Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Series: Me Before You #1
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 369
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:
My Thoughts
ME BEFORE YOU has left a hole in my heart, leaving me feeling bereft and contemplative. I’ll be reeling from this one for a long time. I’m glad I read it, but it’s hard to explain why because of its complexity and polarizing issues.
I get why this book is so controversial. It handles some very hard topics. At its core, though, I think it’s a heart-warming and heart-wrenching story about choice, what constitutes a life worth living, overcoming adversity, depression, and accepting a choice you don’t agree with. While I see both sides, I chose to accept this story for what it was. One man’s choice and the reasons that lead him to that choice.
Despite the fact that I’m glad I read this and I would read it again, I don’t plan to continue the series. And, even though the story has romantic elements, I wouldn’t consider ME BEFORE YOU a romance.
Number The Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
Format: Paperback
Pages: 137
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
I first read NUMBER THE STARS when I was in the 6th Grade. It’s the only book I remember reading before high school. (I hated to read when I was a kid.) It started my fascination with stories set during World War II and about the Holocaust.
I was drawn to Annemarie Johansen’s story in Copenhagen and her family’s fight to keep her best friend, Ellen Rosen, safe from the Nazis occupying their country. I remember worrying about them getting caught and feeling relieved when they didn’t.
I’m so glad I decided to reread NUMBER THE STARS. It was so nostalgic for me. Even though the story and writing are geared toward young readers, it’s still relevant and important for adults so we can remember the courageous people who fought against fascism and genocide.
Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Series: Me Before You #1
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 369
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:
My Thoughts
ME BEFORE YOU has left a hole in my heart, leaving me feeling bereft and contemplative. I’ll be reeling from this one for a long time. I’m glad I read it, but it’s hard to explain why because of its complexity and polarizing issues.
I get why this book is so controversial. It handles some very hard topics. At its core, though, I think it’s a heart-warming and heart-wrenching story about choice, what constitutes a life worth living, overcoming adversity, depression, and accepting a choice you don’t agree with. While I see both sides, I chose to accept this story for what it was. One man’s choice and the reasons that lead him to that choice.
Despite the fact that I’m glad I read this and I would read it again, I don’t plan to continue the series. And, even though the story has romantic elements, I wouldn’t consider ME BEFORE YOU a romance.
Life And Death
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Series: Twilight Saga #1.5
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Spice: 0.5 / 5
Format: Kindle
Pages: 400
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: Midnight Sun
My Thoughts
I’m a huge TWILIGHT fan so when I heard Meyer was releasing a gender-bent version for the 10th anniversary, I was cautiously optimistic. It was really trippy, but I liked the ending and thought it was interesting. I had fun with the changes, but I like the original better.
Meyer said she wrote LIFE AND DEATH because of the criticism she had received about TWILIGHT not working had the roles been reversed (i.e., male human / female vampire). After reading LIFE AND DEATH, I kind think the criticism is valid. It just felt too weird. Had I not read TWILIGHT first, maybe I would’ve thought differently.