Plot Summary

The End of Your Life Book Club

Will Schwalbe
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The End of Your Life Book Club

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012

Book Brief

Will Schwalbe

The End of Your Life Book Club

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

2010s

Theme
Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe is a memoir recounting how Schwalbe and his mother, Mary Ann, bond over a two-person book club after her diagnosis with terminal pancreatic cancer, discussing a wide range of books that spark deep conversations on life, death, and her humanitarian work. The memoir deals with terminal illness and the process of dying.

Emotional

Inspirational

Contemplative

Heartwarming

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

58,844 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Will Schwalbe's The End of Your Life Book Club garners praise for its heartfelt exploration of a mother-son bond through literature, offering profound reflections on life and mortality. Critics appreciate the well-curated reading list and emotional depth. Some find its narrative occasionally repetitive, yet it's a touching tribute to the power of books.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The End of Your Life Book Club?

Readers who relish poignant memoirs and intimate narratives about family, literature, and terminal illness will appreciate The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. Fans of When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion will find the emotional and reflective tone particularly resonant.

4.0

58,844 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The End of Your Life Book Club is inspired by the author's real-life experiences with his mother, Mary Anne Schwalbe, as they read and discussed books during her chemotherapy sessions.

Mary Anne Schwalbe, the author's mother, had a distinguished career including roles in organizations like the Women's Refugee Commission and the International Rescue Committee.

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The book highlights the bond between Will and his mother, exploring themes of family, love, and the transformative power of books while steering clear of typical memoir clichés.

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Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

2010s

Theme
Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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