comfortable stating that there is plenty for everyone to touch and be touched by in this wonderful book.

Made me really think.

I loved this book. I could really relate as I have lost two sisters to cancer. It also made me think about my long held beliefs on certain subjects and how they have changed because of the love I felt when I really got to know someone and loved them no matter what. Now I’m going to cry for awhile.

A great surprise

The title did not entice. Yet, I am so grateful like to have read this. What an amazing woman - not simply in accomplishments, but also in the day-to-day way she lived with significant integrity.

And her leonine love of books leaves a treasure trove for the rest of us! On the kindle version (thank goodness for whisper sync) there is a list of the books. Just finished (and loved) The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Thank you Mary Anne.

Living well, Dying better

Mother and son are good company to keep.The hours fly by as their dialogue about books digresses into vignettes of lives well lived. The reader is also introduced to a plethora of books to seek out rich literary experience.

Makes mortality both mundane and meanighful

What made the experience of listening to The End of Your Life Book Club the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed their distraction from the painful unfolding events by sharing their respective experiences in the wider context of favourite literary pieces.

What did you like best about this story?

It's very human touch

Which scene was your favorite?

The fact that they also loved some of my favourite books, and were able to navigate their experience through their shared love of great books