I am so excited that we have decided
to do book reviews each month, for several reasons! One, is that I
love that all three of us adore books and can colaborate on a post
together! Another is that I am not the one choosing the books that we
are reading, so it is pushing me a little out of my reading comfort
zone.
It seems as though I read the same
type of books one right after the other! It is one of those things
that I love and hate about being a Kindle reader. Once I finish a
book, there is always a “suggested read” for something that is
fairly similar to the book I just finished. So, I was excited to be
challenged to read something entirely different from my norm. Now,
with that being said, I wasn't so sure about reading a book set in
modern day times. I am generally drawn to historical fiction and I
think that is partly because reading is my escape. Some people are TV
watchers or movie buffs but I am a book worm. So, when I want to
escape “the real world”, I read. When I started this book and
learned that it was set in modern day times, I didn't exactly get
excited. But, I kept my mind open. And I dove right in. Once I
started, I just absolutely couldn't put it down! I really can't say
the last time I was this enthralled in a book. (Don't tell my boss,
but I actually contemplated calling in sick so that I could stay home
and read.)
Here are a few things I think you
should know about Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
One of my favorite things about this
book was the character development. I genuinely felt like I knew each
of them. Every character played such an important role. Just like in
my life, the people I come in contact with daily have an impact of my
choices and even more so, my thoughts.
This book was so full of emotion. I
felt every bit of it. I was full of compassion and anger and guilt
right along side of the characters. I cried. I laughed. I held my
breathe waiting for the outcome. Definitely have your tissues handy!
Probably not the best book to read in your local coffee shop, unless
you are a pretty crier.
Another major thing that this book
offers is modern day controversy. The basis of this book is very
controversial, it even says that in the story, but it offers an
inside look. There is no cramming ideas down your throat or harsh
tones. It just uses a persons everyday life to show you, that not all
choices are black and white. Not everything is an easy choice to
make. We always think we know what we will do until we are actually
faced with the hard reality. I know I took a lot away from it.
Probably my favorite thing is that just
when my minds starts to wonder what is going on inside the head of
another character, I turn the page to see a chapter written from
their perspective! I LOVE that! In real life I am always curious how
a situation looks to someone else, and I find myself searching for
that same perspective in a book. I love knowing what the minor
characters are ACTUALLY thinking, instead of how the main character
perceives their thinking.
I am very anxious to see the film adaptation in just a few months and I am sure we will share our
perspectives on that as well! I also plan to read the sequel, AfterYou, but I haven't started it yet! I hope you enjoy this book as much
as I do! We would love to hear your feedback!
So I recently finished reading Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, This is a book that I had put on my 2016 reading list only because I knew it was going to be adapted to film. I have a rule when it comes to books and movies, always read the book before seeing any movie based on it. It is a good thing that I put this book on my list before ever actually laying eyes on the book. I am a huge judger of book covers (yes I know what they say, never judge a book by its cover) I can't help myself, and this book's cover screamed boring to me.
In this case what they say was true and you should never judge a book by its cover. This book quickly earned a spot on my favorite books of all time list. Once I began reading I couldn't stop. This book was an amazing read that made me fall in love with the characters and feel things that I have never felt from a book. This book in all of its breathtaking beauty changed me, and I can't say that for many books I have read. To risk any spoilers all I will say is that this book will change how you look at the world and life's hard decisions, it will show you that the world is not black and white but rather in technicolor. After reading this book you might also change how you live your life.
Also if you love this book you must read After You.
Louisa
Clark is an unassuming, eccentrically-dressed young woman who finds
herself unemployed. After answering an ad to be caregiver to a
quadriplegic, a job that is outside her comfort zone, she meets Will
Traynor. A former adrenaline junkie, Will struggles to come to terms
with the frail state of his body and being dependent on those around
him for everything. When Louisa discovers the truth about why she’s
there, she takes on an undertaking that will change her life and
Will’s forever.
If I had
seen Me Before You while out book-shopping, I probably would have
skimmed over it. I probably have skimmed over it.
The cover is unobtrusive and generally, I lean more toward historical
fiction and historical non-fiction. If only I’d realized what a
treasure lies between the covers. I was pleasantly surprised with how
much I loved this book. I would easily consider it one of my favorite
Realistic Fiction novels. I never wanted to put it down, but when I
did, I was left thinking about it until I could get back to it.
What I
liked:
The
character development was phenomenal. A novel is only as good as its
characters, and well-developed characters should hop off the page.
Between Will’s tendency for sarcasm and Louisa’s fashion sense,
these characters did just that. I love books that provoke a real,
physical reaction out of me. There were times I laughed out loud
while reading Me Before You, and times I bawled my eyes out. This
novel takes a situation most of us would pretend not to notice out in
public and puts a face on it. It addresses an uncomfortable subject
with raw emotion, paints a picture for us of the person at the
center, as well as the friends and family who strive to keep them
hanging on. This was a very “real” novel with no contrived
dialogue or situations. I truly loved it.
What I
didn’t like:
Honestly, I
can’t think of anything I didn’t like. The writing was engaging,
the characters were well-defined, the storyline was good. I loved it.
It does have a bittersweet ending for those who prefer commercial
fiction (where everything resolves happily and there’s even a
little bow on top), but I would not criticize it for that. As a
writer (and I’m sure many readers feel this way, as well), I have
an appreciation for and a need for both happy endings and bittersweet
ones.
