Tag Archive | Jojo Moyes

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Apr7

Girl Power

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes is a powerful contemporary novel that I just could not put down.

The novel is about riches. We see the values that different characters have. The poorest people are those who value power, status and possessions, who don’t care who they trample on in order to get to the top.

In contrast, the richest people are those who invest in others. People are priceless. We witness some beautiful friendships between people who are materially poor but have the hugest hearts. A character lends another £20, making the difference between sinking or swimming. This reminded me of the widow’s mitre in the Bible.

The women in the story are all a blend of strong yet weak. As their friendships develop, they use their talents and skillsets to help and encourage each other. Alone they are weak, together they are strong.

We see the male characters who are paralysed by trying to do it alone. One is blinded by greed. Another is carrying a terrible burden of guilt, grief and hurt. It breaks the reader’s heart as we hear of the source of this pain.

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The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Jul1

Enchanting

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes is a positively wonderful novel about the power of love.

The tale is set in London in 2006 and in France in 1916. Both time periods are linked by a painting.

Love is a powerful force. Both female protagonists have lost the love of their life. In 1916 Sophie’s husband is fighting the Germans, while in 2006 Liv’s husband is dead. The women have their memories to keep them warm. Sophie hopes her husband will return again. Liv needs to learn to live once more. “Am I allowed to be this happy again?” It is natural to feel guilt when we begin to smile again.

Occupied France is a dangerous place to be. The Germans are cruel – but not all. Germans are people too with feelings and families. Far too often we make judgements based on the uniform but a heart beats underneath and there is compassion.

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Still Me by Jojo Moyes

Feb8

Dean Martin And Me

Still Me by Jojo Moyes is a wonderful contemporary novel about discovering who you are meant to be. It is the third book in the Me Before You series and could be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading the books in order to chart the character progression.

I loved meeting up with Lou Clarke again, with her sunny, unique personality and her huge heart for others. All her life she reaches out to others, spreading goodness and happiness wherever she goes. Will, in book one, encouraged her to live big. In this novel we follow Louisa to New York and watch with baited breath as she discovers the Louisa she was meant to be.

Life is for living. We have one life, we need to reach out and grab it. We must not be hemmed in by others low expectations of us.

Louisa has the gift of bringing out the best in people. Her cheery smile and sunny disposition even brings out the best in a grouchy dog!

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After You by Jojo Moyes

Jan31

Learning To Live Again

After You by Jojo Moyes is a contemporary novel about learning to live through loss. It follows on from Me Before You as the reader sees how Lou learns to live again.

Loss consumes and dominates. “Losing him was like having a hole shot straight through me, a painful, constant remainder, an absence I could never fill.” Lou refers to herself as a ‘doughnut’ and she wants to be a ‘bun’ to be whole again. When we lose someone we have to wade through the hurt we feel. “I’ve been waiting to feel normal again.” Normal as we know it has gone. We must learn how to adapt and live a ‘new normal.’

The reader witnesses a support group for the bereaved through Lou’s eyes. We see there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to grieve. We just have to do what we can to cope.

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