Me before you

Me before you is a love story. As simple as that and yet not that simple. But it is not your regular, run – of – the – mill love story. Boy isn’t a tall, dark, handsome brooder. Girl isn’t looking for herself in a strange new city. It is a love story that touches upon some very very very difficult issues.

So, the synopsis (without giving out any spoilers). Lou Clark has just been fired from her café job because it is shutting down. She loved her job, her life, her friends and family, boyfriend and was basically comfortable in her comfort zone. Will Traynor has been a quadriplegic since 2 years after a motorbike accident. He now has no desire to live. His life is difficult beyond comprehension. In her quest to find another ‘comfortable’ job, Lou becomes Will’s carer. Her job is to keep him company and make sure he doesn’t kill himself. And while caring for him, she finds herself, in a way. Me before you is their story.

When I ordered this book on Amazon, solely because Bookstagram peer pressure happened, I thought it was going to be a regular love story. I had read the synopsis and I knew it was slightly different than a regular love story but I did not have any high hopes from it. I mean, how creative can you really get with a love story? That was my mistake.

I wanted to make sure I had finished reading this book before the movie released. Therefore, when the book was delivered, it immediately moved up my TO BE READ list. Once I finished the book I had been reading, I took this one up.

I was sucked into Lou Clark’s life from the first few lines itself! The writing was light and fluffy, like being on a cloud. It flowed with such ease that I was left spellbound.

My favorite characters are grey characters. I hate protagonists who appear ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’. It never is as simple as that is it? I like it when I get a back – story to a character, when I am given a reason for someone behaving in a particular way. And this book does that! I was mildly surprised. I had completely underestimated the author.

Now, this book talks about something very important, which I think needs to be addressed on a deeper level. It revolves around Will’s desire to kill himself and whether Lou would be able to change his mind. Is love enough? Is euthanasia murder? Is it suicide? Or should a person who is unwell, not going to recover, in pain be allowed to decide when they have had enough, especially someone who is almost on life support?

I believe that euthanasia isn’t murder. It isn’t suicide either. If I had to live a life like Will Traynor, I would probably want to kill myself too. The whole story has this under – current of whether what Will wants is right or wrong. Would we do it for a loved one, to put them out of the misery that they are in? Unless we are in a similar situation, either in Will’s or his parents and loved ones, we DO NOT KNOW. I guess I support Will on this. But again, to each his own.

If you ever decide to pick this book up to read, you might want to keep some tissues at hand. I am not one to tear up easily (for some odd reason!) but I had a tear (or maybe two) when I finished Me before You.

Wherever I go, I take my book

 

Morning routine, coffee and a book

 

Reading with a view

Determined to finish it, cannot put it down anyway!