I know this isn't a conventional love story. I know there are all sorts of reasons I shouldn't even be saying what I am. But I love you. I do. I knew it when I left Patrick. And I think you might even love me a little bit. 

Jojo Moyes, Me before you

When I finished, I tried to figure out whether my opinion about phenomenons should be verified a little. It shouldn't. But it was worth considering.

It isn't a bad book, not at all. Frankly, I admit I enjoyed it. It can be read quite swiftly, because the story is absorbing. I liked the way Jojo Moyes wrote. It was simple, understandable, without any unnecessary extras and decorations. I'm not a fan of the first-person narrative, but I managed to handle it. Lou can't be taken as the worst female character who tells her bitter-sweet story, trust me.

Although I said it wasn't a bad book, I'm not going to praise it every possible way. There are a few aspects I didn't like. You know, I can't completely resist the feeling it's - in some parts, at least - a typical story for teenagers. I noticed a couple of schemes, if you know what I mean. First of all, Will and his behaviour. I'm not thinking of his bitterness or his unwilingness to live. I don't know wheter you spotted it, but I did even though I don't read many young adults books. I'm pondering over his sarcastic nature. I wouldn't have anything against it if it wasn't so popular nowadays. I'm myself a sarcastic person, but currently almost every book for teenagers cosists of at least one male character who tosses pungent comments all around. Too bad Will isn't a vampire. The supernaturally good-looking vampire of course. All these books made being sarcastic a trashy thing. Moreover, surnames. I can believe some people have a tendency to call their acquaintances and friends their surnames. But it was quite annoying that during the whole book Will turned to Lou as 'Lou' or 'Louisa' few and far between. I was getting it at the begging of the story. But later it wasn't so lucid. 

Okay, let's leave Will. What I didn't like as well was the way Lou discovered she loved Traynor. Of all a sudden she broke up with Patrick because their relationship happend not to be a good one, they of course weren't meant to each other so it was better to split up and let Louisa love Will without remorse. 

I don't buy it.

I know it wasn't so sudden. The author emphasized that Lou's and Patrick's interests were totally different but, hey, they were together quite a long time so I don't believe it was so easy to end it all. I know Patrick changed and Lou found a new job which provided her with so far unknown feelings, experiences and unveiled bright possibilities for the future. But the truth is the author didn't devote as much time to explain how it all proceeded as I expected. It was like 'Oh, it's too hard to describe so let's skip it'. That's how I felt when on one page Lou was living with Patrick and they had quite a predictable row and then on the next page Louisa moved in Traynor's house. 

I'm not going to talk only about minuses, though. I really liked the way the author showed a life of a disabled person. Earlier I didn't even know who quadriplegics were. I can honestly say that Jojo Moyes described Will's life, his shame, his sense of humilitation and his mental state really plausibly. I'm tolerent but I don't think much about various disabilities because, thank God, I'm healthy. I don't claim this book changed my mind and I'm a better person now. No, it didn't happen. But it was still madly interesting to read about an invalid's life. And terrifying at the same time. It was horrible to imagine that such an accident may occur to everyone, even ourselves. Afterwards your life is crashed and nothing what was once possible is this way now. You can't go for a walk, read a book, drink, eat, make love. You can't do anything except for... living, breathing and thinking about what happened. When I first read about Will's idea to commit a suicide, I was shocked. The more I knew, the more shocked I was. His parents' permission? His lawyer's help? Even the existence of the Swiss clinic. But when I deliberated on it... It's controversial, isn't it? On the one hand, it's a sin - the will to die and the murder the doctors committed. But on the other hand... what life did Will have? He wasn't able to enjoy the world. Even Lou's plan didn't help him out. So maybe it really was the only way... to be free again.

If I was to mark this story, I'd give it strong 7/10. It's not perfect (I assume no book is), but it brings a very important message. As I said, I don't feel different than I felt before. Though I sincerely believe the book may influence on somebody's way of thinking.