Book Review: Me Before You.

Last Friday, I asked people on my Instagram story what they’d like to read on my blog and about four of them said they’d like to read book reviews and summaries and I’ll be reviewing “Me Before You”, a book by Jojo Moyes published in 2012. It was adapted to a movie in 2016. How cool is that?

Um… I have a confession to make – I’ve never done this before, I’m a virgin to book reviews and I’m shy lol. There’s a reason for this tho’. Reading has always been a means of escape from reality because, with these books, I develop my vocabulary and I’m free to allow my imaginations to run wild. Also, reading books is something I do because I want to and not because I’m being told to do so. I think that’s what takes the fun out of school books. We read them because we have to and not necessarily because we want to. I read random genres which often include romance, thrillers, mystery, and the usual teen fiction.

In a way, I feel like writing a book review means that I have to explain what I’ve read to you and it’s low-key like an exam because I’d just give you a link to where I downloaded the books instead of explaining but what kind of person would I be if I didn’t give you what you asked for?

Let’s get to it, shall we?

ME BEFORE YOU

“Me Before You”, published in 2012 by Jojo Moyes is a novel about two characters who under normal circumstances would not have met but Louisa Clark, a simple but quirky woman who has just lost her job and is looking for another finds herself as a caregiver in the home of Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who gives the first impression as rude and utterly cynical.

However, both of them slowly find a balance and develop a friendship. Will encourages Louisa to come out of her bubble and try new things. Louisa, although hesitant begins to learn about new stuff and lets loose a little and this puts a smile on Will’s face.

In the course of her caregiving, she finds out that Will has plans of his own – he has decided that his suffering is too much and this is not the life he wants to live, especially since he was adventurous by nature, someone who had previously climbed mountains, skydived and traveled the world for fun. Will cannot reconcile his present life with his previous one as he’s stuck in a wheelchair and has to depend on people to do things for him all the time.

When Louisa finds out that he plans to take his life through assisted suicide at a set date, she does all she can to ensure that she changes his mind. She puts effort into planning different activities to show Will that he can be paralyzed and still have a life worth living. She tries to give him some of her happiness but her efforts may not be enough to change his mind.

I saw the movie before I read the book (Me Before You was adapted into a movie in 2016) and I loved every bit of it. This book is not your typical romance novel but to a great extent, it teaches you to appreciate life in every form because there are people who do not have the choice that most of us have. Also, Jojo Moyes shows us that we don’t have to settle because there’s a whole world in front of us. Also, that mediocrity never conquers much.

Jojo Moyes portrays the characters in Me Before You in a way that you can relate to them on many levels and although the novel is mostly written in Louisa’s POV, she adds points of view from other characters to give clarity. She also portrays the wars of quadriplegia, as well as the psychological toll it takes on its victims, straightforwardly. She doesn’t represent life the way we want it to be, but she portrays it as it is – with harsh realities.

This book may cause controversy in the sense that some people do not believe that suicide is acceptable, no matter what. Also, it might seem that all hope is lost to people who are in the same situation as Will. I mean, imagine a quadriplegic having to go through the various emotions caused by “Me Before You”. It will probably depress his/her depression.

However, it was realistic and I cried. A lot. But it was a great read and I’ll probably read it again, seeing as I’ve seen the movie at least three times since 2016.

The book has sequels:

AFTER YOU

STILL ME

I downloaded “Me Before You” from this site. You should read it if you liked this review.

Love,

‘Ruona ❤️.

P.S:

How are you doing?

What did you think of my first attempt at reviewing a book?

Have you read “Me Before You” or seen the movie?

Do you think you’d like to read the book?

Please let me know in the comment section. Your responses give me joy! 💜

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Mentally Lazy?

Happy New Month!! 🎉🎉
It’s a lovely Friday evening here in Abraka and I’m chilling in my room and listening to old jams. My phone is still plugged to the socket at 100% (because 99% is not 100%. Feel me?) and I’m drinking Sprite. In fact, all is good in the world.
See, I keep saying this and I’ll continue. You guys who actually text me to ask when my next blog post will be up, you don’t know how grateful I am. I’m a lazy writer but you’ve not given up on me and you’re always so patient. You’re the real MVPs and I cannot thank you enough.

I usually have a lot of stories to tell because I’m always talking but today words fail me. I mean, where would I start from? Is it the annoying weather here in Abraka? I can write an essay on how the weather always brings it’s A-game. I mean, if the sun wants to shine, it will make sure that there’s no difference between your face and roasted corn. It doesn’t even rain cats and dogs over here. The correct term should be elephants and gorillas.

It’s a tortured smile instead of a sun-kissed picture

Meanwhile, I’ve taken out these braids and I’m back to default settings.

Can’t embarrass anyone I care about

Another issue on ground is the fact that I haven’t decided on what my project topic will be. I don’t even understand because I was very sure that I had an idea of what I wanted my project to be about. Lately, we started learning about research and I’ve just become confused and undecided. I’ve just been observing some of my course mates that have gotten their project topics approved and I’m like these ones are the real 400 level students smh. God knows that Oseruona is already tired and at this point, all I can say is:

I cannot even stress myself because I’m tired of thinking about getting my degree and dropping out at the same time. Mental stress is real stress, trust me. After thinking like this, someone’s child will start reasoning hot starch and Banga soup.

This brings us to today’s random thought.

The other day in class, our lecturer asked a question that was totally unrelated to our course of study. It had to do with Physics (or was it Chemistry?) and nobody in the class could answer. Personally, I wasn’t even reasoning the question not to talk of the answer because I’ve never attempted Chemistry or Physics in my life. ”Wetin concern me” was a mood that hour. Our lecturer got tired of waiting for an answer and just shook her head while saying ”you students are mentally lazy”. Ha! Me, Oseruona Oluwaseyi Asak mentally lazy? God forbid. 😂😂

As the lecture progressed, I was still thinking about what she said and I actually realized that she had a point. Who said that your knowledge had to be limited to your course of study alone? I decided to check myself and I quickly ran to my WhatsApp status to say that

It didn’t end there, guys. I kept pondering on that phrase. She had a point. Maybe she wasn’t expecting us to give a correct answer but she expected that we would have an idea. As Mass Communication students, we’re often told that we should know something about everything and everything about something. I do not think that your knowledge should be limited or confined to a particular field.

I’ve realized that people tend to be comfortable with what they know without making any effort to learn more about the world. People no longer read like they used to. They don’t seek more knowledge and they’re fine with it. It’s sad actually, really sad. A lot of us have various means of sourcing for information but we’re often not abreast of the happenings in the society and are often ignorant about issues that do not concern us.

Being mentally lazy means that you’re not able to use your God-given brain to think. Nobody says you have to know everything but imagine being in the midst of people and you cannot contribute meaningfully to the discussion. Imagine being asked a question and all you can say is ”I don’t know”. There are times that you’d be totally ignorant about the situation at hand but imagine if it keeps happening all the time! For example, I’m not a football person but I can identify different teams from each other to an extent, I know what a red card is and I also know Ronaldo and Messi. (Lmao I’m already feeling like one football coach 😂).

Anyways, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting knowledge. It helps you in one way or another. There is nothing wrong with learning and there’s nothing wrong with reading wide especially if you have the opportunity. One cannot keep living in ignorance. Learn to expand your horizon. It can only do you good.

I will stop here because I’ve suddenly become hungry. Please push yourself harder and never limit yourself. The sky is not even the limit. It could be your starting point. Don’t be lazy for any reason, be it mentally or physically. There’s so much knowledge waiting to be grabbed. God bless you, dear.

Love,

’Ruona ❤️

P.S:

What will I have for dinner nowww? 😩

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