Book Journey

A portrait of finding those you have loved and lost in the hearts of others.

Beautiful.  ~Sheila

14-year-old June Elbus thought the sun and moon rose and sat around her Uncle Finn.  He was her everything, her confidant and the one who really understood her.  He was an artist, known for his may with a canvas and he even created an incredible painting of June and her sister Greta. In the early 80’s it was hard for people to talk about what made Finn sick, but June’s mom (Finn’s sister), sat June down and explained that Finn had AIDS.

Suddenly June’s world is turned upside down.  She now has to fear what happens in Finn leans in to hug her, of offers her a drink of his beverage. And then, Finn dies.

At the funeral June sees a very sad-looking man and learns another shock.  This man, Toby, has been Finn’s long time partner of 9 years.  June’s mom will have nothing to do with him saying that he is the one who gave Finn AIDS.  Yet slowly as time goes on June meets with Toby and starts to learn about a side of Finn she never knew.  Hiding the fact she is meeting Toby from her family who would not approve and her always accusing eye of her troubled older sister Greta, June expands her world and understanding of how fragile life can be.

There are so many layers to this story that it is hard to put into a review.  Obviously the main story is of Finn and June and AIDS.  But there is also the painting of June and Greta that follows right along throughout the book in a powerful way – almost a metaphor of how life is never how we see it at one glance and how we are always changing and growing in ways that are seen and unseen.  And there is also Greta, battling her own demons as almost this under layer of turmoil that everyone is caught up in.

Powerful?  yes.  There were a couple of things in the book that I felt were unnecessary, and I am just going to say it. Toby drinking and smoking with June probably had some purpose to the story.. something about living on the edge or throwing caution to the wind – but it bothered me because 1) June is 14 and 2) Toby is an adult (30’s I believe) and should know better.  It just felt unnecessary.

Ok that said – the book is a brilliant look into the scare of the AIDS epidemic of the 80’s and the reaction of the families it touched.  It takes a young girl to see through the disease to the people, and for that reason, the book is brilliant.

I listened to this one on audio and Amy Rubinate narrated this very well.

Louisa Clark has spent her life comfortably living at her home (even though she is in her later 20’s).  She has a steady long term job that keeps her happy and a boyfriend of 7 years that is just as comfortable to her as the rest of her small life.  When her job suddenly disappears when it is unexpectedly closed, Louisa applies for a well paid position that is completely out of her skill set – a temporary job of assisting a 35 year old man who is a quadriplegic, wheelchair bound and needs assistance and someone to watch over him while his mother and father are at work.  Surprisingly, Louisa is offered the job.

Will Trainer used to be the guy who had everything.  The looks, money, body, and ability to go anywhere and do anything.  He loved to ski, and travel and explore the world and all that was taken away in the blink of an eye.  An accident that left him unable to move his body on his own, except for his mouth to speak, and eyes. 

Louisa quickly learns she will be earning her pay.  Will is very angry with the loss of his previous life.  He hates that he can do nothing for himself and hates that people make decisions for him instead of asking him his opinion.  Yet Louisa is no pushover and Will learns to respect her as they spend day after day together.  When Louisa overhears that Will has made a decision that is shocking and unthinkable, Louisa decides that her time with him must be used to do everything she can to change his mind before it it too late.

Oh.

I just finished listening to Me Before You moments before I started writing this review.  I wanted to get my thoughts down right away.  Why why why did I wait to read or listen to this amazing book?  I am overcome right now with emotions that are exhilarating and heart breaking and well… I am all over the board.

Louisa makes for a great protagonist in contrast to Will.  She has lived life quite the opposite of Will, having enjoyed the regularity of her day to day.  Will on the other hand, has been everywhere and done everything.. it is amazing to see how a man confined now to a smaller life, can broaden the horizons of a girl who could go and do things, but chooses not to.

Choices.

Really – Me Before You is about choices.  The choices we make and how they affect not only us but those around us.  Honestly I want to go on and on about this book, gushing out why you must read it, why you should request a copy now, and holy smokes seriously GET ON THIS LEVEL of book satisfaction with me and together we shall embrace the world with our new found wisdom….

If I was a “book rating” kind of gal I would give this 5 shiny stars and a snap. 

I must bring out the spoiler page so those of you who have read this book can talk about it because I do want to talk about it.  Please push that button below if you are in the “have read” on this one.  Let’s do this.