I read the Goodreads description and was like, "Eh, okay, it'll probably be a nice, light read" which is exactly what I needed after rereading Eleanor & Park and Ignite Me for like the hundredth time.
I wasn't entirely wrong.
I will tell you now I had trouble getting into this story. I couldn't really relate, I was getting bored, I had no idea it was set in London and I was wondering why it was set in 2009. It was a slight struggle to keep myself reading, but for some reason reading The Hidden Oracle was a little troublesome too (still haven't finished it), and I thought I had to read either of them. As this was a contemporary I thought I would read this one quickly then move on to The Hidden Oracle again. So, I pulled through.
Louisa is in her mid-twenties and has not left her hometown once during her whole life. She has been working in a small cafe for the past five years until, the owner has to close and therefore she has to go. As she searches for a job, and the only apparent options seem to be either being a lap-dancer or at a chicken processing factory or a carer - she goes with the one that takes away a little less dignity then the others. Like this, she is introduced into Will's life, a 30-something year old man who after living the best-est of lives filled with woman, travel and work he actually enjoyed, ends up apprehended to a wheelchair and completely at the mercy of those around him. Thus, our story truly begins as the tale of these two intertwine and bring me, eventually, to tears.
I don't like leaving books mid-read. Then I get lost, I forget characters and mind you, I was still forgetting who was who as it was. So though at the beginning I was barely trudging forward (it also has to do with the fact of how bitter and douchey Will was) around the middle I finally started getting into it.
I must say I agree with Camilla and her decision to allow her son to do such a thing. I come from a conservative family and our belief in God has always been one of our top strengths, and some may think this would mean I would never let a person I love commit suicide. That is esentially what they're doing. However, the whole point in this I believe, in the story and the struggles, is that it does not depend on whether we think it is right or wrong. It is the simple fact that it is not our choice. So if someone I loved, whether it be my partner or my daughter or my nephew, I would go along with it. I would not be okay. I would be in unbearable pain. But it would not be my choice.
So I was also allowed to understand the lesson Will left to Louisa - yolo. Though sometimes the youth of today gets this idea totally wrong and twisted towards their convenience (Hm, should I get drunk? Well you know what, you only live once right? YOLO! *takes more than 5 shots but stopped counting after that), we do in fact have only one life. This however, was not a lesson I was still in need of learning. My intentions have always been to explore, the travel, to feel, to live. But thank you anyways I suppose for a lovely reminder.
Those two points were what most registered with me after reading this, I can't say it's one of my favorites and I only gave it four stars out of five. But, if you're into imperfect love, too-real drama and sarcastic little shits - then this one's for you.
- Vanessa Z. M.
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