Argh. This is not an easy post to write. So much to chew on in this book. So much mental anguish and emotional turmoil to consider. Not my usual dishly story. Here's the problem I have with this book:
Will Traynor will not get out of my head.
I don't know what I ever did to him...but he won't leave. He just sits there...mocking me...reminding me that he's not finished with me yet. How's a girl supposed to deal with that?
A question I need answered:
(Did I miss it? Did I skim? Eek!)
Why didn't Will have a "Do Not Resuscitate" order? When he had pneumonia...or his bag wasn't changed...or when any number of near-fatal crises arose, couldn't he have just let the lord take him then? Why go to Switzerland and put so many people through that hell? Because you want to do it on your terms? Come on. How about doing it on God's terms (whatever your idea of God may be)? That would not have been easy on anyone in the short term...but your parents, sister, nurse and girlfriend (cuz let's face it; that's what Lou was) would sure as hell have had a lot more peace in the long run.
 |
| Holy crap, right??? |
After a few days, I had to google...just to try to visualize the characters; especially Will. Let's face it, most of us don't have a quadriplegic in our lives and might have a hard time "seeing" the story. I found some really neat photos on this goodreads discussion page...first and foremost, this one that is supposed to be Will (posted by "Kristina".) WOW. I mean...holy cow. I'd have to sit down if I weren't sitting already. Does anyone know who this guy is??
And Lou? Don't even get me started on visualizing Lou. I love this character. She's so everyday. She appeals to that side of us that just wants to sit the eff down and watch some mindless TV and have everyone leave us the frig alone for five friggin minutes. Is that too much to ask? Lou kept that family together.
Treena = Dasha from The Bronze Horseman
. I wanted to smack her half the time...and then, out of the blue, she'd do something totally sweet. And no one cheered more loudly than myself when Lou kicked Patrick to the curb. Hear, hear. That guy didn't give a rat's ass about her. He might have thought he did...but he didn't. Talk about putting Baby in the corner. He'd have had her cleaning up after him and waiting up for him to come home for YEARS. I can't tell you how happy I was that she was ANYWHERE - let alone Paris - WITHOUT him...at the end of the book. I don't care that she was alone; she needed to spend some time away from everyone. God bless her.
Speaking of Paris. One snarkified comment: Sometimes I felt that Will was a bit too much. He jumped out of planes and climbed mountains and made millions in business and knew how to do everything....and also knew this certain perfume and where to find it in this little shop in Paris...and he tells Lou he always thought it would smell great on her (or whatever eloquent language he used to express that opinion postmortem.) I felt myself saying "Come ON. A little far fetched." Was it just me??
Two favorite scenes: 1) Dinner with Lou's fam. How awesome was Will? Just when you thought he was a miserable prick, he'd show up and be charming as shit. I loved him for doing that for her.
2) The wedding. OMG the wedding. If this book gets adapted for screen, I will sit on my hands, waiting for that scene. Sitting on his lap on the chair and "dancing"? Oh shit. I waited for that moment from the second we were introduced to Will. And how about him actually WANTING to go to the wedding??? I was so proud of him for that. It must have been a huge step for him.
You know...at the wedding, you could tell the bride and groom (I don't even remember their names, that's how much I hated them) were uncomfortable. They didn't know how to deal with Will. But you know what? Neither did Lou at first!! She had to learn to take care of - and spend time with - a quadriplegic. I found that to be such a refreshing journey that we all got to take with her. These people are not broken on the inside. They are just living life differently than before. They are human!! Treat them as such!!!
OK...that's it for now, before I lose a gasket over Will's "friends". Off to start another (hopefully gut-wrenching, mind-blowing) book.
Any suggestions?