Haverhill Public Library » review

The End of Your Life Book Club – Will Schwalbe

strottier — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:30:38 +0000

I rarely pick books about books, or books about dying. But right after my mother-in-law was diagnosed with a terminal disease, I came across this one, and it said to me “Read me now!” I am one of those that think that books choose you as much as you choose them. This one came into my life just at the right time.

The background story is about Mary Anne Schwalbe who has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. Will, her son, vows to be as supportive to his mom as he can. Will realizes that the best way he can help his mom, engage her, and open up the lines of communication is to talk about their shared passion: books.

So he and Mary begin sharing books, and every time the two see each other, they discuss the books they read. In the process, Mary begins to reveal more and more about not only her vast experiences, but also her emotions and her fears.

So while “The End of Your Life Book Club” is about books, it’s really the story of an amazing woman (and amazing she is, as you will discover), and also the story of a mother and son recommitting to their relationship through a shared passion.

I had read only a few of the books that Will and Mary discussed, but that did not detract me from the pleasure of reading this book. If anything, it has caused me to add a few more titles to my ever-growing list.

This book is available in multiple formats. Look it up in our catalog!

Regular print, large print, and audiobook:

http://haverhill.mvlc.org/eg/opac/results?fi%3Aitem_type=&query=the+end+of+your+life+book+club&qtype=title&locg=1&sort=

eBook:

http://mvlc.lib.overdrive.com/08A09FAB-8389-457F-9627-7773AF077BC2/10/405/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=AC77496F-14E1-4933-BEB2-D06F164E5FC4

Staff Pick: Bessie Coleman by P. Hart, M. Cosgrove

ssednek — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:16:27 +0000

Who is Bessie Coleman? If you don’t know, you definitely need to check out this biography. She was the first black woman pilot. She earned her pilot’s licence a whole year before that other famous flier: Amelia Earhart!

So, if you’d like to read a biography about overcoming adversity and flying high, Bessie Coleman’s is not to be missed. The “Just the Facts” version is just full of great historical documents and pictures, highlighted fast facts (Did you know that Bessie is on a US Postage Stamp?), and great insights.

Oh! And it is 112 pages so it just meets that biography report requirement too! ;)

Movie Review: Circumstance

strottier — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:30:03 +0000

Circumstance is a beautiful, luscious, sensual and sexually charged drama, done masterfully and tastefully. It is a visual film, but it is also blessed with dialogs and good music. It deals with common and real youth and family issues in Iran, and potentially in other countries. Circumstance is about two liberated, free-spirited 16 year old high school girls, Atafeh and Shireen. They are best friends and seem together all the time. They go to underground Tehran parties, flirt with boys, experiment with sex and drugs, and often get in trouble. At times they daydream of a better life away from Iran together. But they are more than just friends… The international cast and crew have each taken big risks by telling this gripping story about two young women in love in Iran.

Check availability in the library catalog

11 Birthdays by Wendy Maas

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:55:48 +0000

j/Maa

This is the story of Amanda and Leo that are born on the same day at the Willow Falls Birthing Center. Their parents meet in front of the nursery window. On their first birthday, due to a mistake, both families book the same birthday room. They end up celebrating their first birthday together. They go on to spend every birthday together, hosting joint birthday parties.
On their 10th birthday, Amanda and Leo have a fight and after that they are not friends anymore. For their 11th birthday, their parents plan individual birthday parties. Here is when their lives get complicated. When they wake up the next day, they learn that it is their birthday all over again. They fall into a time loop and their birthday repeats itself 11 times but only they know it is happening. They repeat 11 birthdays until they discover out how to finally reach the next day.

11 Birthdays is a fabulous book full of surprises, fun, humor and most of all true friendship. I find it interesting how they get the opportunity to fix mistakes as the day repeats itself over and over again. They also realize and appreciate what is really important and what is not, because whatever happens on the current day is going to be erased on the next day.
I totally recommend it and I am ready to read Finally by the same author. This book is appropriate for children 9 and up.

review by Julia Aybar, August 2011