Will Schwalbe

»Vad är det du läser?« Det är frågan Will ställer till sin mamma, Mary Anne, när de sitter i väntrummet på cancermottagningen. Det är november 2007, kort efter att hon diagnosticerats med långt framskriden cancer. Detta är den sanna historien om en son och hans mamma, och om den bokklubb som under hennes sista tid i livet för dem närmare varandra. I takt med att sjukdomen sprider sig läggs bok efter bok till läslistan, och i de personliga samtalen kring böckerna får Will och Mary Anne en möjlighet att återupptäcka sina liv och lära känna varandra på ett nytt sätt. I bokklubbens sfär är de inte längre den sjuka och den friska, utan en mamma och en son som tillsammans upptäcker nya världar. Bokklubben vid livets slut är en ömsint hyllning till en älskad mamma, och en inspirerande betraktelse över böckers förmåga att skapa mening och glädje ur kaos och förgängelse, att skänka oss tröst och vidga vår kunskap om oss själva och andra. WILL SCHWALBE är en amerikansk journalist och författare, som bland annat har skrivit för The New York Times och varit chefredaktör på bokförlaget Hyperion. Will Schwalbe är bosatt i New York. »En underbar bok om underbara böcker och mammor och söner och det bestående bandet dem emellan. Liksom böckerna den hyllar kommer den här berättelsen att dröja sig kvar inom dig långt efter sista sidan.« MITCH ALBOM, författare till Tisdagarna med Morrie »Medan jag läste skrev jag ner titel efter titel på en papperslapp, så att jag skulle kunna beställa de böcker som betydde något för Will och hans mamma. Schwalbe är inte bara en entusiastisk läsare, utan också en förkämpe, en hejaklacksledare, en lärjunge.« RACHEL SHTEIR, THE NEW YORK TIMES »Trots att det är en berättelse om döden är Bokklubben vid livets slut mest av allt en hyllning till livet och hur det kan berikas av böcker.« BOOKLIST

From the author of the best-selling The End of Your Life Book Club , an inspiring and magical exploration of the power of books to shape our lives in an era of constant connectivity. 'I'm on a search and have been all my life: to find books to help me make sense of the world, to help me become a better person, to help me get my head around the big questions that I have, and figure out the answers to some of the small ones while I'm at it' Will Schwalbe Why is it that we read? Is it to pass time? To learn something new? To escape into another reality? For Will Schwalbe, reading is a way to entertain himself but also to make sense of the world, to become a better person, and to find the answers to the big (and small) questions about how to live his life. In this delightful celebration of reading, Schwalbe invites us along on his quest for books that speak to the specific challenges of living in our modern world, with all its noise and distractions. In each chapter, he discusses a particular book-what brought him to it (or vice versa), the people in his life he associates with it, and how it became a part of his understanding of himself in the world. These books span centuries and genres (from classic works of adult and children's literature to contemporary thrillers and even a cookbook), and each one relates to the questions and concerns we all share. Throughout, Schwalbe focuses on the way certain books can help us honour those we've loved and lost, and also figure out how to live each day more fully. Rich with stories and recommendations, Books for Living is a treasure for everyone who loves books and loves to hear the answer to the question: "What are you reading?" Books covered include: David Copperfield Rebecca Stuart Little The Importance of Living Giovanni's Room Bird by Bird The Girl On The Train 'I used to say that the greatest gift you could ever give anyone is a book. But I don't say that anymore because I no longer think it's true. I now say that a book is the second greatest gift. I've come to believe that the greatest gift you can give anyone is to take the time to talk with someone about a book you've shared. A book is a great gift; the gift of your interest and attention is even greater' Will Schwalbe

The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close. Mary Anne Schwalbe is waiting for her chemotherapy treatments when Will casually asks her what she's reading. The conversation they have grows into tradition: soon they are reading the same books so they can have something to talk about in the hospital waiting room. The ones they choose range from classic to popular, from fantastic to spiritual, and we hear their passion for reading and their love for each other in their intimate and searching discussions. A profoundly moving testament to the power of love between a child and parent, and the power of reading in our lives.

From the best-selling author of The End of Your Life Book Club-a warm, funny, irresistible book that follows an improbable and life-changing friendship over the course of forty years.In his last year of university, Will thought he knew everyone he cared to know. A perm-haired, out, gay young man, working at an AIDS helpline in the early days of the crisis, Will found friends and community amongst the theatre students, artists and writers. He also knew who he wanted to avoid: the jocks. Wearing sporty clothes and moving in boisterous packs, the jocks seemed to be a different species entirely, one Will might encounter only at his own peril.All this changed dramatically when Will was brought into a secret society at Yale, aimed to bring together a group of opposites. On his first day, he was faced with Chris Maxey - a physically imposing, loud, star wrestler who seemed to be uncomfortable around Will and embodied everything he disliked and feared. But through months of mandated dinners, and many beers, the two swapped life-stories and forged an unexpected bond that became ballast in each other's lives for forty years.From New Haven to New York City, from Hong Kong and London to a remote Bahamian island-through marriages and a divorce, triumphs and devastating losses-We Should Not Be Friends tracks an extraordinary friendship through decades of challenge and change.A real-life The Breakfast Club story, Schwalbe's marvelous new work is a testament to the miracle of human connection, if only we see past our differences.