Blog everyday in September: Day 6 National Read a book day

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day six: National Read a book day

This book is wonderful.

A quick synopsis - four sisters growing up in an America at war with itself. Trials and tribulations of sisterhood as children, and then growing up and out of the family home and the new challenges that face them.

I first read this book while I was in Sri Lanka when I was 19 - I just picked it up in a 'library' in one of the travel lodge/hostels we stayed in. Since then I read at least once a year because I love it so much. The main character, Jo, is a reflection of Louisa May Alcott (LMA) and her family life is a reflection of that of LMA.

Sections of the book that touch my heart:

• The kindness of their mother is passed through to her lovely daughters - this is shown in the book as charity to poverty stricken family, as well as to the kind gentleman living next door.
• Their kindness is reflected back upon them and so gratefully received - when Beth receives a piano.
• The friendship between Jo and 'the Laurence boy'. This touched me so much that my son is called Lawrence.

Highly recommended - tissues required!

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

**SPOILER ALERT**

OK - the first thing to mention is that my review and thoughts of this book does give away the ending - it is vital to do so to explain my feelings about the book.

Second thing to mention is that pregnancy has made me much more emotional. I know I am not the first to experience this, but I think it is worth mentioning that I am not usually quite so high and low in my emotions. On account of this it is quite possible that my thoughts about this book are magnified by my pregnancy emotions!

A friend loaned me this book MONTHS ago!! She has asked me several times if I have started reading it and I have had to embarrassingly say 'no'. Its not that I haven't been interested, but I really haven't read a book since the summer!

A brief synopsis of the book:
A young woman, Louisa, begins a new job as a carer to a paraplegic man, Will, of a similar age. He was an active and adventurous person, but now that he has no movement in his legs and limited movement in his arms he is making plans to go to Dignatas with his family to be allowed to make the decision to die under his own wishes. Louisa decides to try to convince Will that he has plenty to live for - and of course, they end up falling in love!

Once I had realised that Louisa wasn't going to be successful I was heartbroken. How can Moyes make me invest in this lovely friendship, humorous chapters and interesting take on disability and then take it all away! It meant I couldn't put Me Before You down - much to husbands pleasure (more Champo time!).

Others can do whatever they can please as long as it doesn't affect anyone else - this remains my opinion from the way I have been brought up - but I haven't stopped thinking about this book and its affects in the real world.
How would I feel if it was me in the wheelchair? How would I feel if it was my husband in the wheelchair telling me he wanted to do the same as Will? I really don't know what I would do.

From researching and reading online about Dignatas and assisted suicide I have discovered that Terry Pratchett created a documentary about similar, but I cannot find it anywhere! It seems like it has been BANNED in the UK which I find odd - if anyone has any ideas please let me know, I'd be so interested in seeing it.