Early in the book, Will writes, "She had an agenda of her own, as she almost always did. It took me some time, and some help, to figure it out." (page 6) What was Mary Anne's agenda?

I feel Mary Anne's agenda was to live fully while she was able and, then,to die with dignity. She accepted her
circumstances fully and made the most of what she had left never putting aside her responsibilities to family and friends until absolutely necessary. She died as she lived as a responsible, participating woman. She did not want sympathy. She wanted to be herself to the end.

I agree with what has been written so far. In addition I think she wanted to ease the sorrow for her son in losing his mother by creating great memories of times shared.

I agree with the earlier posts. I believe that Mary Anne (or in the end didn't she say her name was Mary Ann) was truly a caregiving mother, not wanting her children to put off their lives and ambitions during the time when she was undergoing cancer treatment. Mary Anne appeared to live life with zest and purpose all the way to the very end.

I agree with all posted. Mostly, she wanted to live life to the fullest, die with dignity and not be a burden to her children.

Love Jacquelynh's comment - wish I could have said it as well

I also agree with the above- however find some of her abilities to persevere,travel, attend large conferences or awards ceremonies to be somewhat unrealistic during chemo & pancreatic cancer in general. Having been involved w/ my father's pancreatic cancer from diagnosis to therapies to death, this did not seem to be a physical possibility for most people enduring this specific cancer ( inclusive of length of time)

I believe her agenda was to just live her life as normally as was possible until it ended. She included all the things that were important to her: Afghanistan, family, reading, etc., and tried not to let her illness keep her down. I hope I'm capable of the same behavior if I find myself in the same situation one day, to take it with such dignity.

I think Mary Anne was trying to give one last connection and memory to Will. Reading had always been a big part of their relationship and this was a nice way of connecting together one last time.