Me Before You (JoJo Moyes)

I began this book with some trepidation - in the author's own words 'stories about quadriplegics are not easy' (http://www.jojomoyes.com/blog/).  I've told a few people about this book, and when I've tried to describe the plot without giving it all away I've received some incredulous looks related to questioning why I would be recommending it! But something about it caught me and said 'Read me!'

It is one of those books that's hard to put down and when you've finished you can't stop thinking about it. The end is heartbreaking and so, so final - one you know is going to happen but wish wouldn't - any other ending would have been trite and unbelievable.

This story stayed with me for days and strayed into my waking thoughts often. As I read it I 'forgot' Will was quadriplegic and badly damaged. I felt an infinity for Lou, even though in real life her disorganisation and refusal to take responsibility would have driven me crazy!

None of the characters in this book are 'nice' - they are however, very real with all the foibles of human nature and as such I loved them, disliked them, wanted to shake them and scream at them but in the end understood them and realised they could not have been portrayed in any other way.

Me Before You is a romantic read but it's not for romantics. JoJo Moyes is a masterful story teller and I'm tempted to read more of her books.

Leaving Home (Jodie Picoult)

The day Maddie left for uni is the saddest day of my life to date. I know there will be sadder days to come but this one was a killer.

For more than 17 years she had been my (almost) constant companion. Her little hand in mine is a feeling I will never forget.

Then suddenly she was 17, finishing school, driving and going off to uni - only two hours away; but that didn't lessen the chasm in between.

That week people whose children had left seemed to be everywhere - everyone was commiserating and checking I was okay. Childhood friends reiterated their stories on Facebook; my cousin, David, told me after dropping his daughter at uni he had cried all the way home; and even Mum and Dad worried about how I was fairing. This was most surprising of all as I had always thought that us kids leaving home had been a huge relief - I know they missed us but it had never occurred to me they had been sad about it. Even my brother, who most famously announced to his kids when they were younger that the 'first one to leave home could have a free suitcase' rang to see how things were going!

And then on Kindle appeared Jodie Picoult's short pieces - Leaving Home. It is a letter she wrote to her son when he left for college many miles away. It was a letter I could have written myself.

The whole point of parenting, and parenting well, is getting your child to the point where they can forge their own lives. It's a tough gig but there isn't a more rewarding one. Leaving Home is a must read for all parents - and probably one that should be read while your child is still holding your hand.

I love to read...

I love to read... and I love to write. I've been thinking about starting a blog ever since reading the blogs of my friends, Rose and Elaine. Rose writes about food, more particularly her spectacular cooking in Order in the Chaos. Elaine writes about living and working on Palm Island in Palm Island Adventure.

I've always wanted to blog but have struggled with purpose and whether anyone would actually want to read what I wrote. Then after being asked for book recommendations over and over I realised that maybe people would want to read about books that I had read - and would maybe add recommendations of their own!

So here goes...enjoy!