I had read 'Me Before You' a couple of years ago,before this blog existed but that story will always have a special place in my bookdom.
It told us about the relationship between a quadriplegic,Will Traynor and his carer,Louisa Clark and raised the controversial topic of Euthanasia (assisted dying).
It was such a compelling story with credible characters that I was swept into Will's world and really got so emotional that I wept.It is very rare that I am moved to tears after reading a book,but Will's story did that to me and that book got placed very high on my shelf.
So when I got to know that the sequel was out telling us about Louisa's journey,I couldnt help myself.
So, 'After you',begins about eighteen months later when Louisa Clark is trying to move on after losing the person she loved and is unable to make any real progress.She lives in London and is stuck in a job she hates.She doesnt have a life and at night she sits on her roof,drinking wine and drowning in grief.She walks on the ledge of the building ,something she has done several times before but not with the intention of harming herself.But this particular night,someone spooks her and she falls off the building.And that propels her into a new life.
She joins a support group called 'The Moving On' circle which helps people deal with loss.She meets a new man,Sam,who happens to be the paramedic who is with her at the time of her fall.She reconnects with her family.But then someone unexpected from the past comes in her life and throws her off balance.
But is it really possible to move on after losing a person you loved?Can you build a life worth living?This book makes an attempt to answer these questions as it tells us about what happens to Louisa.
My Views
I am very skeptical when it comes to sequels.I think they really shouldnt be attempted and if they are the author better do an excellent job at it.'Me Before You',raised the bar of story telling to another level.I am still in love with Will.I feel nobody can measure up to him.He was flawed but he was oh so amazing at the same time.And I can never forget his story or how I felt days after reading it.But of course this was Louisas story.
I know we get to live just one life and sometimes it might be short.But there are times when there is an instant connection with a person.Time hardly matters.While sometimes you spend an entire lifetime together and yet hardly know the person beside you.One life,one love ,thats what I believe in.
Dealing with loss is the worst thing ever.Because life doesnt stop,time doesnt standstill.'Moving on',is the hardest thing ever.
We are all damaged people,with our own cross to bear,compelled to show a different side to the world outside because we know that nobody wants to be around grief.
Like Louisa says, 'Its like you become a dougnut instead of a bun'.If it were possible to see how unwhole we were for every suffering meted out by life,there would be millions of hollow people with smiles plastered on their faces wondering what else was in store.
But Louisa's journey was about wanting to move on.Of course,Sam couldnt match up to Will.They never do in real life as well.I didnt feel that kind of chemistry between them.But he made her feel good.He made her feel that she could be all that someone needed,that she could be someones reason for staying,that she could be enough.That was an essential part to healing.Of course,theres no denying that Louisa was/is a lovable character.
There was a bit about Wills parents and their life after divorce and a bit about Louisas parents which was not that engaging.Ok let me be honest,I didnt think it was needed at all.There were some parts which were rather dramatic.
I was not as involved in this book as I hoped I might get.It was good in parts but nothing can ever compare to 'Me Before You'.
I rate it a 3 out of 5.
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