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)

Interesting Book, Not-So-Great Narration

I generally enjoyed Schwalbe’s book, although I did feel it was a bit slow at times. I appreciated how the book was centered upon literary works and the connection the author had with his mother through books. His mother truly did lead an extraordinary life and it was touching to hear her thoughts about life and the way she chose to live it.

I found the narrator’s voice a bit annoying and, at times, actually obnoxious, which detracted from the story. I felt his tone projected a negative undertone to passages where, had I read them myself, wouldn’t have been perceived negative at all.

list of books

great story! I wish there was a companion to the audio book that listed all the books mentioned.

Great book about family strength

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

Yes. I loved to hear about the books they were reading and how they impacted their life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of Your Life Book Club?

The strength of the family in dealing with the passing of their mother.

Which scene was your favorite?

Sitting in the livingroom and the explanation of all the objects, people, and books in their life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. I know it is hard to lose a parent.

Any additional comments?

Well written. Loved to hear about all the books and what fascinating lives this family has.

A book for book lovers and an inspiring story.

I decided to note each book mentioned in the Mother and son book club. I added all the ones available in Audible to my wish list.
I love the family in this book and the Mother was a true inspiration. There was much more depth than I hD imagined. It is such a wonderful way to write a biography. The narration was excellent. You feel like your sitting there with the characters as the story is being read.
After I finish all the books mentioned I will listen to this again.

Pithy book reviews illuminate life of dying mom...

If you could sum up The End of Your Life Book Club in three words, what would they be?

Bibliotherapy, living, dying

What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of Your Life Book Club?

For the most part, the book was positive and and did not idealize or malign anyone or anything. It demonstrated that life is for the living.

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

The son, who devoted his time and love during his mother's experience with pancreatic cancer. The mother's voice was not pleasant, and I considered it the weakest link.

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

Not so much a moment, but the series of events and books that framed the process of dying from pancreatic cancer. The epilogue is memorable, and moving.

Any additional comments?

The mutual reading and sharing of books as therapy for an incredibly accomplished and tireless mother and son pair. The major source of tension, which was by no means major, was the son's tolerance and pseudo-acceptance of his mother's reliance on Christianity as a crutch at the end. Fortunately, neither character was provincial and the book club related conversations (and great list of books to read or listen to anytime) were often captivating. The use of humor elevated the quality and enjoyment of this work. No easy task within the context of death and dying from one of the most malignant and difficult to treat types of cancer. It was fortunate that her course was relatively indolent.

UPBEAT

A story about two people who are placed on equal ground by their love books

Expected so much more

Its high expectations wete left unmet for me. Did not enjoy. A bit pretentious, forced premise. Really wanted to like the story but I didn't.

Decent, but not earth-shattering

I really wanted to like this book, and I did in a lot of ways. If you approach it as just one guy's story about his mom and what his family was doing, thinking, and reading during his mom's battle with cancer (without any huge epiphanies or off-the-wall adventures or stunning realizations), you'll like it much better than if you're approaching it for sweeping insights. Don't get me wrong, I am saddened that families and friends ever have to watch someone they love battle this disease, and that wonderful people die everyday as we search for a cure, but this book just didn't expose any ringing truths or open my eyes to anything new, which I tend to need from a book to increase the stars in my ratings. My biggest issue? The complete perception of perfection that the author portrays of his mom, and of everyone around them. Could he not tell one story of their faults and foibles and fights? Even the one "mistake" we learn of his mom making during his childhood was so trivial that, while it made for a few minutes of easy reading, it didn't paint a picture of family life that I could relate to. My praise? It did make me want to read several of the books mentioned within. Books about books are like that.

Not really that interesting a story

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

More about the people. Found that the only connection she had with people was stories (books) other people's adventure rather then their own

What was most disappointing about Will Schwalbe’s story?

Only connection was books

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Already said

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The End of Your Life Book Club?

Not sure

Not engaging or interesting

This was a tough book for me to get through. It is told in a very one-sided manner and you do not find any connections to the characters. It is not engaging or interesting. The narrator's voice on this particular read was hard to listen to. His intonation was irritating and there was very little inflection in his voice when there should have been.