Ok so I admit that I watched the movie before reading this.
Ugh. Make sure you have tissues and some kind of comfort food when you read this. Seriously. Especially the ending.
Louisa, a witty, outgoing 26yr old in England loses her job at the local bakery and goes to the Job Centre to find a job. Through this she takes a job with the Traynor family who owns the local castle. Their son is a quadriplegic and needs a companion. Louisa signs on for 6 months but her first impressions of Will are not good. Will she be able to make it through?
Ok so not my best reader's digest version of the novel above but I'm hoping that I'll make it sound more appealing here. This is one of those books that makes you think - about life, things going on around you and about yourself. With the movie I got more wrapped up in the relationships - Louisa and her family, Will and his family and the unique bond that forms between Louisa and Will. The book was slightly different in the way they presented those relationships (the book has a sister to Will whereas the movie doesn't for example). I truly think you need to read the book AND watch the movie to be able to get the whole picture so to speak. Not necessarily in that order either. Both made me cry. The book helped me understand the limitations of quadriplegics and the obstacles that they face everyday. The movie helped me understand that when you look at someone you get so much more out of a look, whether it's between parents, co-workers or someone you are in a relationship with. I must admit that I liked Louisa better in the movie than I did in the book. And I really disliked Louisa's sister in the book. Whereas in the movie she only plays a minor supporting role.
Ok I'll stop comparing the book to the movie since this blog is about book reviews and not comparisons to movies made from books.
Jojo writes very well from the medical aspect of quadriplegics and their requirements. It's not overflowing to the point you want to go cross eyed from medical terminology but she helps you understand just what is involved. It feels like you are learning along with Louisa. Emotionally you connect with her frustration in coming into a situation that is so new and out of her comfort zone. It is a gripping testimony that although life throws some pretty hard curve balls, that a positive smile and willingness to fight can get you through anything.
I would DEF recommend!!
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