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Thomas's Reviews > Me Before You
Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)
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Thomas's review
bookshelves: own-electronic, read-on-kindle, adult-fiction, realistic-fiction, romance
Dec 28, 2012
bookshelves: own-electronic, read-on-kindle, adult-fiction, realistic-fiction, romance
EDIT 8.31.2020
After a fellow Goodreads user left a thorough and insightful comment I went back and did some research on this book's problematic portrayal of disability. I think this article does a great job of expressing why Me Before You is problematic in its portrayal of disability: https://carlyfindlay.com.au/2016/06/1.... Namely, it portrays a disabled man who wants to die because of his disability which is harmful representation. So I'm changing my rating to three stars just because I haven't gone back and reread the book. I also recognize my original review is problematic in that it condones Louisa using Will's experience and disability as inspiration for herself, which is harmful.
Original review from 2014:
Many do not consider Me Before You a love story, but I do. Like Just One Day by Gayle Forman, this book does not feature insta-love, an unrealistic steamy romance, or a traditional happy ending. But, it does contain one of the most selfless and heart-wrenching relationships I've ever read, and it includes a true tale about what it means to make a difference in someone else's life.
For the first third of the novel, I had little love for Louisa Clark, our adult protagonist. After getting laid off at the cafe she's worked at for the past several years, she soon learns that she possesses no major plans or life goals. What she does have is an exercise-obsessed boyfriend and a younger sister who overshadows her every step. Out of options, Lou takes a job caring for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic with a biting wit and little left to lose. The duo form an uncouth relationship, and though intimidated at first, Lou soon finds a mission through taking care of Will - one that might make her regret meeting him at all.
I had so many feelings when reading this book. Me Before You could have been so emotionally manipulative, but Jojo Moyes's writing exudes a straightforward vulnerability: instead of screaming "hey, I'm a wonderful, heartbreaking love story!" it simply says "look at these characters, look at how much they care for another, and find the meaning beneath it all." I tried to resist this book's charm, but Lou's honest quest and Will's vibrant pain pulled me in and sucker-punched me in the stomach before I could recognize what was happening.
Me Before You is not a perfect book, with its sometimes distracting sentimentalism and its questionable changing of narratives. However, just like life, it forces you to push past its imperfections and accept it for what it really is: a story about never settling, about always aiming for more, and the people who allow us to do both.
Highly recommended for fans of adult fiction, romance, and books that make you cry and think. For those who've already read the book, I loved how (view spoiler), and for those of you who haven't read the book - well, I hope you do.
After a fellow Goodreads user left a thorough and insightful comment I went back and did some research on this book's problematic portrayal of disability. I think this article does a great job of expressing why Me Before You is problematic in its portrayal of disability: https://carlyfindlay.com.au/2016/06/1.... Namely, it portrays a disabled man who wants to die because of his disability which is harmful representation. So I'm changing my rating to three stars just because I haven't gone back and reread the book. I also recognize my original review is problematic in that it condones Louisa using Will's experience and disability as inspiration for herself, which is harmful.
Original review from 2014:
Many do not consider Me Before You a love story, but I do. Like Just One Day by Gayle Forman, this book does not feature insta-love, an unrealistic steamy romance, or a traditional happy ending. But, it does contain one of the most selfless and heart-wrenching relationships I've ever read, and it includes a true tale about what it means to make a difference in someone else's life.
For the first third of the novel, I had little love for Louisa Clark, our adult protagonist. After getting laid off at the cafe she's worked at for the past several years, she soon learns that she possesses no major plans or life goals. What she does have is an exercise-obsessed boyfriend and a younger sister who overshadows her every step. Out of options, Lou takes a job caring for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic with a biting wit and little left to lose. The duo form an uncouth relationship, and though intimidated at first, Lou soon finds a mission through taking care of Will - one that might make her regret meeting him at all.
I had so many feelings when reading this book. Me Before You could have been so emotionally manipulative, but Jojo Moyes's writing exudes a straightforward vulnerability: instead of screaming "hey, I'm a wonderful, heartbreaking love story!" it simply says "look at these characters, look at how much they care for another, and find the meaning beneath it all." I tried to resist this book's charm, but Lou's honest quest and Will's vibrant pain pulled me in and sucker-punched me in the stomach before I could recognize what was happening.
Me Before You is not a perfect book, with its sometimes distracting sentimentalism and its questionable changing of narratives. However, just like life, it forces you to push past its imperfections and accept it for what it really is: a story about never settling, about always aiming for more, and the people who allow us to do both.
Highly recommended for fans of adult fiction, romance, and books that make you cry and think. For those who've already read the book, I loved how (view spoiler), and for those of you who haven't read the book - well, I hope you do.
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Quotes Thomas Liked
“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. And I told him of the adventures they had, the places they had gone, and the things I had seen that I had never expected to. I conjured for him electric skies and iridescent seas and evenings full of laughter and silly jokes. I drew a world for him, a world far from a Swiss industrial estate, 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.”
― Me Before You
― Me Before You
Reading Progress
December 28, 2012
– Shelved
July 23, 2014
–
Started Reading
July 26, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)
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Nancy
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rated it 5 stars
Jun 15, 2014 08:25AM
Hope you enjoy this (and cry as much) as I did! Lovely book, lovely characters, loved the writing. I await your review!
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Hi Thomas! How do you like it so far?
It's going pretty well so far, Ksenia! I've heard quite a few things about the ending, so I'm anticipating heartbreak in the near future. :)
Life changing book... I'm glad you liked it too :)
Indeed, Pirzha, especially for those who haven't encountered the type of love in its pages. Woo for mutual book-loving!
One of the best books I've ever read. I have to admit, I didn't want to read it because of the cover and because it focused on romance. Boy, how much I enjoyed it.
I'd never heard of this before, but it sounds interesting. Might give it a shot after reading your review.
i have been pondering the idea on weather or not to read this book. I will(guilty) admit i absolutely looooooove books that make me feel emotion...it just makes the book better:) Soooo Thomas after your review and how you say its a heart wrenching book.....i think this book has snuck its way onto my NEED TO READ shelf :)great review!
Adeeb wrote: "One of the best books I've ever read. I have to admit, I didn't want to read it because of the cover and because it focused on romance. Boy, how much I enjoyed it."Yeah, the cover and the blurb can lead to some confusion or misdirection, but either way the book manages to blow your heart apart. Glad you enjoyed it!
Isis wrote: "I'd never heard of this before, but it sounds interesting. Might give it a shot after reading your review."
I hope you enjoy it if you do give it a shot, Isis! It's interesting that you haven't heard of Me Before You before, just because it's gotten so much hype on Goodreads and throughout the book community online in general.
Paige:) The Booklion wrote: "i have been pondering the idea on weather or not to read this book. I will(guilty) admit i absolutely looooooove books that make me feel emotion...it just makes the book better:) Soooo Thomas after..."
I don't think you should feel guilty for loving emotional books, Paige! They're often the best ones, and it makes me so happy that my review has helped guide you toward Me Before You. I hope it lives up to your standards. :)
Me too:)(hope it lives up to my standards) and your reviews are just so helpful:)
Hearing so many good things about this book from people who didn't want to read it in the first place. Beautiful review, Thomas.
Paige:) The Booklion wrote: "Me too:)(hope it lives up to my standards) and your reviews are just so helpful:)"Thank you, Paige!
Allie wrote: "Hearing so many good things about this book from people who didn't want to read it in the first place. Beautiful review, Thomas."
Thanks, Allie! Yeah, the combination of tons of hype and a "romance" label might unsettle some readers, but it's taken many by surprise. Hope you enjoy it if you eventually decide to read it.
Thomas wrote: "Paige:) The Booklion wrote: "Me too:)(hope it lives up to my standards) and your reviews are just so helpful:)"Thank you, Paige!
Allie wrote: "Hearing so many good things about this book from pe..."
I think I will. People have complained about the ending, but that kind of thing doesn't stop me from reading a book, and most of my respected reviewers have great things to say about it.
love your review more after i reading the book. you describe it in a perfect way, great choice of words Thomas :) it was a really beautiful book, thanks for the review
Loca93 wrote: "love your review more after i reading the book. you describe it in a perfect way, great choice of words Thomas :) it was a really beautiful book, thanks for the review"You're welcome, thank you for letting me know that you loved the book and my review! Glad you can relate to my thoughts on the story and the characters.
You literally voiced all that I thought. Great review!!! :)
Thank you so much, Isabelle! Glad to hear that you enjoyed it too and I hope you also like the movie if you decide to watch it.
Books about caregivers and the person they care for always make it sound so much different than it is in life. I haven’t read this book, but as a disabled person who has had many caregivers, I can say you can become friends with them (usually same sex caregivers who wash, and dress you). It is much more difficult to become friends with a male caregiver than a woman imho. When someone washes you, takes care of toileting things, dresses you; it can be much more difficult and embarrassing. Thinking of a man as a partner after they have taken care of you is very hard. On the other hand, if you meet a person first, become friends and more, while leaving them out of care at first, then slowly introducing them to things while having another caregiver around is the much better way to introduce things, in my experience. Of course, explaining everything as soon as possible leaves out the possibility of deal breaking surprises later. I know that men often prefer male caregivers and I definitely prefer a female, unless I have a male partner comfortable with all things to do with taking care of me.
I’m not sure what you mean by the main character gaining a mission, but I really hate inspirational porn, no matter who is inspired. People tell me often I’m an inspiration, whatever that means, but I do try to take the statement in the spirit it was given. Books and stories that deliberately use a disabled person as “inspirational” infuriate me. We are people, maybe with different physical needs, but generally the same as most other “regular” people. We just have different/more challenges: some more than others.
Though I must say having a government that cares very little about you ( imposing poverty and rules to your life) is infuriating. There is almost nothing to be done about it, except hope a more sympathetic party is voted in, hahaha. Fat chance in this province. I wish I could move to a better one, but everything takes money. I need a rich relative, ha! Then I could tell this government exactly what I think and where to stick it!
Well, I’ve completely gone off topic and babbled enough. I am tempted to delete this comment. Then I think maybe it’s important for people to know different sides of things. Oh, disabled people can’t get married either without being consigned to poverty either, both of you. The logistics of that are fun. It’s 3am, I shall stop here before writing a novel of my own.
Kristy, thank you so much for sharing your experience and your insight. I've revised my review a bit and am committed to taking action to better understand and advocate in regard to disability justice.
