Saturday, February 2, 2013

March's Book Pick





This month's book is The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwilbe, chosen by LeeAnn.

Amazon gives this book 4 1/2 stars.

From Amazon:

"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 of 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, celebraion of life:  Will's love letter to his mother, and theirs to the printed page.

4 comments:

  1. Oh no! I thought False Princess was our February book. I just put this one on hold; hopefully I'll get it before book club.

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  2. I was mixed up to on this month's book, but at least I am ready for March now!

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  3. Maybe more of has read the False Princess . . . . I know I read it . . . . but it is my book choice. Jocelyn has read it too.

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  4. I just finished it. I would have love to hear your discussion, but here are my thoughts on it: http://trophyw.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-end-of-your-life-book-club-by-will.html

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