I’m going to preface this by saying that I watched the movie Me Before You, which is based on the book with the same title written by Jojo Moyes, before actually reading the book. And I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. So much so, that I bought a copy of it, which I tend to rewatch when the mood hits. And I will say that the mood hits often.
So, when I finally bought a copy of the book, which was written by the same person who wrote the screenplay for the movie, I was excited. And to add icing to the cake, I scored a trilogy box set, which included Me Before You, After You, and Still Me. The prospect of getting to delve even further into the life of Louisa Clark, a.k.a. Lou, the protagonist, who also happens to be my favorite character from the movie, sent me into a state of joyful bliss. After all, it’s not often that you find a movie character that you really connect with and enjoy the way that I did with Lou.
So what did I do? I grabbed the first book from my trilogy box set, curled up in bed with a beverage, and prepared to read the wonderful story of Louisa Clark, a young, unmarried woman of twenty-six, who lives at home with her parents, has an eccentric taste in clothing, and works as a cashier at a local cafe.
She thrives in her position, at work at least, until a lay off forces her to seek employment elsewhere, where she becomes the caregiver for a young, quadriplegic man with an acerbic wit and a penchant for looking down on everyone. Me Before You is an enthralling tale of the ironic and unexpected circumstances that throw two people from vastly different backgrounds into space and time with each other, forcing them to navigate the twists and turns that their newly connected lives present.
It’s a heartwarming story that just as readily makes you cry in one moment and then leaves you laughing in the next, at times prompting you to do both at the same time. And this aspect of it was possibly one of my favorites.
Because I had already watched the movie, I was already familiar with the storyline and, for the most part, the major events that occur in the book, so the full experience of surprise was lost on me. However, certain details were included in the book that had been forsaken when filming the movie, so I did still find myself courting a bit of unexpected intrigue.
Overall, the book is solidly written, with a tone and texture that is understandable, relatable, and highly realistic. And, surprisingly, the contents of the book line up with those of its movie counterpart in an almost seamless fashion.
There are a few drawbacks for me, however, which I admit might be related to my personal preferences, but nevertheless still affected my reading experience.
For starters, the novel is flooded with significantly foul language, both by American and British standards, which, for readers who prefer not to be deluged with profanity right and left while trying to read a simple story, can be rather overwhelming and disheartening.
Additionally, Moyes practically bludgeons readers with the plethora of instances in which she has characters take the Lord’s name in vain, which they do almost as frequently as they take a breath.
These two things, which, unfortunately, are common place in society in this day and age, are still no less jarring and potentially offensive simply because of their common use by many people. Yes, there are likely readers who wouldn’t think twice about the incorporation of these tactics and elements, and to that I say: To each his own. I respect their choices. Yet, as someone who doesn’t appreciate the use of these elements, especially to this degree, their incorporation detracted from my ability to casually and fluidly make my way through the novel, let alone enjoy the journey.
Is the story good? Yes. Are the characters portrayed in a realistic and relatable way? Certainly. Is the language utilized, save for the aforementioned references to the less-than-positive language usages Moyes adopts, accessible and of a type that draws the reader in and maintains the reader’s interest? Absolutely.
All in all, Me Before You is a great story with wonderfully human characters and a substantial range of depth of emotion. With that said, did I enjoy reading the book? Yes, save for the concerns mentioned above. Did I think the movie was better than the book? Yes.
How about you? Have you read this book? If so, I’d like to hear your take on it. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Be blessed. #sanguinemango
Sanguine Mango 