“Don’t ever discount the wonder of your tears….sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak.” The Shack, William Paul Young.
24 Bookers armed with tissues gathered in
Rebecca Robinson’s theater to watch the movie version of JoJo Moyes bestselling
novel, Me Before You. I should have warned those unsuspecting souls
that this qualified as a waterproof-mascara-only
event. The Brits were correct in suggesting this one was “a real weepy.” (Recap below) For those wanting more, the
sequel, After You, details how Ms. Clark gets on with her life after
Will Traynor. Thanks to everyone for heeding our earlier schedule so those
playing bridge would have time to freshen their makeup. Welcome new member,
Carol Myers, to the group and we hope she will join us again!
I regret we didn’t have time for the
discussion as I suspect it would have been lively. I have a paperback of the
novel if anyone is interested in reading it – just let me know. In summary, the
book, described similar to Erich Segal’s Love Story, hangs deep emotion on
the window ledge and keeps the reader wondering, when we tumble will someone
catch us? The author expertly details the contrast in the two main characters.
Will, now physically paralyzed, has lived a full life, and now he cannot. Lou,
emotionally paralyzed, has never “fully” lived. Her mission was to give Will a
reason to live – her – and his mission was to empower her to discover the
richness of life – without him. The readers felt every sentient touch of a love
story of humanity and difficult choices, jarring us into slowing down and looking
inward.
Critics, and there were a scant few,
categorized the book as chick-lit, and its message – you only get one life and
it’s your duty to live it as fully as possible – belongs in a Hallmark card or
on a needle-point pillow. 99.9% of the reviewers disagreed, but it points out
the difference in perspective.
Will’s choice to end his life, although
difficult to reconcile or justify to some, points to the importance of walking
in other’s shoes. Ms. Moyes addressed the gravity of his situation delicately,
interjecting a light touch just when the story needed it without pointing a
moral finger one direction or the other.
I hope to duplicate Lou’s fashion sense,
especially her shoes, within our garage sale inventory!
COLOR CODING SYSTEM
WHITE: LIGHT READ
PINK: MODERATELY
CHALLENGING
RED: CHALLENGING
November
8th Everyone
Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee. The setting,
the ever-changing landscape of World War II London, 1939.
PINKISH RED
Reviewer:
Patsy Dehn
Home of Sheri
Green
December
7th: WEDNESDAY
NIGHT @ The Pinnacle Club. We’ll celebrate the
holidays in our decorated clubhouse with a plated dinner. Details to follow.
Seven Women by Eric Metaxas,
inspirational biographies of what makes women great dwelling on a common thread
of how these incredible women accomplished greatness because they are women,
not in spite of being a woman.
PINK
Reviewer:
Rebecca Brisendine
January
10th: Book
TBD
Reviewer:
TBD
Home of Donna
Walter
February
14th: Miss
Jane by Brad Watson, set in rural Mississippi early 20th
century and inspired by his aunt’s true story.
DEEP PINK
Reviewer:
Jean Alexander
Home
of Pat Faherty
March 14th: Book
TBD
Reviewer: Patty
Evans
Home
of Jean Alexander
April
11th: Book
TBD
Reviewer:
Barbara Creach
Home
of Rokhshie Malone
May 9th Tentative date.
Book
and Home: TBD
Reviewer:
Pat Faherty
News from Alabama – MN has formed the
Dauphin Island Book Club, which will debut in January, taking a page from
Bookers by reading, A Man Called Ove…..(the movie is now airing in select
theaters.) So now, she has two Clubs to take care of! We continue our search
for Bookers’ books to fill out the rest of our year. We will keep you updated.
Happy Reading,
JoDee
