The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
I hope that none of you will think I am not a kind and compassionate human being after you read my thoughts on this book. I couldn't wait for it to end even though I knew exactly how it would end.
The End of Your Life Book Club is a gut wrenching story of a son's struggle to come to terms with his mother's impending death from pancreatic cancer. While Mary Ann is receiving chemotherapy, Will sits with her. They read and discuss a variety of books, each delivering a message about the road the two are walking on both together and as individuals.
Will gave in depth accounts of his mother's achievements throughout her life as a working mother with a passion for charitable causes all over the world. But I didn't find Mary Ann very likeable at all. Maybe that's because she was sick, but as a reader I didn't find anything that drew me to her. Her husband, Will's father seemed almost non existent. Every now and then he would pop into the story bringing a glass of water or propping up Mary Ann's feet, as an after thought. Will's parents achieved great successes in their lives but their personalities never came across on the pages of this book.
As for Will, I have to say just because a person has made a career as an editor in the publishing business, doesn't necessarily mean that person is skilled as a writer. The characters were flat and uninteresting, the writing okay but nothing special, and the story line was incredibly sad. Maybe I didn't like the book because it was more than I could handle emotionally at the moment. But I'd rather say I didn't like it because the prose wasn't up to par.
I have to admit I'd never heard of most of the books the pair read. It takes so little to get me interested in a novel. A lost soul, a gutsy hero, a glossy cover all appeal me. The writing, the characters, the book discussions, never enticed me want to join in the club. Again I chalk that up to mediocre writing.
The End of Your Life Book Club is about life and death and everything that happens in between. Cancer is a horrible disease and the more we know about it the better chance we have of winning the battle. I'm sure much can be learned from this story, but it just wasn't right for where I am at the moment.
I hope that none of you will think I am not a kind and compassionate human being after you read my thoughts on this book. I couldn't wait for it to end even though I knew exactly how it would end.
The End of Your Life Book Club is a gut wrenching story of a son's struggle to come to terms with his mother's impending death from pancreatic cancer. While Mary Ann is receiving chemotherapy, Will sits with her. They read and discuss a variety of books, each delivering a message about the road the two are walking on both together and as individuals.
Will gave in depth accounts of his mother's achievements throughout her life as a working mother with a passion for charitable causes all over the world. But I didn't find Mary Ann very likeable at all. Maybe that's because she was sick, but as a reader I didn't find anything that drew me to her. Her husband, Will's father seemed almost non existent. Every now and then he would pop into the story bringing a glass of water or propping up Mary Ann's feet, as an after thought. Will's parents achieved great successes in their lives but their personalities never came across on the pages of this book.
As for Will, I have to say just because a person has made a career as an editor in the publishing business, doesn't necessarily mean that person is skilled as a writer. The characters were flat and uninteresting, the writing okay but nothing special, and the story line was incredibly sad. Maybe I didn't like the book because it was more than I could handle emotionally at the moment. But I'd rather say I didn't like it because the prose wasn't up to par.
I have to admit I'd never heard of most of the books the pair read. It takes so little to get me interested in a novel. A lost soul, a gutsy hero, a glossy cover all appeal me. The writing, the characters, the book discussions, never enticed me want to join in the club. Again I chalk that up to mediocre writing.
The End of Your Life Book Club is about life and death and everything that happens in between. Cancer is a horrible disease and the more we know about it the better chance we have of winning the battle. I'm sure much can be learned from this story, but it just wasn't right for where I am at the moment.
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