"Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes - Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles

About the Author: Jojo Moyes

Jojo Moyes, born Pauline Sara Jo Moyes on August 4, 1969, is a British author known for her emotionally resonant and bestselling novels. Here's a brief biography of Jojo Moyes:

Early Life and Education: Jojo Moyes was born in London, England, and grew up in London, London and Maidstone, Kent. She attended Royal Holloway, University of London, where she studied English Literature and later pursued a postgraduate journalism degree at City University, London.

Career: Moyes began her career as a journalist, working for various publications, including The Independent newspaper, where she worked as an arts and media correspondent. She later worked for The Sunday Times for ten years, where she became the newspaper's assistant news editor.

In addition to her work in journalism, Moyes has always had a passion for writing fiction. She published her first novel, "Sheltering Rain," in 2002, followed by "Foreign Fruit" in 2003 and "The Peacock Emporium" in 2004. While these early novels received positive reviews, it was Moyes's later works that garnered widespread acclaim and commercial success.

Moyes achieved international success with her novel "Me Before You," published in 2012. The novel tells the story of Louisa Clark, a young woman who becomes a caregiver for a wealthy quadriplegic man named Will Traynor. "Me Before You" became a bestseller and was adapted into a successful film in 2016, starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.

Moyes has since written numerous bestselling novels, including "After You" (2015) and "Still Me" (2018), which continue the story of Louisa Clark. She has also authored standalone novels such as "The Girl You Left Behind" (2012), "The One Plus One" (2014), and "The Giver of Stars" (2019).

Moyes's novels are known for their engaging characters, emotionally charged storytelling, and exploration of themes such as love, loss, and personal growth. She has received several awards for her work, including the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

Personal Life: Jojo Moyes currently resides in Essex, England, with her husband, journalist Charles Arthur, and their three children. She continues to write and is actively involved in various literary projects and initiatives.

Jojo Moyes's distinctive voice and storytelling style have earned her a loyal readership and critical acclaim worldwide. Through her novels, she explores the complexities of human relationships and the resilience of the human spirit with depth, empathy, and authenticity.

Synopsis

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose. Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life--steady boyfriend, close family--who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after a motorcycle accident. Will has always lived a huge life--big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel--and now he's pretty sure he cannot live the way he is. Will is acerbic, moody, bossy--but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living. A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn't have less in common--a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Discussion Questions

Love and Relationships:
- Analyze the central relationship between Louisa "Lou" Clark and Will Traynor. How does their initial dynamic evolve throughout the novel? What challenges do they face as a couple, and how do they navigate them?
- Discuss the role of secondary relationships, such as Lou's relationship with her family and Will's relationship with his parents, in shaping the characters' lives and decisions.
Disability and Identity:
- Explore the portrayal of disability in the novel, particularly Will's quadriplegia. How does Moyes depict Will's struggles with his disability and his sense of identity? How does society's perception of disability impact Will's experiences?
- Discuss the ways in which Lou's relationship with Will challenges her preconceived notions about disability and forces her to confront her own biases.
The Right to Die:
- Examine the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding the topic of assisted suicide as portrayed in the novel. How do characters like Will and Lou grapple with the idea of the right to die? What arguments are presented for and against Will's decision to pursue assisted suicide?
- Discuss the novel's portrayal of autonomy and personal choice in the face of debilitating illness. How do societal norms and legal constraints influence Will's ability to make decisions about his own life?
Friendship and Sacrifice:
- Explore the theme of friendship in the novel, particularly the bond between Lou and Will. How does their friendship evolve over the course of the story, and what sacrifices do they make for each other?
- Discuss the impact of Lou's presence in Will's life and how their friendship enriches both characters. How does Lou's friendship with Will change her perspective on her own life and ambitions?
Change and Personal Growth:
- Analyze the ways in which the characters, particularly Lou, undergo personal growth and transformation throughout the novel. How does Lou's relationship with Will challenge her to reassess her priorities and pursue her own dreams?
- Discuss the significance of the title, "Me Before You," and its implications for the characters' journeys of self-discovery and self-fulfillment.
The Ending and Resolution:
- Reflect on the ending of the novel and the resolution of Will's storyline. How does Moyes handle the sensitive subject matter of assisted suicide, and what emotions does the ending evoke in readers?
- Discuss the novel's exploration of grief, loss, and acceptance in the aftermath of Will's death. How do characters like Lou and Will's family members cope with their grief, and what lessons do they ultimately take away from their experiences?
Film Adaptation:
- If applicable, compare and contrast the novel with its film adaptation. How does the film interpret the themes and characters of the book, and how does it impact the emotional resonance of the story?

MLN Materials

book
large print book
playaway
spoken CD

Ebook Versions

Libby

Audiobook Versions

Libby

"Me Before You" Series
The Me Before You Trilogy follows the story of Louisa Clark through love, heartbreak, and life-changing decisions as she discovers who she really is.

Watch "Me Before You" (2016)
Young and quirky Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
Call Number: FIC GRAVES
Annika Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people's behavior confusing, she'd rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess. Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game--and his heart--to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone. Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She's living the life she wanted as a librarian. He's a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.
Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg
Call Number: FICTION Berg
What do women talk about when they know they don't have forever? They talk about what they have always talked about, only they go deeper and more honest: with outrageous humor they try to mitigate pain. Intimate and uncensored sharing, the kind of connection women prize, is at the heart of this deeply moving novel about the grit and power of female friends. Ann and Ruth have always talked as only great friends can--honestly, and about everything: husbands and marriages, sex lives and children, their work, their hopes, their disappointments, and their dreams. For Ann, cautious and conventional, her closeness to the outspoken and eccentric Ruth brings about discovery and liberation, a chance to say whatever she wants, and, most important, under the insistent tutelage of Ruth, to become herself. Over the years, the women have shared recipes, quilting patterns, child care, delicate and dangerous secrets. Each rests secure in the knowledge that they will be friends forever. Then something happens that will change their lives forever, and the women begin to share something more profound than either of them might have predicted.
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
Call Number: FICTION Evison
Jonathan Evison has crafted a novel of the heart, a novel of unlikely heroes traveling through a grand American landscape, and most of all, a story that offers a profound look into what it takes to truly care for another person. Bursting with energy and filled with moments of absolute beauty, this bighearted and inspired novel ponders life’s terrible surprises as well as its immeasurable rewards.
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
Call Number: FICTION Genova
An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago. Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce--his divorce. He knows his left arm will go next. Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn't moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it. When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard's muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it's too late. Poignant and powerful, Every Note Played is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Call Number: FICTION Whelan
American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she's finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she's offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star's presidential campaign. With the promise that she'll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she's free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day. When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she's envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn't anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret. Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she's falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she's always wanted are the same ones she's now yearning for.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) by Jesse Andrews
Call Number: YA FIC Andrews
This is the funniest book you'll ever read about death. It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he's figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl. This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg's mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg's entire life.