'Some mistakes...just have greater consequences than others. But you don't have to let that night be the thing that defines you.'
It's hard to type a review with tears in your eyes, and on your cheeks, and falling into the keyboard, but I'll try. Because I just finished Me Before You and I have to write about it now.
There are millions of love stories out there but few that get to the core of what the couple means to one another, a meaning beyond physical attraction and personal fulfillment. But the story JoJo Moyes has written of Will Traynor and Lou Clark goes exactly there.
We meet Will when he is a successful businessman, leaving his gorgeous girlfriend to go to his high powered job. It is a brief introduction, for on the second page he is struck by a motorcycle. From then on, we see him as the quadriplegic he has become.
Enter Louisa Clark, who's lost her job at the Buttered Bun cafe. She is employed by Will's mother to be his caretaker, although she has had no experience with the medical needs of a quad. What she does know, however, is how to be witty, how to be colorful, how to bring more than a spark of joy into Will's life.
What she doesn't know is that Will has promised his parents only six months until he goes to Dignitas in Switzerland, a place where he can die because he cannot bear the life he is forced to live. It is a life with no control, no capabilities, no choices left but one.
This is a complex novel, examining much more than the love between two people. It also examines how our lives can enrich one another, and how we can reach beyond our fallibilites and limitations to show how much we truly care. It is very powerful and deeply moving.
Many thanks to Penguin Books UK for sending me Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.
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| Read JoJo's blog here. |
It sounds tragically lovely...
ReplyDeleteThank you do much for the way you wrote about it...
It's one I will read!!!
this sounds like a wonderful tale, that could have sunk into schmaltz, from your post it has tread it's path well & revealed a tragic yet heartening tale.
ReplyDeleteWow, it does sound like one to read with a have box of tissues nearby.
ReplyDeleteGreat review as always
I will put it on my list. I am writing a book with many similarities. Always interested in another viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteSo how can I POSSIBLY pass this book up after a review like this…I've been wanting a book that'll make me cry for awhile now :) Sounds like I just found it!
ReplyDeleteI have hundred and hundreds of unread books in my house.
ReplyDeleteI have 3 B&N gift cards.
I'm buying this book today.
Speaking of love stories, I recommend you Gaarder's The Orange Girl. It is an incredibly beautiful love story, I am sure you'll love it :)
ReplyDeleteI looked up Dignitas, last night, and never came back to comment on your review but was going to say pretty much the same thing Les said. And, then the mailman came. Bellezza, I wish I could walk through the screen and give you a big hug. You absolutely made my day!! Thank you so, so much!!! XXOO
ReplyDeleteNancy, I'm so very glad that the mailman made you happy! As I'd asked him to. ;)
ReplyDeleteI linked to Dignitas on this post, but perhaps it didn't come through? Or, you wanted more information?
Anyway, it's such a good book.
I went through your link to read more. I have rather strong opinions about the right to die and have always had the thought at the back of my head that I'll have to move to Oregon, someday, thanks to my evil family genetics. It's nice to know there's a place anyone can go to die with dignity.
ReplyDeleteI have at least 2 books ahead of it in line, but I absolutely cannot wait to read it. I just can't thank you enough!! :)
I bought this book recently; glad to hear that it was good (yet sad).
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Bellezza! Thanks for writing about this book. I love books which make me cry (I know, I am crazy!) and so I am going to get this one.
ReplyDeleteI have another book by her on my TBR list. This one sounds great even though I don't particularly like sad books. I will give it a go.
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