https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:57:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1945283 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:58:15 +0000 Bao 1945283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I know I'm already losing pieces, that's why I asked! I'm cool with whatever, if you do or don't ask any more questions, just curious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1945273 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:56:15 +0000 mrsjazz 1945273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Ha. Yes, yes, I will come up with more questions this weekend. I've read two more books since this and all the storylines are combining! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1945270 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:55:28 +0000 Bao 1945270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: are we going to have another discussion? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1941333 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:21:32 +0000 plantains 1941333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: I actually found it quite hard to believe that Lou took all that crap from her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1937957 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:43:10 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1937957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: @mrsjazz: I guess I'll wait until everyone finishes up :)</p> <p>@plantains: yeah, Treena was so entitled and a pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1937345 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:40:30 +0000 plantains 1937345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. My first impression of Lou was that she was a bit of a sad sack, funny but slightly pathetic and I wished she wouldn't let people walk all over her like that. I found Will to be quite funny and was taken by his acerbic wit.</p> <p>2. Lou's family really drove me nuts. Especially her sister. If her sister is so special, why is she working at a crappy flower shop? Why should Lou have to take horrific jobs at chicken factories and yet her sister doesn't? Her boyfriend was just so annoying.</p> <p>3. Who is your favorite character so far? Who is your least favorite? My favourite character is a draw between Lou and Will. Least favourite character by far is Treena.</p> <p>4. I have so many favourite scenes but can't remember which ones fall within these 6 chapters so I will skip this question for now.</p> <p>5. I absolutely would have taken the job, the money could not be passed up. Although at first I thought it was unfair to hire someone with no knowledge of quadriplegia, I could see why it made sense given the desire to be seen as more than a patient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1937093 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:46:43 +0000 plantains 1937093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just finished the book. Incredible. I need to recover emotionally but will be back to discuss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1936990 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:09:26 +0000 mrsjazz 1936990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: I was going to bring up Brittany Maynard but didn't because I don't think everyone has finished the book! :silly: </p> <p>She was the first person I thought of when I read this. I also saw a documentary, "The Suicide Tourist" which shows a man with ALS choosing to end his life at Dignitas. I think I read somewhere that there's a pretty long waiting list to end your life there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1936962 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:31:34 +0000 Bao 1936962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: We can discuss anything we want :) I thought about Brittany Maynard as I was reading this book! I will check out the articles in a bit, thanks for the links! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1936954 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:24:37 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1936954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: @autumnlove: @Bao: not sure how book clubs normally run, and if this isn't on topic we don't have to discuss it but.. have you seen this story about the family in the UK? This + the Brittany Maynard story are so applicable to the book.</p> <p>This article seems pretty neutral: <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/moms-fight-to-let-12-year-old-daughter-die-in-peace-101190836767.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/moms-fight-to-let-12-year-old-daughter-die-in-peace-101190836767.html</a></p> <p>"No parent can stand to see his or her child suffer, and Charlotte Fitzmaurice and David Wise of London were no exception. It’s what led the mom and dad to wage a legal battle to allow their severely disabled 12-year-old daughter, Nancy Fitzmaurice, to die. They won their landmark case in August, with a High Court judge granting Nancy’s parents the right to end her short life."</p> <p>This article is pretty strongly slanted against the family: <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/04/u-k-courts-grant-mother-right-to-end-her-12-year-old-disabled-daughter-s-life.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/04/u-k-courts-grant-mother-right-to-end-her-12-year-old-disabled-daughter-s-life.html</a></p> <p>I don't know what I think about this... As I've mentioned at length, my 1yo DS2 (D) is reliant on a feeding tube but it otherwise pretty much a normal kid.. so I'm in a tangential situation but it's not the same severity. I feel that the situation is very different in an adult that is cognizant and making informed decisions, and a child (or elderly person, or otherwise incapacitated person who has not indicated their wishes previously). Then again, to be in charge of the care for someone who is suffering so much, all the time... it puts you between a rock and a hard place, for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1934049 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 07:20:15 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1934049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just finished the book last night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1931585 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:03:11 +0000 Bao 1931585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok I'm going to try and keep my answers vague because I honestly can't remember what events happened within what chapters so don't want to give anything away ;)</p> <p>1. When Lou meets Will for the first time he is less than welcoming to her, even playing a mean trick on her to put her on edge. What were your first impressions of both Will and Lou?</p> <p>I liked them both, even though Will seemed grumpy and guarded I can see where he is coming from, and if I were him I would have acted the same way, most likely. I liked Lou's different personality and how she seemed different and not afraid to be herself. </p> <p>2. Lou's family depends on her income to support them. What do you think of Lou's family, her boyfriend, her sister?</p> <p>I didn't mind her parents, but felt like they put a lot of pressure on her to support the family. I felt like her sister took advantage of her, though.</p> <p>3. Who is your favorite character so far? Who is your least favorite?</p> <p>I like Will and Lou the best, something about their relationship thus far has grabbed my attention. </p> <p>4. What is your favorite scene between Will and Lou thus far?</p> <p>I can't remember which parts were within these chapters so I'm going to pass on this question. </p> <p>5. If you were in a similar situation, would you have taken this job? Even though Lou wasn't hired to do anything medical, she quickly had to learn medicine schedules and there was also the scare when Will had a temperature. Do you think it was fair to Will to hire someone with no knowledge of quadriplegia?</p> <p>I definitely would have taken this job. The pay was great and although she ends up doing things she was not hired to do, she learned how to do them and seemed ok with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1931568 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:53:42 +0000 mrsjazz 1931568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bumping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1929944 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:53:27 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1929944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. When Lou meets Will for the first time he is less than welcoming to her, even playing a mean trick on her to put her on edge. What were your first impressions of both Will and Lou?</p> <p>I thought that Will was being guarded - understandably so! He probably feels very emasculated and annoyed that his mother is making all of those decisions for him. I agree with PPs that Lou seemed much younger to me, more early 20s than late. I thought the obsessing about wanting to go back to the chicken factory was particularly immature. </p> <p>2. Lou's family depends on her income to support them. What do you think of Lou's family, her boyfriend, her sister? </p> <p>I think it's unfortunate her family depends on her so much, and that her sister treats her like crap and basically uses her. I think her parents probably underestimate her, and encourage her life to stay small. Also I hate the boyfriend who seems disinterested and full of himself. </p> <p>3. Who is your favorite character so far? Who is your least favorite? </p> <p>I like Lou. I hate Patrick, he's awful.</p> <p>4. What is your favorite scene between Will and Lou thus far? </p> <p>I need to go back and figure out where chapter 6 ends - reading on a Kindle! :) </p> <p>5. If you were in a similar situation, would you have taken this job? Even though Lou wasn't hired to do anything medical, she quickly had to learn medicine schedules and there was also the scare when Will had a temperature. Do you think it was fair to Will to hire someone with no knowledge of quadriplegia?</p> <p>I would have taken the job, mostly because of the needed money. I similarly had to learn a lot of medical stuff very quickly to care for DS2 - you have to do the best with the situations that present themselves! Particularly in this case they wanted her as a companion, someone with medical knowledge I think would always been seen as more of a nurse. I do think she should have been more proactive in communicating with Nathan/the mom when Will was getting sick, that was irresponsible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1928881 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:41:02 +0000 MediaNaranja 1928881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. I agree with you that Lou seems like she needs to grow up. She seemed a little silly, a little naive, and a bit flighty. I 100% attribute that to the fact that she still lives in her parents' home, and that they still treat her like an adolescent--even though she's the breadwinner. The first few chapters I was thinking to myself "Come on, Lou..."</p> <p>I immediately liked Will--it seems like he has a wicked sense of humor. I get that he's grumpy. He has every right to be grumpy. But I loved that you could see that little glimmer of his old self underneath. </p> <p>2. I like that her family is so close, but I dislike how needy they are. It seems like her parents put too much pressure on her, and too little on her sister. Her sister seems really entitled--needs the free childcare provided by her mom, needs the bigger room, needs Lou to work, etc. etc. </p> <p>Lou and Patrick seem like the kind of couple that got together when they were young, then grew up and grew apart, but it's just easier to stay together than it is to break up.</p> <p>3. I feel like the Grandpa might be good comic relief! But I like Lou, and I think I'll really like Nathan as well. I agree with you that Treena is annoying. She is just an entitled little brat!</p> <p>4. I agree, the lunch, and the blow dryer on the crotch! You can see the glimmer of something starting up there.</p> <p>5. I would have been nervous (like Lou!) but I would have taken it. It is so hard to be out of work (I've been there), and I can imagine it is even harder when your family is relying on you. I do think it was unfair how much pressure her family put on her (especially her sister!). I mean, what would they do if she decided to move out one day?!</p> <p>While sheltered and naive, I think Lou is pretty smart, and I think that she'll pick things up quickly (but not without some comical mis-steps first).</p> <p>Thanks for hosting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1928161 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 23:12:22 +0000 autumnlove 1928161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for hosting! I am only on chapter 3 so I need to catch up fast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1928078 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:32:00 +0000 mrsjazz 1928078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My answers:</p> <p>1. My first impression of Lou was that she needed to grow a bit of a backbone when it came to her family. She seems younger than her years at first because it doesn't seem like she has any direction.</p> <p>I liked that the book started with Will before the accident, so that we could get a sense of his life and attitude before. He was confident, perhaps a little conceited. I liked Will even though he was crotchety. It had only been 2 years since his accident so I could see why he was so mean, to go from the fast-paced adventurous life he led to having around-the-clock care and not being able to wipe your own ass, I'd be mean, too!</p> <p>2. I wanted everyone to be nicer to Lou. Her Mom and nephew seem the nicest. Treena needs Lou but doesn't act like she does. She also seems a little selfish to me. I don't understand why she's with Patrick, they seem mismatched.</p> <p>3. My favorite character is Lou. My least favorite character is Treena. </p> <p>4. My favorite scene with Will and Lou is when she is getting him ready for his doctor's appointment and spilled his lunch on his lap, then proceeded to use a blowdryer to dry his lap. I wasn't expecting the novel to be funny.</p> <p>5. I guess if I was in the situation that Lou was in as the primary breadwinner for her family, I would take the job. I wouldn't like it though because I know I'd be unqualified. And I'd be afraid something would go wrong on my watch or that I'd have to clean up adult poop. I've never had to be the caregiver for an adult before, so it's definitely something foreign to me. I understand why his mother wanted someone for Will to talk to, but I think it would have been better to at least give her some kind of literature on his condition, make her do some reading. You never know when an accident can happen and Lou was definitely not prepared to take care of Will. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-me-before-you-week-1#post-1928043 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:07:49 +0000 mrsjazz 1928043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here are the questions for the first 6 chapters of "Me Before You." If we want to pick up the pace a little (I know some of us have already finished the book) let me know!</p> <p>1. When Lou meets Will for the first time he is less than welcoming to her, even playing a mean trick on her to put her on edge. What were your first impressions of both Will and Lou?</p> <p>2. Lou's family depends on her income to support them. What do you think of Lou's family, her boyfriend, her sister?</p> <p>3. Who is your favorite character so far? Who is your least favorite?</p> <p>4. What is your favorite scene between Will and Lou thus far?</p> <p>5. If you were in a similar situation, would you have taken this job? Even though Lou wasn't hired to do anything medical, she quickly had to learn medicine schedules and there was also the scare when Will had a temperature. Do you think it was fair to Will to hire someone with no knowledge of quadriplegia? </p>