My first thought on
reading Me
Before You was that it is quite similar to the Hindi movie starring Hrithik
Roshan and Aishwarya Rai - Guzaarish. Indeed the premise is the same. Will
Traynor seems to have it all – money, looks, charm – until he is involved in a
horrific accident which leaves him bed-ridden and dependent on others for everything.
Lou Clark is the reluctant helper appointed to assist him.
Will is filled with bitterness
and anger as he resents his fate and the fact that he doesn’t really have
anything to look forward to anymore in life. Lou on the other hand is trying to
find herself even as she struggles to be rid of a painful past. While everyone in
Will’s life tread carefully afraid of irking him, Lou will have none of it. She
refuses to be bullied by him and ignores his taunts and tantrums. She charms him with her spirit, outspokenness and a strange vulnerability. Over time a
comfortable bond begins to develop between them – which eventually blooms into
a fragile relationship. But what about Lou’s boyfriend? Where does he fit into
this picture? And with Will having no future to speak of, where will this
relationship end up?
I found this book to be an entertaining read. The ending moved me to tears – as I was
desperately hoping for things to take another turn – but they don’t. This is
the first book I've read by this author. I got it from a book club that I am a
member of and I was fully expecting a typically romantic, candy-floss novel which
would probably make me roll my eyes heavenwards with its unbearable clichés. But
this book definitely went a step beyond that.
Even if a little predictable, it
wasn’t boring as it was fast-paced and things kept moving along swiftly. Although
dealing with a difficult situation, the author doesn’t dwell too heavily on the
depressing angles and instead manages to lighten the mood with ironic humour; which
is why it makes the poignant moments tug at your heart strings and makes you
wish fervently for a happy ending. In the end however, one cannot say that the
ending is tragic – rather it is a practical one where each person discovers and
embraces what is best for them in life.
Saying anything more would give away the story - so I'll stop here. But if you are looking for a moving and absorbing read, go for it!
