"Staying Together"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032) 

February 22th, 2021 

Introduction

"Staying Together" is a romance fiction novel by Judith Wilson. The book was first published by Cambridge University Press on March 22th, 2001. 

Judith Wilson is a London-based writer and journalist. She graduated with Distinction from the MA Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, in 2019. She is the author of 14 books on design. Judith is working on her first novel, set in London in the 1860s. She won 1st prize for the London Short Story Prize 2019 and 1st prize for the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition 2017 in the USA. Judith is also an interiors writer and lecturer. 

The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. I read this book in goodreads.com and the e-book is only available for 80 pages. So, I have completed the 80 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I like novel with the romantic genre. 

The Setting 

The story takes place in Japan. Japan is the place where Ikuko & Hiroshi live and Japan also the place where they meet and fall in love with each other. 

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.

(Source: https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/special_toto03.html)

Besides Japan, the story takes place in Zambia too. Zambia is the place where Bernard has to live with his children. Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safari areas. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "Smoke That Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. Spanning the Zambezi River just below the falls is Victoria Falls Bridge, a spectacular viewpoint.

The Characters 

The main character of this story is Ikuko Kanazawa and Hiroshi Masuda. Ikuko is an office worker in Tokyo and Hiroshi is Ikuko's boyfriend. 

Ikuko is a kind girl and a caring person, but she gets bored quickly, especially with whether she live the job she is doing and also a relationship that she has with someone. Meanwhile, Hiroshi is a kind man, wise man, very caring person  and very loyal to his partner. 

The Plot 

The year is 2000. Ikuko Kanazawa, a 23-year-old Japanese girl, is unsure about the prospect of marrying her boyfriend, Hiroshi. She wants more experience of travel and goes to England, to improve her English, promising Hiroshi she’ll marry him when she returns. Life abroad is daunting at first, as she notes in her diary, but she settles into the new routine. At the student hostel, she goes to the photography club, where she meets Zambian photographer, Bernard Chiluba, whose work she admires. Later, she has a chance encounter with Bernard, who shows her round the city. There is a mutual attraction. Bernard realises she plans to marry, but Ikuko is now unsettled – he is so different from Hiroshi. Soon, Lucretia, a fellow student, suspects they are more than friends.

Ikuko goes on a photo club trip to the countryside with Bernard. While returning, a van crashes into the minibus. The driver is hurt but Bernard saves Ikuko from injury. Back at the hostel, after the traumatic events, Ikuko is upset. Bernard comforts her, and they end up spending the night together. In the morning, they have to talk. Neither regrets what has happened, but Bernard reveals he is a single parent, with two children, and Ikuko tells him about Hiroshi. Ikuko is confused about the future, and later confesses all to Hiroshi, who is hurt.

Bernard has to leave for Zambia – his children have been abandoned by his estranged wife. Meanwhile, Ikuko, disillusioned with study, returns to Japan. Three months pass till she hears from Bernard. Their letters to each other had gone astray. She gladly accepts his offer to visit Zambia. There, she adapts to life in rural Africa, keeping house and looking after the girls. Although in love with Bernard, she fails to adjust completely to the new life and culture and eventually returns to Japan.

Conclusion 

Actually, this story is divided into two sections.

First is Ikuko’s story. She is a main character and is going to marry. And she goes to England to develop her English and meets Bernerd who is an African student in England. Then, they became attracted to each other. However, their position are very difficult to be in love.

 The other story is Joyce and Taka’s story. Joyce are very famous media-scientist but she is unfriendly. So Taka does not like her very much except her presentation. One day, he rescues her when she steps on stonefish. After that, their mental distance lessen quickly.  In fact, they have suprising in common.

 When I read this book, I could not undestrand very much. Who is Joyce? Why did the story change in the middle of story? However, I can understand second times. This story is consisted of Ikuko’s past and present. In addtion, it have profound implication. What would you do if you love the person who you must not be in love? Do you believe your destiny? I think I want to believe my destiny because life is easy system but it seems to be complicated. So, for me, I like this story and I recommend many people who believe their destinies to read this book.

"The Invisible Man"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

February 15th, 2021 

Reading Diary - Entry 5 

    

     Introduction 

  "The Invisible Man" is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells. Originally serialized in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, it was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man to whom the title refers is Griffin, a scientist who has devoted himself to research into optics and who invents a way to change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light. He carries out this procedure on himself and renders himself invisible, but fails in his attempt to reverse it. A practitioner of random and irresponsible violence, Griffin has become an iconic character in horror fiction. The name of the illustrator is not listed in this book. I read it in books.google.co.id and the e-book is only available for 120 pages. So, I have completed the 120 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested with the title and the cover of the book. 

    The Characters 

Griffin
He is the Invisible Man. Primarily an albino college student, he changes his area of study from medicine to physics and then becomes interested in refractive indexes of tissue. While studying, he stumbles across formulae that would make body tissues invisible. Finally, he successfully tries the formula on himself and thinks about all the things he could do if he were invisible. Sadly, the positives are far outweighed by the disadvantages, so Griffin starts opting for crime as a means of survival.

Mr Marvel
This is the first character that Griffin makes his assistant and uses as a partner in crime. Mr Marvel is a short, fat loner who is the area tramp. Griffin thinks that he stupid and so trusts him by believing that he will not be believed even if he tries to tell anyone about his predicament.

Dr Kemp
Griffin’s former associate from his college days. As students, Griffin was aware that even Kemp was keen about strange and idiosyncratic aspects of science. Griffin actually goes to Kemp’s house in his final attempt to find an accomplice and start leading a more normal life. Kemp; however, does not have a sense of loyalty to his former student and is not willing to be a part of Griffin’s grand schemes. He is also quite cunning and lands up betraying the invisible man by pretending to support Griffin’s experiments.

     Plot

In the story of The Invisible Man, a mysterious man goes to a village called Iping, which is in the middle of a snowstorm. He then stays in an inn that is owned and run by the husband and wife George and Janny Hall. They ask him to not be worried about the storm, so he goes to his room with his luggage. This man’s name is Griffin, a scientist, who usually spends his time in his room experimenting with different chemicals and formulas.

He is an introverted guy, which becomes a huge problem as he lives in a town where the there is a lot of gossip.

Griffin goes outside at night; however, be keeps himself completely bandaged up and wears a fake nose. The villagers think that he is very peculiar, especially because there are suddenly weird break-ins and a lot of robberies start happening in the village. But things become worse when the owner Janny Hall asks him to pay up his overture rent or leave. So, he gets depressed and frustrated, taking off all his bandages and clothes and manages to disappear into the night with his invisibility tricks.

Griffin then forces Thomas Marvel, a tramp, or migrant worker by profession, to become his assistant. But Marvel betrays him and takes him to the police, so Griffin runs away again. The Invisible Man beats them up and wreaks some major havoc while leaving.

While he is on the run again, Griffin happens to meet Dr Kemp, his old acquaintance from medical school. Griffin then tells his friend Kemp about his experiments with invisibility. He also tells him how he has made plans to terrorize England by using his discovery of invisibility. Here’s the gist of what he tells him: he was poor and was desperate to study invisibility, so he steals money from his father, who later commits suicide (it’s not revealed why he does that). Finally, Griffin gets a grip of the idea of invisibility and proceeds to do these things: (1) set his landlord’s building on fire; (2) wander around London; (3) rob a department store; and (4) wear a ridiculous outfit hired from a theatrical costume shop and go to Iping for work, but soon Kemp realizes that Griffin has gone berserk, and hands him over to the police.

But Griffin still breaks through the police line and starts chasing Kemp into the town. But unfortunately, the locals get hold of Griffin and kill him. At the end of the story, it is revealed that Marvel has saved all the notes  written by Griffin in his room at the inn, but luckily, he can’t make heads or tails out of them.

    Conclusion 

 I thought Wells did a good job building up the eerie atmosphere that is prominent throughout the story. Actually, the atmosphere is the star of the book as none of the characters resonated with me and the storyline, which mainly consisted of wrecking havoc for havoc's sake, was not very inspired. The story itself is also quite funny, I thought and many of the scenes played in my mind as slapstick. 

However, one could certainly tell that Wells is a master storyteller, and I find myself engrossed in the story for several chapters (mainly at the beginning and end). I also found the period details in the book very interesting.

So, I recommend this book for those of you who like books with the mystery, horror, and thriller genres. this is a very exciting book for you to read.

"One Day"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

February 8th, 2021 

Reading Diary - Entry 4 

Introduction 

“One Day” is a romance fiction novel by David Nicholls. The book was first published by Hodder & Stoughton in United Kingdom on 11 June 2009. The name of the illustrator is not listed in this book. In fact, this book has 448 pages. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read it in English e-Reader.net and the e-book is only available for 76 pages. So, I have completed the 76 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested with a romantic novel genre. 

The Setting 

The story takes place in London, United Kingdom in 1988. In this story, many places are told  in London, especially the University of Edinburgh where Emma and Dexter met. 

London is the capital and largest city of England and Great Britain. The city sits on the River Thames in southeast England, at the end of an 80-kilometer estuary that leads to the North Sea. 

The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582, is the sixth oldest university in Great Britain and the English speaking world and one of the ancient universities in Scotland. The university has five main campuses in the city of Edinburgh, which include many important historical and architectural buildings such as those in the Old City. The university played an important role in Edinburgh being a major intellectual center during the Scottish Enlightenment, contributing to the city being nicknamed "Athens of the North". 

    University of Edinburgh 

   Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Edinburgh

The Characters 

The main character is Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew. They are best friends. 

Actually Emma is a pessimistic person but she becomes an optimist when she has gone through some difficult realities. She can also get up and survive until she can become successful. Likewise with Dexter, when he already shone as a TV presenter, he was faced with a decline in his popularity so that he was in a slump. However, they can be strong through it all because they always share stories and always encourage each other.

Dexter's character is special, because he keeps his commitment as Emma's best friend who always supports him and he never asks for a more relationship. The twists and turns of Dexter's life are well described. We can be annoyed and pity with his life.

Plot 

Dexter and Emma spend the night together following their graduation from the University of Edinburgh, in 1988. They talk about how they will be once they are 40. While they do not become romantically involved completely, this is the beginning of their friendship. The novel visits their lives and their relationship on 15 July in successive years in each chapter, for 20 years.

Emma wants to improve the world, and begins writing and performing plays, which remain unsuccessful, while Dexter travels through the world, drinking and hooking up with women. Eventually both move to London, where Emma becomes a waitress in Kentish Town, at a Tex-Mex restaurant, while Dexter becomes a successful television presenter.

While there are various attempts from both sides to start a relationship, coincidences stop Emma and Dexter from getting together, and while they have relationships with other people, they remain best friends, each secretly longing for the other. They are drawn closer through a holiday together and the death of Dexter's mother.

Emma breaks up with her boyfriend, Ian, after realising she is creating a life with someone she doesn't love. During this time she is able to find a job as a teacher, after various years of struggle, despite having a "double-first degree". Dexter, meanwhile, develops a drinking and drug problem, and watches his career collapse.

Emma and Dexter's friendship grows increasingly difficult after Emma is constantly hurt by Dexter, who attempts to hide his feelings for her from both her and himself. Finally, after being treated rudely by Dexter at a restaurant, Emma breaks up the friendship.

At the wedding of Emma's former roommate, Emma and Dexter meet again. Emma admits that she wants Dexter back. At this juncture, she has just ended an affair with the headmaster of the school she teaches in, and Dexter has fallen in love with another woman, Sylvie, who is pregnant. At this reunion, Dexter invites Emma, who is disappointed by the situation, to his wedding.

Emma tries to overcome her problems and begins to write, while Dexter is unemployed and overwhelmed by his role as a father after his divorce from Sylvie, who was having an affair. Emma leaves to go to Paris in the hope of writing a sequel to her first successful children's novel. When Dexter visits her in Paris, he learns that she has met someone and likes him, and for the first time admits his feelings to her. After talking about their relationship, Emma chooses Dexter.

Emma and Dexter form a relationship, are happy together, and get married, but Emma wants a child. The couple finds themselves frustrated by their failing attempts to have a child. Dexter, however, is able to open a deli-café and finds himself on his way back to being successful.

On the anniversary of the day they met after graduation and the day they got together, Emma and Dexter have an appointment to see a house. While travelling there, Emma has a bike accident and dies. After her death, Dexter finds himself in despair. He starts to drink again and provokes people in bars to get beaten.

He is comforted by his ex-wife Sylvie, his father, and his daughter. Three years after Emma's death Dexter travels with his daughter to Edinburgh, where he and Emma met, and they climb the same hill together that he and Emma climbed 19 years earlier.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the story of this novel actually is a little bit complicated, but ya, I love this novel and I recommend this novel to all of you, eventhough this is a sad ending story. This novel teaches us to appreciate the existence of the person we love while she/he is still around and love him/her sincerely. 

"Nothing but the Truth"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

January 31th,  2021 

Reading Diary - Entry 3 

Introduction

“Nothing but the Truth” is a fiction novel by George Kershaw. The book was first published by Cambridge University Press on 1 April 1999. The name of the illustrator is not listed in this book. In fact, this book has 80 pages. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read it in English e-Reader.net and the e-book is only available for 70 pages. So, I have completed the 70 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested with the title of the novel. 

The Setting 

The story takes place in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998. The most highlighted place in this story is at international school in Bangkok (Hu's school) and at Khao Yai National Park (when Hu & her friends went on a field trip) in Hing Tung, Thailand. 

Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. Meanwhile, Khao Yai National Park is no doubt the best national park in Thailand for regular visitors where it is relatively easy to see some impressive animals. Established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park, it is the third largest national park in Thailand. Situated mainly in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Khao Yai extends into Prachinburi, Saraburi and Nakhon Nayok provinces. The main checkpoint of the park is 180 km from Bangkok.

    Khao Yai National Park 

    Source: https://www.easyvoyage.co.uk/thailand/khao-yai-park-3368

The Characters 

The main character is Hu. Hu was seventeen and a good student. She studied at the Bangkok International Academy, an international school for the children of foreign people working in Thailand. Hu has complete parents, but the parents name is not listed in this story. Her father is the father who insisted on his daugther's will, he really wanted Hu to become a doctor. 

Hu has cat. The cat's name is Lao Mao, because Hu loved animals. She has friends too, their name is Marwa, Thomas, Yoshiko, John and Sean. Other than that, Hu has teachers too, he's name is Mr. Stanyer. Mr. Stranyer is a crafty english teacher.  

  

Plot 

Hu, a seventeen year old Chinese girl, is being blackmailed by her English teacher, Mr Stanyer, who says she cannot be entered for the International Baccalaureate unless her English grades improve. She dare not tell her parents, whose ambition is for her to be a doctor, so she agrees to pay Mr Stanyer for private lessons, although she cannot understand her poor grades. She uses her savings and sells a ring given to her by an aunt. 

Hu makes friends with a new American student, John Truman, whose mother is Head of the Upper School. She also becomes involved in the school show, The Wizard of Oz taking the leading role of Dorothy. 

There is drama during a school trip to Khao Yai National Park, when Hu and her friends become lost. They are eventually restored to safety. During the trip Hu learns from one of her friends that Mr Stanyer has been blackmailing other girls too, usually those with wealthy parents.

Back at school, Hu becomes very anxious and her parents eventually discover about the extra lessons. A meeting is held with the headmaster and a school counsellor but no-one believes Hu. John’s mother, Verity Truman, however, supports Hu’s story and begins an investigation into Mr Stanyer’s background. She uncovers his corruption – he lied about his qualifications and has no degree, he has got an entry visa into Thailand by deception, and he has been marking students down in order to get them to pay for extra lessons. She confronts the school authorities with the truth and Hu is finally vindicated. 

Conclusion 

In my opinion, this novel teaches us many things, especially in terms of honesty, we have to be honest, especially to our parents. Although it is difficult, it must be. We must be open to our own parents. Second, message to all parents reading this, don't force their child's will to be what you want. Third, don't be a cunning person. we have to be kind, obey the rules.

That's all, thank you :) 

"Forget to Remember"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

January 23th, 2021 

Reading Diary - Entry 2 

Introduction

"Forget to Remember" is a family fiction novel by Alan Maley was published by Cambridge University Press, 2011. The name of the illustrator is not included in this book. In fact, this book has 96 pages. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read it in English e-Reader.net and the e-book is only available for 90 pages. So, I have completed the 90 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because the title makes me curious to read.

The Setting

The story takes place in London, United Kingdom in 2011. The most highlighted place in Lewisham (Sarah's house) and in Marlow, Buckinghamshire (Hugh & Kate house).

Lewisham is a London borough in South London; it forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham. The local authority is Lewisham London Borough Council, based in Catford. 

Marlow is a town and civil parish within the Unitary Authority of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the River Thames, 4 miles south-west of High Wycombe, 5 miles west north-west of Maidenhead and 33 miles west of central London.

I think this story takes 1 year or less than 1 year passes from start to finish. 

    Marlow

   Source: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-to-do-in-marlow-buckinghamshire-england/

   Lewisham 

  

 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewisham

The Characters 

The main character is Jan & Kate. Jan & Kate have a mother named Sarah. Jan has a daugther named Cindy. Kate has a husband named Hugh. Kate & Hugh have a daugther named Caroline, and a son named Jeremy.

1.     Jan is a patient woman, a woman who was educated very hard by her father. She always take care of her sick mother, even though there was actually a lot she could do but she was still patient to take care of her mother. 

Kate is a selfish woman, she is more concerned with herself than the others, especially her mother. She always ignore her mother when her mother sick. All she thinks about is only money, money, and money. 

Plot

Jan and Kate are sisters. They have a mother named Sarah, who has Alzheimer's disease. Jan and her daugther, Cindy, are always patient in taking care of their mother / grandmother. Meanwhile, Kate never took care of her mother and even visited her. Kate is too selfish, all she cares about is money, money and money. In fact, he forgot his mother's birthday.

Kate has a husband, named Hugh. Hugh doesn't care about his mother-in-law at all, all he cares about is his business. Instead, he made Sarah's condition an investment. Until one day, Hugh was caught having an affair with the wife of his business partner, his name is Melpa. When Hugh is caught cheating, he gets into trouble, he goes bankrupt.

 One day, Sarah was died. Jan and Cindy were very sad, according to them, even though Sarah's condition made them dizzy, they actually really loved Sarah. Finally, they also spread this news to Kate. Kate felt guilty, and finally Jan and Kate forgave each other. 

Conclusion

 In my opinion, this novel is very interesting to read. From this story, there are many lessons we can take, that family is everything, especially parents. So, the message is love our parents while they are still alive, take good care of them when they are old. 

 

"Tales from the Arabian Nights"

 Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

January 15th, 2021

 Reading Diary - Entry 1 (book 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

“Tales from the Arabian Nights”  is a fiction novel by Antoine Galland and independently published in 2017. This book is collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age.

It is often known in English as the Arabian Nights, from the first English language edition (1706), which rendered the title as The Arabian Nights' Entertainment. The work was collected over many centuries by various authors, translators, and scholars across West, Central, and South Asia and North Africa.

In fact, this book has 47 pages. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read it in English e-Reader.net and the e-book is only available for 35 pages. So, I have completed the 35 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested in reading a fairytale genre of novel.

The Setting

The tales themselves trace their roots back to ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Indian, Jewish and Egyptian folklore and literature. In particular, many tales were originally folk stories from the Caliphate era, while others, especially the frame story, are most probably drawn from the Pahlavi Persian work Hazār Afsān which in turn relied partly on Indian elements.

The Characters

Actually, the characters in this story are so many. But, I just can tell you about the main characters of this story. The main characters is Sultan Shahriar, the vizir of the sultan, Scheherazade and Dunyazade.

Sultan Shahriar

 

 

(Source: http://classe.bilingue.free.fr/fr/TDM-lecture/txt/1001/6-1001-shahriar.html)

Scheherazade                                                        

              

(Source: levekunst.com/for-scheherazade/)

Sultan Shahriar is a man who has a beautiful wife, and he loved her more than anything in the world. The vizir of the sultan is the father of Sheherezade and Dunyazade. In my opinion, Sheherezade is the memorable person in this story, because she is very optimistic person and she can soften the heart of Sultan Shahriar. 

Plot

Sultan Shahriar had a beautiful wife, and he was very much in love with her. One day, the sultan found her with another man. He was very angry and cut off the man's head. Then he cut off his wife's head too and from that time the sultan began to hate all women.

He said to his vizir, he'll marry a new wife every day. The woman has to stay with the sultan for one night. Then the next morning, he’ll cut off her head. So no woman will hurt him again. The vizir had to find a new wife for the sultan every day. But this was a very difficult job. Every family was afraid. No girl wanted to be the sultan's wife for one night and then die. Fathers began to send their daughters away.

The vizir was too afraid. He can’t find any more girls. The vizir had two daugthers. One of them, Scheherazade, was beautiful and very clever. One day she said, 'Dear Father, please do something for me. It will make me, the sultan and the people very happy.' And the vizir said, 'What is it, my daughter? Ask, and I will do it for you.' Scheherazade said, she want to be the Sultan’s wife. And her father was very shocked. He don’t want his daughter to die.

The next day, Scheherazade went with her father to see the sultan. The sultan was very surprised. Why did the vizir want his daughter to be the sultan's wife? But Scheherazade was beautiful and the sultan was very happy with her. So he married her. She also took his sister to sleep with her and the sultan. And she said to her sister, one hour before morning, her sister must say, 'Dear sister, please tell me a story.' So Scheherazade began to tell the story.

Scheherazade tell many stories about a thousand and one nights in the Arabian Nights. And that makes the sultan thinks of new ones. The sultan never want to cut off Scheherazade head, because he loves her. So, Scheherazade won the Sultan’s love with her stories. She loved him too, and they were very happy.

Conclusion

In my opinion, this novel is very interesting to read, because this novel has many fairy tales that can captivate the hearts of its readers, and besides that we can take a lesson in this story, that love can change a person's heart, from hard to soft. I like this novel.

"Me Before You"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032)

January 14^th, 2021

Reading Diary - Entry 1 (book 1) 

Me before You

Introduction

“Me before You” is a romance fiction novel by Jojo Moyes. The book was first published by Michael Joseph on 5 January 2012 in the United Kingdom. In Indonesia, the book was published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama on 25 July 2016. In fact, this book has 480 pages. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read it in English e-Reader.net and the e-book is only available for 46 pages. So, I have completed the 46 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I was interested in reading a romantic novel and because I had seen the movie too.

 The Setting

Set in the United Kingdom, Lou Clark & her family live in tiny English hometown (Smalltown, U.K.). The one point of interest is Stortford Castle (owned by Will’s family), a tourist destination that draws people from all over the world. In chapter 11, Lou & Will visited Mauritius, a small island off the coast of Africa. They Mauritius is about as different from small-town England as you can get.

In the novel closing moments, Lou visits Paris. This visit was arranged by Will before his death and is a reference to a conversation earlier in the novel when he said that it was his favorite place in the world. She sat in front of the dark green cafe, looking down the Rue des Francs Bourgeois. It was a beautiful, sunny autumn day in Paris. In a fitting way, the novel closes with Lou heading "off down the street toward the parfumerie and the whole of Paris and beyond" (chapter 12), finally taking her future into her own hands and embracing all of its possibilities.

 The Characters

Will & Lou

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-me-before-you-ss7m7tfll

In my opinion, Louisa, Will, Treena and Nathan are memorable person in this story.

Louisa Clark is a woman who is talented, creative and funny but she underestimates herself and she has few ambitions. Louisa has 1 little sister, her name is Treena Clark who is a single mother to son Thomas, who works at flower shop and Treena always support her sister, Louisa.

Will Traynor is a man who became quadriplegic after the road accident. He is intelligent, but his impairment has left him moody, angry, and bitter. Unable to accept never being the active and adventurous man he once was, he wants to end his life. Nathan is Will's nurse who always helped and took care of him. Nathan was also considered as Will's friend.

 Plot

Louisa Clark is a woman who loses her job at a local cafe when the cafe closes. She goes to the Job Centre and after several failed attempts, is offered a unique employment opportunity: help care for Will Traynor, a successful, wealthy, and once-active young man who developed quadriplegic in a pedestrian-motorcycle accident two years ago. Louisa was interviewed by Will's Mother and she immediately accepted Louisa to work for the next 6 months. She believe Louisa can brigthen his spirit. 

Louisa and Will's relationship starts out rocky due to his bitterness and resentment over being disabled. Things get worst after Will's ex-girlfriend, Alicia, and his best friend Rupert reveal that they are getting married. Because of Louisa's care, Will becomes more communicative and open-minded as they share experiences together. Louisa only had 6 months to change Will's mind so he didn't go to Dignitas, a Swiss-based assisted suicide organization.

Louisa persuade Will to go on a holiday with her, she takes Will to the island of Mauritius. The night before returning home, Louisa tells Will that she loves him. Will says their time together has been special, but he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair. He will be following through with his plans. Angry and hurt, Louisa doesn’t want speak to him for the rest of the trip. When they return home, Will's parents are pleasantly surprised by his good physical condition. Louisa, however, resigns as his caretaker, and they understand that Will intends to end his life.

On the night of Will's flight to Switzerland, Louisa visits him one last time. They agree that the past six months have been the best in their lives. He dies shortly after in the clinic, and and he left a message to Louisa to take money from her lawyer for her life and education. The novel ends with Louisa at a café in Paris, reading Will's last words to her in a letter, that tell her to 'live well'.

Conclusion

In my opinion, this novel is very interesting to read, very easy to understand and this novel is great for people who like to read books in the romantic genre. This novel also teaches us to be people who are always optimistic regardless of the circumstances and also teaches us that if we love someone, we must love them regardless of their circumstances and and we must to support them.