April Book Club: Me Before You ch. 22-ending

[kateisoptimistic]

Now that we have finished the book what are your thoughts overall?

Were you expecting the ending?

Was there anything that really irked you?

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective?

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes?

Anything else you want to discuss?

[ursula]

Were you expecting the ending?

Yes - it was incredibly predictable

Was there anything that really irked you?

How predictable the book was irked me. Nathan and Lou not really discussing things in much detail. Lou not having previous conversations with Patrick about her day to day experiences. Why Lou's parents just didn't share the bed in the box room. The lack of dynamic in Mr. and Mrs. Traynor's marriage. 

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective?

I don't think she ever saw things from Will's perspective. She was an incredibly selfish character and if anything, that is what she finally saw. She made the entire ordeal all about her.

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes?
I'm a big advocate for dying with dignity, so I'd like to think i'd handle it better. However, I've fortunately, never been in a situation where someone I loved was in this position.

Anything else you want to discuss?

[redfraggle]

Were you expecting the ending? yes, I was. I figured it would be too Hollywood if he stayed alive for her.

Was there anything that really irked you? Not really.

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective? I think sometimes when you get to that point of no return with someone, it just kind of happens. I feel like she just needed time to get past her own feelings to see his.

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes? I would have gone to Will's bedside right away, I think, though living with my parents would have made that harder. But I would have tried to talk him out of it and had a tough time saying goodbye.

Anything else you want to discuss? Not really.

[joi922]

I agree with a lot of what ursula said

Were you expecting the ending? Yes, I thought it was completely predictable.

Was there anything that really irked you? A lot of things. Mostly Lou and her unwillingness to even consider Will's perspective. She just made a quick judgment that his decision was wrong, and worked for months to change his mind without really thinking about what Will's life was like FOR HIM.

I was also annoyed by Lou's inability to communicate properly with pretty much anyone, and just have conversations about what is going on with her. Had she done so, she probably would have avoided moving into and almost immediately out of Patrick's apartment, the tension with her family, the tension with Will, etc.

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective? Again, I agree with ursula, that she never really did. She just finally accepted that she couldn't change his mind. Unfortunately, I don't think it ever occurred to her that it wasn't her place to even try to change his mind.

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes? I've been very clear with my husband that there are certain diagnoses that would make me move to Oregon to pursue physician-assisted suicide. So, I like to think I could be understanding of someone else who wants to make the same choice (especially someone I've just met! which is when Lou first decided she had to change Will's mind). I have never faced a situation where a loved one chose that route, so I can't say for sure what I would do, but I really think that, while I'd be sad, I'd respect their choice and just try really hard to enjoy whatever time I got with them.

Anything else you want to discuss?

[aggiebug]

This is kind of a weird book for me. It covers a really serious topic yet I feel like it is supposed to fit in the chick lit/ romance genre. I think it was hard to balance the style of writing with the subject matter. On one hand I am glad she chose this subject but I felt like the discussion was very superficial.

You get the family perspective trying desperately to stop his decision but in the end accepting his decision. You have the health care worker who seems to understand. Then there are the characters from his past life who don't know how to treat him. This new person who only knows him as an invalid and they throw in the members of the online forum to give a highlight of the varying perspectives from others in the same situation. None of these points of view were extremely well fleshed out which kind of made it fall a little flat for me.

I think Lou finally realized she could either be there for him or never see him again. I think it was less about accepting his choice but making a personal decision she could live with.

Over all I still actually enjoyed the book. I am ok with predictable reads from time to time and I still thought it made you think at least a little bit on how you would react in those situations.

[kateisoptimistic]

I have expressed my opinions about this book throughout, but I was not crazy about it. While it was a good read, it just made me angry that Lou and everyone else where being selfish and not really thinking about what would be best for Will.

Were you expecting the ending?
Yes, I saw this coming, but I am happy that Will stuck to his plans and did what was best for him.

Was there anything that really irked you?
Everyone being selfish, Lou's overall relationships with her family and everyone else, Mr. and Mr.s Traynor staying together and being so unhappy with life. And as ursula, noted, that Lou's parents wouldn't just sleep in the bed!! also that they let Treena just take their bedroom, I didn't understand any of this. It also bothered me that Nathan was so far removed from everything. I feel like he could have had a bigger role in talking Lou out of this whole scheme to convince Will to live.

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective?
I'm not sure, I think she realized she had no choice, I just didn't like her overall.

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes?
I'm sure I would have been a bit selfish in the beginning myself, trying to convince the other person they had something to live for, but I hope I would realize that they should make their own decisions and that I would help them do so with dignity. I also hope that I would have been more of an advocate for the person.

[marebeardvm]

Now that we have finished the book what are your thoughts overall?


Overall I liked the book for the fact that it brought up something most people don't think about and find hard to put themselves in someone else's shoes about. If this book made anyone think "hey, if this ever happens to me I'm not going to be as much of a selfish twat as that Lou character" then it's well worth the read. Good Lord I did not like her character.

Were you expecting the ending?


Yes, incredibly predictable. 

Was there anything that really irked you?


Pretty much every single character except Will and Nathan. Lou, is one of the most selfish, self absorbed people I've ever read. I could not stand her. I wanted to shake her. Repeatedly. It's not really a surprise though coming from her background. Also most of the relationships between everyone were just, not good. I don't know. 

What do you think made Lou finally see things from Will’s perspective?


I agree with, ursula, I think who said she didn't really. She was still focused on herself even at the end, in my opinion. 

How do you think you would handle things if you were in Lou's shoes?


I like to think I would handle it with a lot more grace than Lou did. My profession kind of makes me more apt to understand or relate to wanting to die with dignity, I believe. At the same time, thinking about my husband or children or parents in that situation really isn't something that I want to do. 

Anything else you want to discuss?
She's coming out with a sequel which I am assuming will be Lou falling in love with someone new. Maybe not. I agree that it was a weird book to try and cross chick lit/romance with. I can't imagine reading another book told by her perspective unless she had a major personality overhaul.

[aggiebug]

May 4, 2015 12:42:02 GMT -5 marebeardvm said:

She's coming out with a sequel which I am assuming will be Lou falling in love with someone new. Maybe not. I agree that it was a weird book to try and cross chick lit/romance with. I can't imagine reading another book told by her perspective unless she had a major personality overhaul.

I have thought about checking it out of the library just to see. I have no inclination of buy that book, but I didn't hate Lou as much as you did.