Review of Last Dance

[Melisa Jane]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Last Dance" by Stephen Manning.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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On September 6, 2014, Mary Ann Manning went viral after her daughter, Kristie Manning, posted a YouTube video of her, captioned "Mother's Last Dance," dancing with her son at his wedding. Little did many know at the time that Mary Ann Manning was critically ill and had mustered every ounce of her remaining energy to make this happen. In a heartbreaking twist, she lost her battle with breast cancer just three days after the dance. 

Last Dance: And a Loving Mother by Stephen Manning is a story of Mary Ann Manning, the author's wife and the lovely mother of his children. It gives us a deeper understanding of who Mary Ann Manning was, from their family's start to the last dance. It is a story of the beautiful legacy Mary Ann Manning left behind and what a mother's love for her children can make her do or achieve.

This book immensely touched my heart. As much as it was a heartbreaking read, I liked several things about it. First, I liked that the author did not dwell only on Mary Ann's suffering times but also captured the whole of their lives together, from meeting each other to raising their children together. This approach gave me several opportunities to obtain various life lessons from their lives. For instance, their lives reminded me of the importance of cherishing each moment with our loved ones. Second, I appreciated the author's honesty and courage in capturing not only good but also challenging moments of their lives. This authenticity and how they tackled the challenges will help young couples realize that marriages are not always a bed of roses. Finally, as someone with a finance background, I liked that the author captured the details of his corporate journey in various finance and managerial positions. Reading about the rich journey of someone with extensive real-life experience in the field was a pleasure. This book will get you hooked if you are a business executive, particularly in finance.

All in all, there was nothing I disliked about this heartfelt memoir. I found only a few errors, which were not enough to influence my final rating. Therefore, I am glad to give Last Dance: And a Loving Mother five out of five stars. I have given it the highest rating due to the lack of dislikes, good execution, and heartfelt nature. This book's effect on me will surely stay with me for a long time.  

I recommend this book to fans of memoirs. There is a lot to learn from Mary Ann Manning's story of love and courage. I sincerely thank and commend the author for sharing this story and being able to remain in perspective. As we all know and can imagine, it is hard.

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Last Dance
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[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Thank you for writing this detailed review. I think I will be on the lookout for this book because of your words. Amazing job you did here. Cannot wait for your other reviews.