Before you

So we follow Louisa, 26, clueless, recently unemployed, complexed by the intellect of a little sister in the book has never seemed very bright but nevermind. Louisa answered an ad to keep company for six months to Will, a quadriplegic who is stuck for two years in a wheelchair, suffering and martyrdom had enough of life in general.

There are several things I liked in this book. I loved seeing Louisa achieve gradually tame the surly character of Will, and I loved seeing the relationship grow. Above all, I liked how the author addressed the subject of disability. Indeed, that restrictions when one is in a wheelchair. Having myself a handicapped father, I found in this book many obstacles that make life a wheelchair obstacle course. The unhealthy curiosity of strangers, their revulsion, unable to do anything spontaneously because yes, we must constantly be confirm and re-confirm that the place is handicapped accessible, absolute lack of control on his own life when everyone around you feels obliged to decide for you, it all hit me, and I would say that Jojo Moyes has done a pretty good job on the subject.

Unfortunately, the author Louisa ruins everything, which basically exists to enable us to meet Will. Let us say right away, Louisa, though the narrator is not the main character. It does virtually nothing.
We soon enough realize that Louisa lives a limited life. It is almost never out of its corn deep in England but oh, do not go to complain, because it easily satisfies the situation and has absolutely no ambition. This is the character that we have presented at the beginning of the book, and she is going to review how Louisa out of its torpor and turn a new page in his life? Well, she will not do it. No, Will will do it for her. One would think that the tragic history of the latter would be enough to make him realize that life is short and it is not doing much. But no. It has to be Will that pushes at every stage. This is Will decides that it must resume studying fashion design - because apparently dress with fancy make you magically gifted fashion?

And that's where the rub for me. Louisa has not decided to leave his small area of ​​comfort for herself, because she realized that it was worth more than the narrow little life that awaits him, because she realized it was time that she supports. Oh no. It does this because Will told him to do so. There. That's the only reason. Because the opinion he has of it enough to miraculously cure which prevented thus far to live life to 100%.

So beware, "Before you" is a good book, and I really liked, perhaps even more than what I've read since the beginning of the year. I would have just wanted Louisa is able to influence their own destiny. But basically it was never the heroine of this story. It has always been Will.

EDIT: Note that a film based on the book is in development.