Book Journey

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.

Scarlet raises her two young daughters alone while holding down a good job at the local hospital.  When it is her ex- husbands weekend with the girls, Scarlet does not mind working an extra long shift to help out a co-worker.  Then the woman comes into the ER with a mysterious story.  She claims a few days ago while coming out of a bar with her boyfriend, she was bit by what seemed to be a deranged man.  Since that time, this woman has lost around 20 pounds.  20 pounds!?!  When examined the findings are bleak.

And this is just the start of the strange happenings…

Soon the reports are coming over the news and radio stations.  There seems to be some kind of outbreak happening.  People are being bitten and dieing at alarming rates but then, coming back to some sort of “zombie like life”  where they are up and walking but what used to be the person inside is gone….

Suddenly all Scarlet wants to do is to get to where her children are if she possibly can.  It seems that the Apocalypse is at hand.

Yowza.  After reading a couple incredible gushing reviews of this book, I decided to give it a try on audio.  Having recently becoming obsessed with the Walking Dead series (another story for another day….) I was curious how this would compare.  While some things were a bit too spot on to Walking Dead ( they bite you or eat you and you too become one of them only to be put down by a shot through the head…), the rest was intriguing and fast paced…. and creepy real feeling.

This is my first book by Jamie McGuire and pretty sure it will not be my last.  Red Hill took me through a fast paced different world than I am used to.  One of fear and survival, but also of connecting with people and creating a sense of family.

That day that Eleanor got on the bus and Park had the only available seat, or more truthful, the only one that would make room for this overweight girl with frizzy red hair and clothing that looked like they belonged to a man, was a day that Park would not soon forget.

As their bus routine continues, Park finds himself becoming more and more interested in Eleanor, and Eleanor felt the same about Park.  An odd couple to say the least, Park with his half Korean heritage and Eleanor who is bullied at school, friendless, and lives in fear of her moms boyfriend create a friendship based on a love for music and comic books.

*sigh*  Why didn’t someone tell me about author Rainbow Rowell sooner than this?  After having recently listening to Fangirl by this same author and finding it a pretty sweet listen, I followed up on the buzz on Eleanor and Park.

I think one of the things I appreciated most about this book was the fact that Eleanor and Park were not your typical protagonists.  They were not the popular students.  They were not the shy misunderstood student that takes their glasses off, gets a hair cut, and comes out beautiful and everyone wants to be their friend…. Instead, Eleanor comes from a very povertish home.  Her mother is in an abusive relationship and Eleanor lives in fear for her family’s safety.  Her clothes are not new and stylish but whatever her mom can scrape together and find.  Park is quiet.  His home life is good but he feels he can’t be himself.  His mother is over protective, his father… well his dad for the most part is pretty cool… everything that Eleanor’s family life is not.

Set in the mid 80’s, you have to just fall in love along with this misfit pair, believing first love can last forever… and in a way…. doesn’t it?

Swoon worthy.  Thank you Rainbow Rowell for braving the road less traveled and creating characters that can make your heart ache.  *I bow to you*