Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: 31st December 2012 (1st published Jan 2012)
Pages: 367/16hrs 37mins
Book Source: Own eBook & audio
Narrators: Jo Hall, Anna Bentinck, Steve Crossley, Alex Tregear, Owen Lindsay, Andrew Wincott

Synopsis: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

My Thoughts:
My first read of 2014 and my first Jojo Moyes but it definitely won't be my last. I've got The Girl You Left Behind waiting patiently on my bookshelf and The One Plus One coming up for review ... can't wait. 

Jojo Moyes is a talented writer, she tackles an emotive issue with ballsiness and sensitivity but I just didn't have the emotional reaction I was expecting to and that's saying something because I'm a big sook. Yes, I was moved, as anyone with a pulse would be, but for me, Me Before You didn't have the same tear-your-heart-out emotional impact as say Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger, now that's a story that had me sobbing, wrung out and it has stayed with me since reading it in 2010. 

I already have firm beliefs about a person's right to die so whilst I appreciate the ethical and moral questions raised for Will's loved ones, it didn't leave me questioning my own. I think we afford our beloved fur babies more dignity and less suffering than we do people. My mother died an agonising death from melanoma (if I could have given her a different leaving I would have) and having nursed many people with incurable diseases and quadriplegics with devastating co-morbid conditions, I felt Jojo Moyes covered the impact of quadriplegia on Will's physical and psychological state with well researched insight. 

The round-the-clock care necessary for previously active and independent Will broke my heart, I'm just glad that Lou brought some light and joy into his life but it would have been nice to see Will choose his words with some of the respect or sensitivity he expected from his loved ones.  

It's a life story ... about choices and our need to judge what's right for others; those left behind and their right to feel what they feel, those finding purpose and fulfillment whilst living with debilitating and incurable illnesses and those like Will  ... Best before : 19 March 2007.


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16 comments:

  1. Great review. Sounds a really thought provoking book. Agree with you about our thoughtfulness towards our fur babies as opposed to some deaths humans are expected to experience. Thanks for the review.

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    1. Thanks Kathryn, I do wish there were options available for people to die with dignity.

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  2. Sounds like a beautiful book. I have not read a JoJo Moyers book. Should do it one day :)

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    1. I've heard such good things about The Girl You Left Behind, can't wait to read it Mandy!

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  3. I loved the growth experienced by Lou as she cared for Will. Moyes certainly has a gift for telling a story. It's the first of her books I've read and I look forward to more. Loved your review.

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    1. Thanks Mary, yeah I liked seeing Lou's 'small' life grow along with her confidence.

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  4. I have heard this is a good book ... I realllllllllllly need to read this one!!!!!!!!!

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    1. I enjoyed it Mystica, thanks for stopping by.

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  6. One of these days I need to try a book by her

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    1. lol B, another wonderful author to add to the list. My list has indigestion haha

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  7. Great review Teddyree…I'm still sitting on the fence as to whether or not I will read this one, I've added it to my wish-list. I read so much 'fluff' these days and I know I need to broaden my bookshelf.

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    1. You can borrow it Karen, then we'll have another book to dissect at scrapbook camp lol

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  8. I just loved this one and have my book club reading it now *fingers crossed that they like it too*. I think it brings up some questions, as you said, that will make for good if not fiesty discussion :) I know in my own review I shared my feelings on Wills decision and it was not a popular one ;)

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  9. I had this audio book checked out of the library but had to return it before I could start. I'm looking forward to it. I have Eternal on the Water on my shelves too, so I should get that one to the top.

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