Rainy Day Reads

I debated whether or nor I should even write a review for this book, as I wasn’t sure I would have enough to say about it. In the end I decided why not? I’m sure I can think of something useful to say.  This book is written by Jojo Moyes, who also wrote “Me Before You”, the latest it-book in the chick-lit genre. It takes place partly in France during the First World War and partly in modern day London. We follow two women who are connected through a painting. This painting is called “The Girl You Left Behind” and it is a portrait of Sophie, the first woman, living in France during the war, painted by her husband. Many many years later the painting is bought by Liv’s husband, who gives it to her as a wedding gift. The husband dies and Liv sees the painting as a tangible connection to him, along with the house he built for them to live in.  When Liv meets a new man he turns out to be on the hunt for her painting, as it is believed to have been looted during the wa...

I decided to read this because everyone was so in love with it. And I must say I really did enjoy it. I read another of Jojo Moyes’ books first, because it happened to be available at the library, and I liked it well enough, but I didn’t think it was anything special. Just the typical chick-lit fluffy story with a bit of a serious note thrown in for drama. So I started “Me Before You” feeling wary about it.  The story is about a young woman, Louisa, who loses her job and after a few depressing visits to the job centre she finds another job as a helper to a disabled man. She is wholly unqualified, but manages to score the job anyway. Her boss turns out to be Will, a tetraplegic, who is a taciturn sarcastic asshole at first. However, they soon connect, and Will turns out to be a wonderful guy, who’s had a bad hand dealt by fate. Louisa sets out to save him from himself, and in the process both of them gain new insights.  I think most people by this time have a vag...