4.49

4

Nov 17, 2013

As much as I like a good love story, I wouldn't call myself a romantic. Not by a long shot. In fact, I can be pretty cold-hearted when it comes to romance books, remaining emotionless in the face of tragic heartbreak and loss. The Fault in Our Stars didn't move me. Eleanor & Park was cute, but still an average read for me.

There's just certain things that I don't like. Emotionally manipulative books that feel as if the author set out with an agenda to tug at my heart strings - that would be As much as I like a good love story, I wouldn't call myself a romantic. Not by a long shot. In fact, I can be pretty cold-hearted when it comes to romance books, remaining emotionless in the face of tragic heartbreak and loss. The Fault in Our Stars didn't move me. Eleanor & Park was cute, but still an average read for me.

There's just certain things that I don't like. Emotionally manipulative books that feel as if the author set out with an agenda to tug at my heart strings - that would be up there with the worst. I guess I subconsciously rebel when I can see what the author's trying to do to my feelings. I avoid a lot of adult chick lit for this reason - because experience has shown that most of these books are like Lifetime movies: melodramatic and cheesily message-driven.

But somehow - despite my reluctance to try this book because it seemed it would fall into all the aforementioned boxes - I ended up caving under the pressure and grabbing this book from my local library. I didn't expect much. I was just going to try a little bit and see how it went, feeling confident that it would be crappy and I would be right. But hell, I got schooled.



I just... I can't even pretend anymore, screw the book snobbery, I thought Me Before You was wonderful.

I laughed.
I cried.
I shipped like crazy.
I stayed up most of the night.

Being proven wrong may never have felt so good.

I got the giggles about halfway through chapter one and struggled to get rid of them. Humour books are always a difficult sell because I guess it always depends on what you find funny... but I found Lou Clark to be an hilarious heroine. She's one of those charming but unfortunate individuals that finds herself in numerous awkward situations but somehow gets through them and just warms your heart with her delightful lack of propriety.

I don't know if there is really such a thing as a "British sense of humour" but I've enjoyed a bunch of British chick lit/humour with similar MCs - Bridget Jones, Confessions of Georgia Nicholson - so maybe there's a pattern here with my tastes.

If you're considering this book but think you're a shameless unromantic like me, DO NOT read any quotes from it. People keep pulling up these quotes about the meaning of life and carpe diem and it makes the whole thing seem much cheesier than it is. I thought there was a pleasant lack of cheese, hehe. It's also nowhere near as romantic as everything tries to make you think: the cover (the UK one is even worse), the blurb, the title... when actually there's very little romance. There is a touch of finding love in unexpected places and against the odds, but the main focus of this book is about life and the importance of choices.

If you haven't already been told, the story is about Lou who needs a job and Will who needs a carer after an accident left him paralysed. Completely unable to move anything below his mid torso, Will longs for death and wants to go to Switzerland to put an end to his misery. Horrified by this discovery, Lou sets out to improve his life and give him a reason to live and look forward to each day. The relationship between them is told in such a wonderful way and develops through several stages, each filled with hilarity.

I think people's reactions, emotions and decisions felt completely realistic in Me Before You, even if I didn't always like them. The whole book was filled with the funny, ridiculous situations that we expect to find in comic fiction, but balanced out with a hard dose of reality. It makes you think about things you didn't think about before without seeming like the author wanted to make you think about them. Things like just how depressing the lack of wheelchair access is in most venues. But there's a great balance between the funny and the serious, so the latter never becomes too much.

This book made me feel all the emotions without seeming to try too hard. Love was found in a very unexpected place and I definitely want to check out the author's other work.

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5

Apr 10, 2012

Being a male reader on a booksite you kind of expect to be outnumbered when it comes to the sexes. But that doesn't keep alarm bells from blaring like a convoy of reversing trucks when practically every reviewer of a book is of the female gender. And when the author in addition is touted as the winner of multiple romance novel awards your primal male instinct is to run like your being chased by some primordial predator.

So it was really against my instinct and better judgement that I began Being a male reader on a booksite you kind of expect to be outnumbered when it comes to the sexes. But that doesn't keep alarm bells from blaring like a convoy of reversing trucks when practically every reviewer of a book is of the female gender. And when the author in addition is touted as the winner of multiple romance novel awards your primal male instinct is to run like your being chased by some primordial predator.

So it was really against my instinct and better judgement that I began reading this book. But this is NOT a romance novel. In fact it is a brilliant comment on the issue of euthanasia which claims it's brilliance by reading like a romance novel and not a political comment. Having personally cared for a handful of terminal people over a period of years, I feel I can safely say that many of the thoughts on serious aquired disabities and the quality of life is fairly realistic, and though the romance part can't avoid a bit of Hollywood-sheen, it never really gets unbelievable, and helps the reader engage him/herself in the characters and thus in their horrible dilemma.

Thoroughly engaging and thought provoking, this is the best book I've read so far this year (and I so did not see it coming). ...more

5

Apr 18, 2012

I'm sitting here with tears running down my face having just finished this book. I know I should probably let my emotions settle before reviewing but I want to get all the feelings down...

Firstly I want to say that the cover does not do this book justice. It gives the impression of a bland and fluffy read when in reality this is a heartbreaking story, with subject matter that may be difficult for a lot of readers.

The characters begin as likeable, yet maddeningly realistic in all their I'm sitting here with tears running down my face having just finished this book. I know I should probably let my emotions settle before reviewing but I want to get all the feelings down...

Firstly I want to say that the cover does not do this book justice. It gives the impression of a bland and fluffy read when in reality this is a heartbreaking story, with subject matter that may be difficult for a lot of readers.

The characters begin as likeable, yet maddeningly realistic in all their egocentricities and self-absorptions. As their fears and insights are exposed, they develop in strength and purpose to reveal rich individuals who are all irrevocably changed through the events which unfold. I enjoyed the first person POV, and the odd change in character thrown in stirred the narrative nicely for me. I would have liked to have had at least a chapter from Will's perspective, but can understand how challenging that may have been for the author. I was really glad to have read Will's letter though!

I commend the author for producing a book which I found extremely readable; the language was straight forward, no purple prose or a whole bunch of medical jargon. The plot is relatively simple yet not uncomplicated for all that it raises some controversial or ethical questions. How can you read this and not ask yourself what you might do in similar circumstances, how you would feel if it was your friend? Could you be what they needed, and the moral impact of that. The writing is smooth and effortless and yet the result is a story which is invested with so much emotion. I'm left feeling so mad, sad and even, oddly, happily resigned about the ending. I can't remember when I last finished a story that had tied me up in so many emotional knots and still left me completely satisfied with having read it.

I'll be chasing down more of Ms Moyes' works. ...more

1

Oct 19, 2012

Did anyone else notice that the ultimate message of this book is that a disabled life is not worth living, even despite a caring family, endless wealth, the best medical care, and (by the end of the book) a devoted, loving romantic partner? For a while I was enjoying the story, but by the end I was deeply distressed about the moral and ethical implications of the book's ending. The book juxtaposes an adventurous, athletic, and sexually active lifestyle with life in a wheelchair - and decides Did anyone else notice that the ultimate message of this book is that a disabled life is not worth living, even despite a caring family, endless wealth, the best medical care, and (by the end of the book) a devoted, loving romantic partner? For a while I was enjoying the story, but by the end I was deeply distressed about the moral and ethical implications of the book's ending. The book juxtaposes an adventurous, athletic, and sexually active lifestyle with life in a wheelchair - and decides that life in a wheelchair is not worth living. For those of us with close friends or loved ones with similar disabilities, this is a disturbing and morally callous ending. ...more

5

Feb 05, 2016

This book showed love and it's beautiful nature but also the harsh reality of life.
Totally sobbed at the end...thinking about filming a review because I have a lot to say about this book.
Very well done, heartbreakingly so

5

Feb 03, 2016

My video review & discussion on this incredible book! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbgM4...

This was one of the best books I have ever read. So good that it makes me want to lower the ratings of all of the other books I have read just so that this (and maybe Clockwork Princess) is the only book with a 5-star rating. I can't properly describe right now how exactly this book moved me and made me analyze my own thoughts, as I am still currently crying, but just know that it did. Absolutely My video review & discussion on this incredible book! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbgM4...

This was one of the best books I have ever read. So good that it makes me want to lower the ratings of all of the other books I have read just so that this (and maybe Clockwork Princess) is the only book with a 5-star rating. I can't properly describe right now how exactly this book moved me and made me analyze my own thoughts, as I am still currently crying, but just know that it did. Absolutely wonderful. ...more

5

Dec 29, 2015

Despite being a bit predictable, I adored this book. I love the characters, and I sort of want to pick it back up and read it again. I could have easily flown through this book in a day (if I'd had time), but I'm glad I took my time with it. I really got to know the characters, and I really liked the ending, and how it contrasted the beginning of the story. SO BEAUTIFUL.

1

Sep 13, 2013

I had a hard time rating this book one star, because up until the end I really liked it. But the end is the most important part of every book because it's what stays with you and after that I just can't bring myself to rate it anything but "did not like it".

I am honestly shocked after reading all those 5* reviews. Not because people liked the book, but because people somehow manage to get something "inspirational" and romantic out of it... Seriously? I don't want to judge people for their I had a hard time rating this book one star, because up until the end I really liked it. But the end is the most important part of every book because it's what stays with you and after that I just can't bring myself to rate it anything but "did not like it".

I am honestly shocked after reading all those 5* reviews. Not because people liked the book, but because people somehow manage to get something "inspirational" and romantic out of it... Seriously? I don't want to judge people for their opinion, but that's just disturbing.



---------Spoilers ahead-------------------


Before I start, I want to say that I don't dislike this book because I'm strictly against any and every form of assisted suicide. It's a difficult subject with some valid arguments on both sides - in some cases, at least.
I also don't have a problem with sad endings. I have different reasons for disliking it.

Like a lot of people, I cried at the end of this book, but unlike probably most, not out of sadness, but out of anger. God, I was angry...
Then I get on here and I see people quoting the book:

"Some mistakes... Just have greater consequences than others. But you don't have to let the result of one mistake be the thing that defines you. You, Clark, have the choice not to let that happen.”

"You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”

"Just live well. Just live."

How inspirational. Only... then Will basically drags all the meaning out of those quotes by deciding that this all applied to Lou, but not to himself.
Why does he have to let his disability define him? He tells her to "Just live." but it's okay for him to "Just die."?

"Live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle."

What if Lou was happy with a simple life in a small town and a loving family? Is it really better to never settle than try to actually be happy with what you have?

"The thing is, I get that this could be a good life. I get that with you around, perhaps it could even be a very good life. But it's not my life. It's nothing like the life I want. Not even close. I loved my life, Clark. Really loved it. I loved my job, my travels, the things I was. I loved being a physical person. I liked riding my motorbike, hurling myself off buildings. I liked crushing people in business deals. I liked having sex. Lots of sex. I led a big life. I am not designed to exist in this thing - and yet for all intents and purposes it's now the thing that defines me. It is the only thing that defines me."

Oookay... What? The f*?
So it could be a very good life. But it's just not good enough for me. So, all the people who love me, go to hell, and I'm going to die. Because I just won't settle for less than perfect.

I would have had an easier time understanding the book if he had been miserable until the end. If the book had showed us that his life really was miserable and he couldn't go on, it would have been incredibely sad and depressing (still entirely unromantic), but I would get that. Let him die of pneumonia. That would be sad, but at least it wouldn't send such a disturbing message.
As it is, the book spends two thirds showing us that they can actually have happy moments and that he can actually love and be happy. But it's just not enough. Because: Don't settle.

Now, I'm not claiming to even remotely be able to imagine what Will must feel like or how difficult his life is - but there are thousands of people out there, who live very difficult lives and still manage to be happy or at least try. I have a very deep respect for those people. But Will can't be happy or try because he can no longer go to Paris and go skiing and do all those super-amazing things he did in his life before - and just enjoying music, loving and being loved simply won't do. It just seemes to me like the overall message of the book is a very shallow one for this.


Another thing, that makes me a little mad, is how in the book he says something like: dying is the first time he's actually made his own decision since the accident (or something along those lines).
This just blows my mind!
You don't lose all your choices because you can't move your legs and arms. He made tons of choices during the course of the book. He chose to be rude to Lou, he chose to be nice to Lou, he chose not to go out, he chose to go out, he chose to go to Alicia's wedding, he chose to go to Mauritius... All those things weren't his choices? He also had a lot more choices, considering all the money they had - yes, he was very limited in some "choices", but that doesn't mean he didn't have any.
So, no, dying wasn't the first time he made his own choice. What it was, was the last time he made any choice. It wasn't the accident that took away all of his choices, it was deciding to die. And that's not brave, let alone romantic. It completely blows my mind that there are people reviewing this who found that ending romantic - I'm not sure how romantic you would find it if the person you loved wanted to commit suicide...

Also, it was incredibly selfish. Will didn't just make a choice for his life, he made one for the people he loved and who loved him. And no matter how unpopular that opinion may be in today's super-individualistic world that sees self-fulfillment as the highest achievable goal, I actually believe that our duty not to hurt the people we love is - in general - a little more important than the duty to "live our life as fully as possible."

"I liked riding my motorbike, hurling myself off buildings. I liked crushing people in business deals. I liked having sex. Lots of sex. I led a big life."

Maybe this explains it. Maybe Will is just an incredibly shallow person. He didn't really feel like that to me for large stretches of the book, but maybe that's just it. And maybe that's what made me so angry.


___

P.S.: There's been some controversy about the story in connection with the release of the movie, and since I've discussed this a little in the comments, I thought I'd add a few notes into the body of the review as well - on why the message this story sends is so problematic.

Starting with what the message actually is: I don't think the author intended to tell us that a disabled life is not worth living and I would never accuse her of that. She made an effort to show that Will's life could be a good life and I have a feeling most readers understood that. The problematic part comes in where she presents it as a (psychologically) normal thing for him to still want to die.

This reenforces very dangerous assumptions society already has about people with disabilities. Many (able bodied) people have commented that they completely understand Will and if they were in his position they'd want to die too.
They are wrong. And I can say this, because there is actual data on this - the vast majority of people with similar disabilities as Will do not want to die. They adjust - with time and the right support and treatment.
So when a disabled person has suicidal thoughts it is not our duty as a society to "empower" them to take their own life. It's our duty to give them the best possible care, treatment and support so they stop being suicidal.

One argument frequently brought up is that this is the story of just one man. That it's not meant to be representative of all disabled people. While this may be a valid argument for any single story, the problem remains that these kinds of stories are vastly overrepresented in mainstream media. When was the last time a major Hollywood movie featured a quadriplegic lead character who didn't want to die? When you're creating content that has such an impact on such a gigantic audience, you cannot flinch from the responsibility of the message you're sending by claiming that it's "just one story". It isn't just one story. You're influencing people's opinions about disability and suicide on a huge scale. And you're doing it in the worst possible way. ...more

1

Jan 27, 2016

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *This review contains spoilers*

So let's get started, shall we?

The first thing you should know is it's very rare that I give a book one star because I can usually find SOMETHING enjoyable about it.
But, that's not the case here. There were absolutely no redeeming qualities in this book for me.

In fact, there were a total of two points (and by points I mean singular lines) in this book where I genuinely liked what was said. The first was when Treena said, "Oh, for Christ's sake, Lou. For once in *This review contains spoilers*

So let's get started, shall we?

The first thing you should know is it's very rare that I give a book one star because I can usually find SOMETHING enjoyable about it.
But, that's not the case here. There were absolutely no redeeming qualities in this book for me.

In fact, there were a total of two points (and by points I mean singular lines) in this book where I genuinely liked what was said. The first was when Treena said, "Oh, for Christ's sake, Lou. For once in your life, just get a grip" (Page 347) and the second was when Louisa said, "It's not my decision, Mum. It's Will's," (Page 350). Both of which, I had been screaming for the ENTIRE DURATION OF THE BOOK.

Apart from those two lines, everything else about this book made want to tear my hair out.

First, let's talk about the writing.
Before I started reading, I was under the impression that this book had "beautiful" prose, because that's what I'd heard from countless people. What I would consider "beautiful" writing (i.e. The Night Circus, Ava Lavender, Ari and Dante) is the type of writing that resonates with and is breathlessly easy to follow. But what I got in this book were gems like: "I could have looked at his face all night. The way his eyes wrinkled at the corners. That place where his neck met his shoulder." (Page 265).
"That place where his neck met his shoulder"
Someone please explain to me what that means????
Also add in a few "I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding"s and you can basically sum up the writing in this book.
Point being, I was bored, it elicited no emotion from me, and I had to drag myself through each chapter.

The characters? They were all insufferable.
Will is a moody, brooding, bitter ass who stays a moody, brooding, bitter ass until the very end. Of course he's also rich, handsome, stubborn, and loves literature and all aspects of "high culture" society. The perfect recipe for your stereotypical heartthrob.
Louisa is a 26 year old woman who has no motivation to do anything with her life until a man comes in and ~*~changes her~*~
Oh and then of course you have to add in a little dash of sexual assault to make your main character more interesting because, you know, you can't have a good book without THAT.

Now let's address the unbearable plot. This whole book is based around the ridiculous premise that Louisa is trying to find a way to "save" Will by giving him a reason to live. It's essentially 369 pages of Louisa, an able bodied person, who decides that SHE knows when a disabled person is ready to die. Only to "learn" that she doesn't have the right to make that decision and he's just gonna die anyway. So you're left reading a book that can only have one possible ending. If this was supposed to be a story about Louisa learning that she was wrong… shouldn't the reader learn with her? Because you don't.
You know from the very beginning exactly how the book is going to end. Talk about predictability.

Also I will just briefly mention that while I do think that making a commentary on physician assisted suicide is important and it's a topic that deserves discussion, I don't think that this was the best or most productive way to go about it. Overall I think it did more harm than good to use it as a plot device in a book that's marketed as a romance novel.

Were you waiting for my thoughts on the ableism? Here you go.
First off, as an able bodied person, I know my place and I'm not going to try to speak on behalf of anyone or pretend to know more about the issue than I do. That being said, I’m still going to call this book out for the ableist themes it perpetuates.
The whole message of this book is that no matter what lengths someone goes for you, how much love, wealth, or support you have, living a disabled life is so unbearable that the only thing to do is to kill yourself. Do with that what you will, but nothing about that message is right or okay in my eyes.
But again, I am speaking only from my perspective. So here are a couple of links to articles written by disabled people about their thoughts on the ableism in this book:

http://www.dominickevans.com/2016/02/...

https://crippledscholar.wordpress.com...

Honestly the only thing about this book that made me cry was how painful it was to keep reading. I NEVER DNF books, yet I was SO close to putting this one down. But I just couldn't do it because I wanted to be able to talk about it in its entirety.

So there you have it. All of my thoughts on this wildly popular, well loved book. So much for going to see the movie. ...more

4

Mar 23, 2016

There goes my heart.

Hold on. I need a few seconds to make sense of what happened.

I can’t believe it. I was warned it would come as a shock, and even the author gently glided our thoughts toward that idea, but I still felt that PANG in my chest when reading the ending.

That’s all I’m going to say about that, for fear of spoiling anything for you.

Louisa is a simple girl. She works. She cares for her family. She does what she has to do. She doesn’t take risks or ever act recklessly. It’s not who

There goes my heart.

Hold on. I need a few seconds to make sense of what happened.

I can’t believe it. I was warned it would come as a shock, and even the author gently glided our thoughts toward that idea, but I still felt that PANG in my chest when reading the ending.

That’s all I’m going to say about that, for fear of spoiling anything for you.

Louisa is a simple girl. She works. She cares for her family. She does what she has to do. She doesn’t take risks or ever act recklessly. It’s not who she is; her responsibilities come first.

Will’s playground is life itself. He has a great job, a great girlfriend and the means to go wherever he wants and do whatever he desires.

That is, before the accident happens. Now, he’s in a wheelchair, paralysed and dead inside. The man he was before is gone, now he can’t even recognize himself.

When Louisa and Will meet, there is no love at first sight. She is his new caregiver. He is someone she can’t decipher. But the more they spend time together, the more Louisa discovers the wonders that life has to offer.

I read Me Before You, expecting to discover the most poignant love story on earth.

But I found something else instead. This is the story of a twenty-six-year-old woman who has no long-term objective in life and doesn’t think about her future. She never left the country and stays away from anything remotely dangerous.

Will is determined to open her eyes to the unknown. With him by her side, she gains confidence, determination, learns not to let anyone dictate her actions and finally realizes what is best for her.

She needs him in her life, even though she doesn’t know it, and he relishes in her presence. He is her sun and she is his.

The themes of acceptance, family, friendship and life are even more present than the love one. And I realized that it’s all those developed themes that made me like this book so much.

Cheesy, corny, clichéd, overdone are all terms that DO NOT apply to this book.

It’s unlike any contemporary book I’ve read before.

Louisa is a charming woman with a sense of humor and fantastic imagination. Reading the book through her perspective was utterly delightful. We also have sporadic chapters narrated from other characters, such as Will’s mom and Louisa’s sister.

Maybe you’re not a fan of romance. Maybe you don’t like chick literature or maybe you never read adult books.

I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter. It will not affect your enjoyment of this book.

You know why?

Me Before You will win you over, whether you want it to or not.

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3

Feb 12, 2016

Update 9/22/2018 - Lowering this once again to 3 stars. 4 stars is too generous based on the harm this book caused to individuals with disabilities.

Update 2/20/17 - Lowering my rating from 4.99 stars to 4 because while I really enjoyed this romance, after hearing how harmful this book is to individuals with disabilities, I don't feel comfortable placing a higher rating on this book. The story was great, I loved Will & Louisa's relationship, but with the problems in medical information and Update 9/22/2018 - Lowering this once again to 3 stars. 4 stars is too generous based on the harm this book caused to individuals with disabilities.

Update 2/20/17 - Lowering my rating from 4.99 stars to 4 because while I really enjoyed this romance, after hearing how harmful this book is to individuals with disabilities, I don't feel comfortable placing a higher rating on this book. The story was great, I loved Will & Louisa's relationship, but with the problems in medical information and how Will's story was primarily used for Louisa's gain, my feelings have most definitely changed a bit on this book.

4.99 stars because the ending made me bitter xo ...more

5

Jan 24, 2015

“You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”

Going to start this review off by saying that if you don't want to have your heart torn from your chest and crushed into a tiny little pieces then don't pick up this book. I kept seeing people say "Now this is a book", and figured it was a lot of hype. NO, NO it wasn't just a lot of hype. If you follow me on goodreads than you know all this month I've only (well mainly only) been reading books suggested to me from

5

Mar 19, 2013

Just finished my re-read and all I have to say is everyone should read this book... EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!! Still cried like a baby, but I love it!



Before you start this book... be prepared to cry. You will cry happy tears and sad tears. You will smile, laugh, be devastated, ugly cry, and if your like me- you will love the journey this book took you on.

This is a story of two people who meet each other by chance, and change each others lives forever.

LOU


WILL


Will used to be Just finished my re-read and all I have to say is everyone should read this book... EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!! Still cried like a baby, but I love it!



Before you start this book... be prepared to cry. You will cry happy tears and sad tears. You will smile, laugh, be devastated, ugly cry, and if your like me- you will love the journey this book took you on.

This is a story of two people who meet each other by chance, and change each others lives forever.

LOU


WILL


Will used to be active. He used to be successful. He used to be a lot of things. Two years ago, everything changed for him. Now, he is stuck in a wheel chair. He is a quadriplegic with no real hope at recovery. He feels trapped. He just wants a way out.

Lou just lost her job as a waitress and is looking for work. She lives at home with her parents, grandpa, sister, and nephew, and they count on her. After a few failed attempts at random jobs, she gets placed as a carer. Will’s mother is looking for someone to lift Will’s spirits. She thinks Lou is right for the job. She gets hired to help Will out and be his companion for six months.

The first few weeks of Lou working for Will, it is difficult. He doesn’t make it easy on her. But eventually, they click. Lou is starting to really like Will, and is pretty happy with her job. Until she overhears a conversation. She finds out that (view spoiler)[Will has a plan. He gave his parents 6 months, then he is going to go to Switzerland to kill himself essentially. (hide spoiler)]. Lou is not happy with this information. She wants to quit, but instead, decides to do something about it...



Lou tries all kinds of activities to cheer Will up and make him come to life. Some are successful, some are not. I loved this. Lou put her heart and soul into helping Will. She planned all kinds of trips and things for them to do. The horse racing had me laughing, I loved all her ideas and enthusiasm. It seemed like it was starting to help. She even got Will to go to a concert.
‘I just . . . want to be a man who has been to a concert with a girl in a red dress. Just for a few minutes more.’
And to a wedding... (view spoiler)[As crappy as it was that Wills Ex was marrying his friend, I loved the wedding. Seeing Will happy, and Will and Lou dance- it was one of my favorite parts. Truly, I think this is the moment she really started falling in love with Will. (hide spoiler)]
Will and Lou even got tattoo’s together.


Lou’s feelings towards Will started to grow. Will cares for Lou. He is always encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone, to live. As there six months was coming to an end, Will got sick. A bad case of pneumonia put their last big adventure off. But Lou came up with a new plan. She and Will and his other care giver went to the ocean. There, she decided to tell Will her true feelings for him.

“All I can say is that you make me...you make me into someone I couldn't even imagine. You make me happy, even when you're awful.I would rather be with you- even the you that you seem to think is diminished- than with anyone else in the world.”



“I thought, briefly, that I would never feel as intensely connected to the world, to another human being, as I did at that moment.”

Lou is falling in love with Will. But is it enough....Will’s response to this broke my heart...
(view spoiler)[ “I can't do this because I can't...I can't be the man I want to be with you. And that means that this - this just becomes...another reminder of what I am not.” (hide spoiler)]

"It has been, the best six months of my entire life."
"Funnily enough, Clark, mine too."


Okay... I can’t say enough how much I loved this book! It made me think, it made me question things, it made me feel.

There were points towards the end where I was like...


and when it’s all over...


But I have spent the whole day thinking about this one, and I have to say, as much as I didn’t love the ending while reading, I get it. (view spoiler)[ I wanted Will to chose to live. But in the end, it was his choice. I didn’t like it, but I understood it. My heart broke for Lou. (hide spoiler)]

Both of these main characters will touch your heart. This is one of those books that will stay with me. One of the most emotional stories I have ever read, but it was also one of the most beautiful. Would reccommend this one to everyone!!!


...more

5

Jan 24, 2015

Pages stained with tears. Used tissues. And my bruised, bleeding heart lying on the floor. I don't know how long I'll survive with a huge hole in my chest.
“I thought, briefly, that I would never feel as intensely connected to the world, to another human being, as I did at that moment.”
I thought that I would never feel as intensely connected to a book as I did while reading Me Before You. I finished it a few hours ago but I'm still crying. It feels like I've shed an ocean of tears, fat, ugly Pages stained with tears. Used tissues. And my bruised, bleeding heart lying on the floor. I don't know how long I'll survive with a huge hole in my chest.
“I thought, briefly, that I would never feel as intensely connected to the world, to another human being, as I did at that moment.”
I thought that I would never feel as intensely connected to a book as I did while reading Me Before You. I finished it a few hours ago but I'm still crying. It feels like I've shed an ocean of tears, fat, ugly droplets of liquid pain, but there are always more. My hands are shaking while I type, my jaw is trembling and God, words don't seem enough to describe what I feel. Imagine a tornado sweeping off everything in its path. Imagine huge, menacing waves crashing the rocks. Imagine a raging storm. A clouded sky. Combine all of them. There, that's what I feel.
“...I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other.”
After an accident that left him stuck in a wheelchair, unable to use his legs and hands, Will gave up on life. He used to be an adventurous person, ambitious and confident, living every moment to the fullest and now, he couldn't even eat without help. And then he met Lou. Lou with her crazy clothes and lack of dreams invaded his life, trying to make him find beauty in simple things and adapt to his new reality, but she didn't predict that she would change as well, that she would find her place in the world and someone to really see the potential and fire in her. Someone to understand.
“I just...want to be a man who has been to a concert with a girl in a red dress. Just for a few minutes more.”
Jojo Moyes' writing is hauntingly beautiful. Poetic. She made you hope, and then she scared you to death. Hope and terror, terror and hope danced and kissed and fought while the clock was ticking, while you held your breath and prayed, while you laughed and cried. There would be gut-wrenching moments and then some sweet moments that warmed you up and made you forget the knife that was twisting in your heart. She created flawed, realistic characters, family relationships that were far from perfect but you sympathized with each and everyone of them. She made you contemplate situations with religious, moral and legal aspects and understand the reasoning of both sides, even though it was killing you inside. She made you appreciate the things you take for granted.
“You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”
I loved Lou and Will with all my heart, as individuals and as two people who fell in love when they shouldn't. Will's sarcasm was his last defense, he didn't want pity or sympathy ,he just wanted the ability to make his own decisions and even that was taken away from him. Lou on the other hand was always treated as if she was stupid, she never had the chance to shine, she never dared dream a different, more exciting life. Two lost souls with nothing to fight for crossed paths. Two blind people found their light. And for a while, it was enough.
“How is it you have the right to destroy my life, I wanted to demand of him, but I’m not allowed a say in yours?”
It hurts. It hurts so darn much. But I have to be strong, for Lou and Will. To live my life fully. And I am thankful I witnessed the most tender love story. One day, I'm going to visit Paris, drink coffee in Le Marais and imagine that the girl with the bee tights is walking next to the love of her life, who makes fun of her clothes but holds her in a strong grip and never lets her go. ...more

4

Feb 19, 2016

'Hey, Clark,’ he said. ‘Tell me something good.’


This review contains *spoilers*.

I decided to read this book right after watching the trailer and crying, partly because Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey was there (every single time he shows up- tears start streaming down my face) and partly because the story was so moving.
But I honestly did not expect this book to impact me this emotionally.

I thought Me Before You was going to be another book in the pile of books similar to John Green’s The Fault In 'Hey, Clark,’ he said. ‘Tell me something good.’


This review contains *spoilers*.

I decided to read this book right after watching the trailer and crying, partly because Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey was there (every single time he shows up- tears start streaming down my face) and partly because the story was so moving.
But I honestly did not expect this book to impact me this emotionally.

I thought Me Before You was going to be another book in the pile of books similar to John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars — but they cannot even compare in my eyes.
While TFIOS made me feel like an emotionless robot, Me Before You made me think and contemplate and feel so many things all at once- I cried and laughed and felt anxious and hopeful.
I just can’t get over how good this book is, it’s both sad and full of life.



This story starts out with Lou Clark losing her job at The Buttered Bun tea shop and I could honestly really relate to the way she was feeling during that period, especially with the financial responsibility she held for her family. I’m glad she didn’t quit after her first day with Will.

After that memorable first day, she and Will start to get used to each other and even on occasion opening up a bit one with the other.

Nathan walked in as I was finishing the dishes. ‘He’s in a good mood,’ he said, as I handed him a mug.
‘Is he?’
‘He says you’re trying to poison him. But he said it – you know – in a good way.'



And what follows after that is a series of outings with Will, to try and make the 6 months that he has left as memorable as possible.
(Their second outing to the concert made me tear up, I could imagine it so vividly.)

'So you’re not a classical music person.’
I looked into the rear-view mirror. Will was smiling.
‘I didn’t enjoy that in the slightest.’
‘I could tell.’
‘I especially didn’t enjoy that bit near the end, the bit where the violin was singing by itself.’
‘I could see you didn’t like that bit. In fact, I think you had tears in your eyes you hated it so much.'





And I felt truly relieved when Patrick and Lou finally broke up — it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off of me.
I was waiting for it to happen throughout the whole book because I just felt extremely uncomfortable whenever Patrick showed up (especially on Lou’s birthday).


But all in all, there isn’t a word for this book that can describe just how much it meant to me. I felt really connected to Lou and Will and their families. Me Before You had extremely vivid characters, infectious humor, and bittersweet truth.
And that ending definitely crushed me even though I knew what was coming — it did not make it easier to read and experience. It hurts.



Oh, and do not listen to this song, unless you want to sob (like I did).

*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Me Before You, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*


Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with http://Ko-fi.com/bookspoils


This review and more can be found on my blog. ...more

4

Jan 05, 2016

I did really enjoy this but not as much as I'd expected to. I think too many people were telling me how much I was going to love it and how emotional it was and that kind of set me up for failure. It was sad, but I wasn't moved to tears and while I really did like it, I didn't love it.

Update: Just watched the movie trailer for the first time and I got chills. Honestly I think this is one of those cases where I'm going to like the movie better than the book. I just had a lot of trouble I did really enjoy this but not as much as I'd expected to. I think too many people were telling me how much I was going to love it and how emotional it was and that kind of set me up for failure. It was sad, but I wasn't moved to tears and while I really did like it, I didn't love it.

Update: Just watched the movie trailer for the first time and I got chills. Honestly I think this is one of those cases where I'm going to like the movie better than the book. I just had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters in the book but I already felt connected to the movie characters, if that makes sense. ...more

5

Jan 28, 2013

LIVE BOLDLY. PUSH YOURSELF. DON'T SETTLE.

***RE-READ ON 8TH SEPTEMBER 2013 WITH LA-LIONEE & ANA RITA, THANKS LADIES FOR MAKING ME RE-READ ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVES***



------------ORIGINAL REVIEW--------------



This book, holly hell this book! I finished this yesterday and thought it was great but I can not express what I felt this morning when I woke up thinking about them.

Me Before You is real, just like life is real. This is not a sappy book with silly characters that fall in love and that’s

LIVE BOLDLY. PUSH YOURSELF. DON'T SETTLE.

***RE-READ ON 8TH SEPTEMBER 2013 WITH LA-LIONEE & ANA RITA, THANKS LADIES FOR MAKING ME RE-READ ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVES***



------------ORIGINAL REVIEW--------------



This book, holly hell this book! I finished this yesterday and thought it was great but I can not express what I felt this morning when I woke up thinking about them.

Me Before You is real, just like life is real. This is not a sappy book with silly characters that fall in love and that’s it. This is a book about friendship, love, patience, ambitions and many many many more things. Yes, you’re gonna cry if you’re human but you’re gonna LAUGH, a lot! Because Will & Lou are smart asses that will make you love them from the beginning.

You know what? I had the pleasure of reading this gem on paperback and I marked the whole damn book and I was planning to quote some of the best sentences but I am NOT gonna do that. You wanna know why? Because you need to experience this book, you need to read it blind

This book will teach you to LIVE BOLDLY



Will used to live boldly, he was an attractive guy on his early thirties with a great job, a hot girlfriend and an amazing life in London until one day everything changes.

Two years later he crosses paths with Lou who apparently has nothing in common with him. But they have to spend time together whether they like it or not. And they don’t like it, they actually hate each other at the beginning of their story. But sometimes, life puts you on a place for a reason and you open your mind and start seeing things that you didn’t even see before.

This book will teach you to PUSH YOURSELF



Lou was a normal girl in a normal city with a normal life, a normal boyfriend and a normal job. Until one day things changes for her, she loses her job and she has to PUSH HERSELF to things she never thought about. But she discovers that pushing your limits, walking outside your comfort zone is not that bad.

And this book will teach you to DON’T SETTLE



No matter how hard your life is, you can’t settle, you need to look forward, you need to live, LIVE WELL. JUST LIVE

This book is the reason why I read! And this is how you write Romance. I am VERY TIRED of hotties falling in love after watching each other and feeling an instant electricity. No! That’s not real.

Will & Lou hated each other at the beginning, Lou was forced to be with him and he didn’t have any choice at all BUT they got to know each other and they fell in love and OMG it was so freaking beautiful because that’s love, REAL LOVE. Lou would have done EVERYTHING for him and he proved his love for her too.

This book just taught me that there are people who are worth it out there. People like Lou who would leave everything behind to help someone like Will. People like Will who would push Lou to LIVE even though that would mean she wouldn't be around that much.

There is NOTHING about this book I can complain about. ANYTHING, NADA! I understood every single character, their POVs, even Will's dad. I would have love to read Will’s POV in at least one chapter but loved the book anyway.

My favourite part was Alicia’s wedding . That moment when they were looking at each other, than hunger for something they could give to each other, that passion, that LOVE and respect…

The below are my personal thoughts, I understand you might have your owns and you might think I am evil, that’s ok. I will respect all your opinions, hope you can respect mine.

Living with someone like Will and loving someone like Will is NOT easy and (view spoiler)[ I understand what they did, if you love someone you would do ANYTHING to see that person happy (hide spoiler)]

I am totally against (view spoiler)[ suicide but in this case I truly understood him and I would have helped him to go to Switzerland. He was living a miserable life, he wasn't happy and he has the right to decide what to do with his life. (hide spoiler)]

We had a similar case in Spain. Ramon San Pedro was in the same conditions than Will (view spoiler)[ and he did exactly the same and when I saw that on the news I was a teen but even then I understood him (hide spoiler)]. If you get a chance, pls watch the film Mar Adentro by Alejandro Amenabar, if you loved this book, you'll love that film.

Deirdre & Joana recommended me to watch The Untouchables so go read their reviews and check that film too.

I know this might not be a coherent review but I am still a mess!

READ. THIS. BOOK.

Thanks Amaia & V for this BR


...more

5

Mar 20, 2013

I'm not going to write a proper review about this book . I dont want to spoil anything for you. Just read it,you wont regret it.

Oh my god this book was so mind blowing but mostly heartbreaking.



Will
Best before : 19 March 2007

Lou


Lou has to work for Will and in the beginning things are very difficult for both of them . Given the circumstances Will is all the time cranky, rude , vile to her because his life is miserable. However, they start getting along because Lou is the only person who I'm not going to write a proper review about this book . I dont want to spoil anything for you. Just read it,you wont regret it.

Oh my god this book was so mind blowing but mostly heartbreaking.



Will
Best before : 19 March 2007

Lou


Lou has to work for Will and in the beginning things are very difficult for both of them . Given the circumstances Will is all the time cranky, rude , vile to her because his life is miserable. However, they start getting along because Lou is the only person who contradicts him and that's something intriguing for him . There are times that he is such a tease and it was nice to know that after so long he finally seems happier .

After a while we see that due to his state Lou doesnt want to leave him alone , much less quit her job . Will inevitably manages to become part of her life and her daily routine . Sadly , Will is hiding something .
He is an adult and he has the right to do whatever he wants with his life but damn I dont know if I agree with his thoughts.
Wouldnt it be selfish to stop him?
Of course it would be but still it doesnt feel right. If I were him I might wanted to do the same but if I had someone like Lou caring for me I dont think that I would consider it like an option anymore .

Well, Lou is trying to stop him from doing anything crazy and I really admire that she is the only person that hasnt lost faith on him.

She has only six freaking months to change his life but she never thought that he would change her life as well .

I loved Will! He is one of the smartest book heros I've ever met.
“You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”
I felt sorry and bad for him . The one day you have everything and the next nothing. His story will totally affect you . He is not the book hero with the fucked up past who finds release at sex.
NO!This book is unique and very depressing but you'll never regret reading it.

Lou is simply wonderful!She is trying so hard , with gallant efforts to help him and she deserves a million congratulations.No one forced her to stay with him but she did. She had the right to leave him but she didnt. She's full of exuberance which affects him possitively .

This book made laugh a lot . Lou's family is so crazy!
Will is also so sarcastic and Lou loves it.

I also cried a lot . I couldnt help it .
FAT
UGLY
TEARS

“I can't do this because I can't...I can't be the man I want to be with you. And that means that this - this just becomes...another reminder of what I am not.”



“You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”



“I realized I was afraid of living without him. How is it you have the right to destroy my life, I wanted to demand of him, but I’m not allowed a say in yours?
But I had promised.”







Just read it!
You wont get disappointed!!

“Push yourself. Don't Settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.”

...more

5

Jun 29, 2013

Rereading!
I just finished my re-read of this book. Sometimes a second trip into a book doesn't end well for me. I see things that I did not pick up the first time and I end up not liking the book anymore.
That didn't happen with this book.
Because guess what I'm doing?
I'm sobbing. Not crying. Big ugly snot running tears.
It takes a lot for a book to do this to me.


There is no reason to go into what this book is about. Most everyone knows or has heard by now. The movie is soon to come out and the Rereading!
I just finished my re-read of this book. Sometimes a second trip into a book doesn't end well for me. I see things that I did not pick up the first time and I end up not liking the book anymore.
That didn't happen with this book.
Because guess what I'm doing?
I'm sobbing. Not crying. Big ugly snot running tears.
It takes a lot for a book to do this to me.


There is no reason to go into what this book is about. Most everyone knows or has heard by now. The movie is soon to come out and the second book is out (I have it and now I'm terrified to read it) Can anything hold up to the magic that is this book?
I guess we just have to put on our big girl tights and see.


Five stars again. That makes ten doesn't it?


First read: June 2013
I remember when I was a little girl the excitement of a really good book just took me away from whatever was going on in my life. Books have always been my escape and my peace. I had gone through a reading slump in the last months and I've picked it back up finally. After reading this book I'm so glad that I did.

This book to me spun it's magic around me and encompassed me in it. I laughed and cried so hard I thought my heart was breaking too. There was not one line in the whole book I didn't love. Amazing writing on a hard subject. Jojo Moyes made the most wonderful characters of Lou and Will come to life for me. I loved them both and just hate that book reviews just cannot do them justice. I kept putting it down so I would not finish it in a hurry but could not leave it alone. Best book I have read in years.



This is the point that I usually highlight a friends review for spotlighting...because every review deserves attention. Not just those that get bumped on your feed every five minutes because the reviewer feels that it doesn't have enough "likes" to carry them to the top of the most favorite list for the week.
I'm saying go read all the reviews for this wonderful book..then if you haven't read it. Run and get it. ...more

4

Jul 22, 2016

This book was pretty awesome, but the ending kinda killed me This book was pretty awesome, but the ending kinda killed me???????? ...more

5

Aug 14, 2013

It is rare to find a book that has the ability to make the reader look at life through a different lens, forcing us to re-examine our values, prejudices, morals and ethics. This book, is such a book. 'Me Before You' is a book that will touch your soul and may change your life.

As a Registered Nurse that has dedicated my career to working with individuals with spinal cord injuries/disorders, the subject matter is particularly near and dear to my heart. I didn't know what this book was about when I It is rare to find a book that has the ability to make the reader look at life through a different lens, forcing us to re-examine our values, prejudices, morals and ethics. This book, is such a book. 'Me Before You' is a book that will touch your soul and may change your life.

As a Registered Nurse that has dedicated my career to working with individuals with spinal cord injuries/disorders, the subject matter is particularly near and dear to my heart. I didn't know what this book was about when I started reading, which is probably for the best since I would have likely passed it by, expecting a grossly inaccurate and unrealistic account of SCI/D. That would have been tragic. I am so glad that I went into this book blind, choosing to read it after seeing it persist on the charts and growing curious enough to give it a go.

I was awed by the author's ability to weave a story filled with humor and love, while realistically addressing the not so nice, sometimes ugly, realities of living with a disability that are rarely discussed in "polite" society. Ms. Moyes has, no doubt, heightened the awareness of thousands, and should be commended. She addressed many emotionally-charged topics, including discrimination against disabled individuals, quality of life, right to self-determination, assisted suicide and psychosocial implications, among others, in a candid manner. To touch upon such heavy topics, while keeping readers entertained and engaged, is no easy feat.

I can not stress enough how touching and beautiful this story is. I would encourage everyone to read this book. My only regret is that I let it sit on my "to-read" shelf for so long. Five stars are not nearly enough! ...more

4

Nov 02, 2015

Me Before You, Jojo Moyes
Me Before You is a romance novel written by Jojo Moyes. The book was first published on 5 January 2012 in the United Kingdom. A sequel titled After You was released 29 September 2015 through Pamela Dorman Books. A second sequel, Still Me, was published in January 2018.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز یازدهم ماه جولای سال 2016 میلادی
عنوان: من پیش از تو؛ نویسنده: جوجو مویس (مویز)؛ مترجم: مریم فتاحی؛ تهران، آموت، 1393؛ در 536 ص؛ شابک: 9786006605425؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان Me Before You, Jojo Moyes
Me Before You is a romance novel written by Jojo Moyes. The book was first published on 5 January 2012 in the United Kingdom. A sequel titled After You was released 29 September 2015 through Pamela Dorman Books. A second sequel, Still Me, was published in January 2018.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز یازدهم ماه جولای سال 2016 میلادی
عنوان: من پیش از تو؛ نویسنده: جوجو مویس (مویز)؛ مترجم: مریم فتاحی؛ تهران، آموت، 1393؛ در 536 ص؛ شابک: 9786006605425؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان انگلیسی - سده 21 م
آسوشیتدپرس درباره این رمان می‌نویسد: بعضی کتاب‌ها را نمی‌توان زمین گذاشت. کتاب‌هایی وجود دارند که آدم به حدی جذب شخصیت‌هایش می‌شود که دوست ندارد داستان به پایان برسد، برای همین خواندنش را کش می‌دهد. کتاب «جوجو مویز» یکی از این کتاب‌هاست. گاهی می‌خندید، گاهی لبخند می‌زنید، و گاهی عصبانی می‌شوید، و بله، گاهی اشک می‌ریزید. نیویورک تایمز نیز نوشته است: نویسنده‌ ی کتاب خوانشگر را در موقعیتی قرار می‌دهد که اشک‌ریزان بخواند و جلو برود... با دو شخصیت اصلی داستانش قصه‌ ای می‌آفریند که در خاطر می‌ماند
اخطار : اگر داستان را نخوانده اید و میخواهید آن را بخوانید، ادامه این نگاره، داستان را لو میدهد
لوییزا کلارک بیست و شش ساله با خانواده‌ اش زندگی می‌کند. او جاه طلب نیست و صلاحیت‌های کمی دارد و مدام از خواهر کوچک‌ترش، ترینا، کم می‌آورد. لوییزا به خانواده کمک می‌کند، او شغلش را در یک کافه محلی از دست می‌دهد. بعد از تلاش بی‌نتیجه، بالاخره یک موقعیت استخدامی خاص گیر می‌آورد: کمک برای مراقبت از ویل ترینر، یک مرد جوان موفق و ثروتمند، که دو سال پیشتر در اثر سانحه ی موتورسیکلت فلج شده است. مادر ویل، کامیلا، لوییزای بی‌تجربه را استخدام می‌کند، تا به زندگی ویل طراوت ببخشد. در این بین لوییزا با نیتن (پرستار مسائل پزشکی ویل) و استیون، پدر ویل، نیز ملاقات می‌کند. بخاطر اوقات تلخی و رنجش ویل، رابطه ی او و لوییزا سخت است. وقتی دوست دختر سابقش، آلیسا با بهترین دوستش، روپرت ازدواج می‌کند، اوضاع بدتر می‌شود. کم‌ کم با مراقبت‌های لوییزا، ویل روشن فکرتر می‌شود. لوییزا متوجه مچ‌های زخمی ویل می‌شود و بعداً می‌فهمد وقتی کامیلا درخواست او مبنی بر مرگ آسان از طریق دیگنیتاس (خودکشی کمکی) را رد کرده، اقدام به خودکشی کرده است. بعد از این ماجرا قرار شده ویل شش ماه زندگی کند و بعد درباره مرگ آسان تصمیم بگیرند. لوییزا همراه با ترینا تصمیم می‌گیرد کاری کند تا این فکر از سر ویل خارج شود. طی چند هفته ی بعد، ویل آرام‌تر می‌شود و اجازه می‌دهد لوییزا صورت و موهایش را اصلاح کند. آن‌ها مدام باهم بیرون می‌روند، و به هم نزدیک می‌شوند. در نهایت بخاطر این رابطه، پاتریک، دوست پسر لوییزا، همه چیز را تمام می‌کند. در همین زمان، پدر لوییزا شغلش را از دست می‌دهد، و مشکل مسائل مالی پیش می‌آید. آقای ترینر به آقای کلارک یک موقعیت شغلی می‌دهد. لوییزا همراه با ویل به عروسی آلیسا و روپرت رفته و باهم می‌رقصند. قرار می‌شود این دو باهم به تعطیلات بروند اما پیش از آن، ویل دچار ذات الریه مرگباری می‌شود. بنابراین برنامه‌ ها عوض شده و باهم به جزیره موریس می‌روند. شب پیش از بازگشت به خانه، لوییزا عشقش را به ویل اظهار می‌کند، اما ویل می‌گوید با اینکه اوقات خاصی را باهم داشتند، اما نمی‌تواند زندگی در ویلچر را تحمل کند. شب پرواز ویل به سوییس، برای پایان دادن به زندگیش، لوییزا برای آخرین بار با او ملاقات می‌کند. آن‌ها قبول دارند که شش ماه اخیر بهترین اوقات زندگیشان بوده، ویل اندکی بعد در کلینیک می‌میرد، و طبق وصیت ثروت هنگفتی را برای لوییزا بجای می‌گذارد. با این پول او می‌تواند تحصیلاتش را ادامه دهد، و بطور کامل زندگی را تجربه کند. رمان اینطور پایان می‌یابد که لوییزا در کافه‌ ای در پاریس است و آخرین نامه ویل را می‌خواند. ا. شربیانی ...more

5

Apr 02, 2016

Oh goodness heartbreak.

I'm one of those people that as soon as I hear a book is being made into a movie, I decide I should read it. But honestly with this one, I have no clue why I waited so long. I have heard over and over about how much others have enjoyed it and yet held off myself. Lesson learned.

Me Before You is the story of a young girl who finds herself the caretaker of a quadriplegic man who is both charming and brash depending on the mood. And yet, there's something about him that she Oh goodness heartbreak.

I'm one of those people that as soon as I hear a book is being made into a movie, I decide I should read it. But honestly with this one, I have no clue why I waited so long. I have heard over and over about how much others have enjoyed it and yet held off myself. Lesson learned.

Me Before You is the story of a young girl who finds herself the caretaker of a quadriplegic man who is both charming and brash depending on the mood. And yet, there's something about him that she finds herself drawn to. In order to help make his life better, she plans out a fantastic series of events in order to make him happy.

I must tell you, the characters in this story are perfectly done. They're lovable, hatable, questionably insane - but all so wonderfully done that you never get bored.

I started this book while on a plane to Hawaii and despite my happiness toward embarking on a vacation, I still cried. Good God, the emotions. If you can make it through this one without shedding a tear, hats off to you. I couldn't do it.

What did I think?: This is one of the most emotional books I have read in a long time, if not ever. I absolutely can't wait for the movie, and after hearing about the casting I'm even more exciting. I don't know whether to call it "chick-lit" as I think there's something in it for everyone, but it's certainly an easy read, but one that should probably not be read in public because crying in public is apparently a weird thing to do.

Who should read it?: Are you looking for a good book? Read it. Are you in need of a good cry? Read it. Are you planning to see the movie? Read it. Are you going to be forced/dragged to the theaters by someone else in order to see the movie? Read it. You get the picture. (Read it.)



WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM ...more

3

Feb 17, 2016

SO. I know that practically the whole world loves this book, and I'm not trying to undermine the majority. Truly, I'm not. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the biggest (only?) downside to training yourself to read books critically for review, is that you can't turn it off. I may never be able to devour a book, paying zero attention to anything but how it makes me feel, and enjoying it without any kind of expectations ever again.

That probably sounds awful to a lot a people, but I don't SO. I know that practically the whole world loves this book, and I'm not trying to undermine the majority. Truly, I'm not. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the biggest (only?) downside to training yourself to read books critically for review, is that you can't turn it off. I may never be able to devour a book, paying zero attention to anything but how it makes me feel, and enjoying it without any kind of expectations ever again.

That probably sounds awful to a lot a people, but I don't mind. I might even prefer it this way.

But hopefully, you now feel sorry for me, horrified by analytical approach to reading-for-pleasure, and no longer want to tar and feather me for besmirching the honor of one of your best loved books. *crosses fingers*

I have three main issues:

1. The unequal cost vs. gain ratio.

I won't try to deny that the conclusion of ME BEFORE YOU packed a powerful emotional punch.

BUT.

My tears weren't the result of pain felt on behalf of poignant characters who had been brought to life by a talented writer.

The situation was tragic, so I felt pain.

BUT.

No more or less than I would have felt if I'd read the same scenario in a book summary or a 500 word article in the local paper.

I could try to isolate reasons for the disconnect, like it's told in the third person, but that feels like a cop-out--I've encountered plenty of compelling characters in third person POV books--but ultimately, Will and Lou didn't join those ranks.

The end.

2. Gratuitous use of personal tragedy to justify behavior that didn't need justification.

Moyes took what would have been the most interesting aspect of this tale (Lou's quirky fashion sense), and turned it into coping mechanism.

I'm usually all for gaining insight into characters, but that insight needs to be meaningful. Turning a young woman with a colorful and unapologetically wacky fashion sense into a victim, who is merely trying to disguise her femininity is . . .

Well, it's offensive.

It suggests that you must be damaged to escape conformity, that you can't be an individual for the sake of individuality, or simply b/c YOU'RE DIFFERENT.



3. Postmodernism makes my nostrils flare.

ME BEFORE YOU is a dispiriting combination of selfishness and pointlessness masquerading as a love story.

I've frequently addressed my feelings on Postmodernism, so I won't reiterate the long version here, but suffice it to say, I HATE it.

I hate the inevitability of pain and disappointment and of mediocrity. I hate the implication that Bad Things will happen, so the best you can do is bear it gracefully, or, at the very least, with stoicism.

Reality is something I avoid when reading recreationally, so encountering the kind of inescapable sadness and loss often found in Postmodern literature is something I assiduously steer clear of.

Sometimes with limited success . . .

If you share my view, do yourself a favor and skip this one. In my opinion, ME BEFORE YOU is a headache you don't need.

The only part of the story that didn't shriek of the uselessness of hope in the face of reality, was Lou's personal growth throughout her endeavor, which annoyingly makes me want to read AFTER YOU to see if the changes stuck, and will almost certainly be another disappointment.

Ugh.

My review of After You ...more

5

May 02, 2013

Final rating: 5/5 stars

“Hey Clark', he said.'Tell me something good'. I stared out of the window at the bright-blue Swiss sky and I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other."




Life is a wonderful thing, but then again, it can also be horrible and merciless. We have been told that we Final rating: 5/5 stars

“Hey Clark', he said.'Tell me something good'. I stared out of the window at the bright-blue Swiss sky and I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other."


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Life is a wonderful thing, but then again, it can also be horrible and merciless. We have been told that we are the creators of our own fates. But what happens when the fate has different plans for you? Where fate rips everything you ever loved away from you?


"I drew a world for him, a world in which he was still somehow the person he had wanted to be. I drew the world he had created for me, full of wonder and possibility.”

Not only that this book will make you cry , it will make you laugh too.

It's not a classic love story . It's a story of LIFE and DEATH.

But it's also a story of friendship, of love.

AND LESS YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK, THE BETTER.



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It's a story of a woman who was afraid to live her life freely - who lived in a shell.

Louisa "Lou" Clark.



Lou lost her job recently, and her family is in chaotic position. In desperation, she accepts the job of being a care taker.

I was twenty-six years old and I wasn’t really sure what I was. Up until I lost my job I hadn’t even given it any thought. I supposed I would probably marry Patrick, knock out a few kids, live a few streets away from where I had always lived. Apart from an exotic taste in clothes, and the fact that I’m a bit short, there’s not a lot separating me from anyone you might pass in the street. You probably wouldn’t look at me twice. An ordinary girl, leading an ordinary life. It actually suited me fine.

It's a story about a man who lost everything in just one day.

William "Will" Traynor.



“I will never, ever regret the things I've done. Because most days, all you have are places in your memory that you can go to.”


Will lost everything in an accident, but worst of all, he lost the chance to live normally for the rest of his life. Because of it, he lost the will to live.

“The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life--or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window--is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.”

Until the day Lou appeared in his life as his care taker for six months. At first, they argue a lot. Will doesn't think Lou can handle being his care taker for that period of time, but Lou is not a person who easily gives up.

“Some mistakes... Just have greater consequences than others. But you don't have to let the result of one mistake be the thing that defines you. You, Clark, have the choice not to let that happen.”

And after a while, when Will realizes he cannot push her away like he did to everyone else, he accepts Lou for what she is. A kind person who through time reached to him and showed him that not everything is dark - that there are still choices and that life is worth living.

“I turned in my seat. Will’s face was in shadow and I couldn’t quite make it out.
‘Just hold on. Just for a minute.’
‘Are you all right?’ I found my gaze dropping towards his chair, afraid some part of him was pinched, or trapped, that I had got something wrong.
‘I’m fine. I just . . . ’
I could see his pale collar, his dark suit jacket a contrast against it.
‘I don’t want to go in just yet. I just want to sit and not have to think about . . . ’ He swallowed.
Even in the half-dark it seemed effortful.
‘I just . . . want to be a man who has been to a concert with a girl in a red dress. Just for a few minutes more.’
I released the door handle.
‘Sure.’
I closed my eyes and lay my head against the headrest, and we sat there together for a while longer, two people lost in remembered music, half hidden in the shadow of a castle on a moonlit hill.”

* Serious spoilers *

(view spoiler)[ i respect Will's choice in the end, even though it broke my heart - but he finally had control over something and he chose it.

“All I can say is that you make me...you make me into someone I couldn't even imagine. You make me happy, even when you're awful.I would rather be with you- even the you that you seem to think is diminished- than with anyone else in the world.”
(hide spoiler)]
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OVERALL :
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Everything in this book felt real: the characters, the reactions of people around them, the struggles and fights they had gone through. A slow progressing romance ... where people didn't fall in love because of money or physical beauty - but a love between people who love each other for who they are. And it makes it real .


And most of all, it showed that there are still people worth fighting for. People who need help, and people who will do everything in their power to give them support.

Overall, beautiful and moving book, and i can't tell you how much i love it! Because it's realistic.

This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
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