November 17, 2015
I finished another book! Woohoo! Around this time last year, I think, I finished Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, and I really liked it. A friend recommended it to me. I was at my local library in September, and I saw that a sequel to Me Before You had just come out, and I was so excited! Unfortunately, all the copies, in the library and on its digital site, were of course all checked out and had a hold line. Luckily for me, one library branch in my county system had the book the day I was randomly checking for its availability. So, I picked it up last Tuesday and finished it this morning. It was a really good read following its first book.
After You is Louisa's life after working for the Traynor family. (If I say more about why she is no longer working for them, I'd ruin it for those who haven't read the first book!) Of course there is conflict, surprises and love. She is kind of "stuck" in life and isn't living to her full potential (maybe that's just my interpretation), and she makes a lot of though decisions throughout.
I don't want to say more because I always have a tendency to say too much then spoil the book. So, get your hands on After You once reading Me Before You. I really enjoy Jojo's writing style. Even the parts that are "slow" don't bore me. She makes it easy to understand and follow. I haven't lost someone significant in my life, but I did grasp the importance of following your gut and having a balance of doing things for yourself versus things for others. Lou, from her sister's eyes, is not being selfish enough and focusing on doing what's best for herself. In my own life, I feel like I have had moments where I would selflessly do things for others to benefit without looking out for myself.
I hosted a radio show last Sunday, and I talked about how yoga is a selfish practice, and I really need to get back on the mat in a classroom setting. This book is a lot about moving on and grief, but this book came at a good time for me as a reminder to do the selfish things for myself and find that balance in life.
Now, what to read next?