ME BEFORE YOU, British Romance/Euthanasia Novel

British author JoJo Moyes has been awarded the Romantic Novel award, twice.  ME BEFORE YOU could be classified a romance novel.   It is a blossoming/doomed romance between a quadriplegic determined to end his life and his quirky, garrulous care giver, Louisa Clark, equally determined to convince him of all that life has to offer; including her love for him.  Will Traynor is the handsome, athletic, wealthy, alpha male whose left a quadriplegic from a motorcycle accident.  Traynor's aristocratic family own the large castle in the small town where Louisa (Lou) lives with her struggling, working class family.  After the tea shop Lou worked at closes, she desperately seeks a source of income to support her dependent family.  Despite having no experience working with the disabled, Lou is surprised to be offered the job of caring for Will by his tyrannical mother.  Her increased salary is a source of great relief to her family.   However, Lou is ready to quit as soon as she is subjected to Will's belligerence & her own feelings of inadequacy.  The job is contracted only for the next 6 months.  Lou discerns Will's distressful agreement with his family.  They have submitted to his adamant decision to commit euthanasia in 6 months.  Where is the love, the comedy, the class distinctions, the irrepressible spirits?  They abound in an easily readable & enjoyable novel that makes you care for Lou & Will, root for their relationship awhile presenting intelligent, polarizing views on euthanasia.   There are 2 serious and poignant films on this subject that I recommend:  the Spanish film "The Sea Inside" with Javier Barden & the Italian film "Honey" ('14.)  I also recommend this surprisingly engaging novel that puts forth the much needed discussion on the legalization of euthanasia.  

The Rose That Grew From Concrete, Tupac Shakur's Poetic Legacy Thrives

 Tupac Shakur untimely death (b. 1971-96) cannot silence his poetic genius.  His words leap off the page & pull at your heart strings.  His love poems are sonnets that soar with emotion.
The Power of a Smile for Renee
"The power of anger can rage inside until it tears you apart.  But the power of a smile, especially yours can heal a frozen heart."
Shakur's premonition of his early death is haunting:
In the Event of My Demise
"I will die before my time.  Because I feel the shadow's depth.  So much I wanted to accomplish before I reached my Death."
Shakur's rousing poems speak of love, pain, fear, strength, faith, heartbreak & injustice.
Lady Liberty Needs Glasses
"While justice is on a rampage for endangered surviving black males.  I mean really if anyone really valued life and cared about the masses, They'd take em both to Pen Optical and get 2 pair of glasses."
He boldly puts forth the plights of young black men: drugs, police brutality, incarcertation, & poverty.  He speaks of his devotion for his single mother and admiration for leaders & artists:  Mandela, Malcom X,  Huey Newton, and Van Gogh.
The Rose That Grew From Concrete is a compilation of Shakur's writings & drawings.  His powerful legacy will thrive, inspire & immortalize a galvanizing artist whose life was taken way too early.
Untitled
"Stregth is overcome by weakness.  Joy is overcome by pain.  The night is overcome by brightness and Love - it remains the same."  

Toby's Room By British author Pat Barker is Unpleasant & Substandard

British author, Pat Barker, has been awarded the Booker Prize winner (Ghost Road) and honored as  Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her brilliant legacy of work.  Her works mainly dealt  with the horrors of WWI & the aftermaths of trauma.  I read her Regeneration Trilogy & am in accord with British author Jonathan Coe (The Rain Before it Falls '08)  that her trilogy "is one of the few real masterpieces of late 20th C British fiction."  Her previous novel, Life Class '07, was lighter in subject matter; an art student in the years after WWI.  Her most recent novel, Toby's Room '12, refers to the brother of the herione, Elinor.  Elinor was an art student & a commissioned artist to draw soldiers wounded & disfigured in the war.  The novel concerns the horrors of war but it is centered on the incestuous relationship between Elinor & Toby.  When Toby is classified as MIA, Elinor becomes obsessed with learning what became of her brother. Two of her classmates, Paul & Neville, were stationed with Toby during the war.  Elinor is relentless in her pursuit of information regardless of Neville's gross facial disfigurement & Paul's devotion to her.  The mystique to discover what become of  Toby kept me engaged.  The hideous truth is that Toby was caught having a sexual liasion with a young stable hand & chose suicide rather than face a dishonorable discharge.  Barker is a masterful writer and I appreciate her contention, "…historical novels can be a backdoor into the present which is valuable."  However, I found the novel distasteful & would recommend her Regeneration Trilogy instead.

French novel, The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles is a Bunch of Crock

Pancol's novel The Yellow Eyes… was a huge hit in France when it was 1st published in '06.  The novel is as subtle & predicable as the crocodile in pursuit of Capt. Hook; you know what's coming and whose going to get their comeuppance.  Josephine is the noble, hardworking, devoted mother of 2 daughters.  Josephine romanticizes about life in the 12th C; a time of nobles, more than focusing on the present.  Josephine's philandering husband leaves her for a younger & more attractive woman.  He leaves France with his mistress to raise crocodiles in Africa; a foolhardy scheme (selling their hides which makes me scream.)  Plain Josephine's sister Iris (eye analogy) is gorgeous, conniving & attention grabbing.  Iris will eat up anything or anyone that gets in her way.  Hortense & Zoe are Josephine's 2 daughters.  Hortense is the glamorous sister who emulates her Aunt Iris' go for the kill modus operandi.   The fairer & comparer of the 2 sisters runs parallel between generations.  The mother of Josephine & Iris is the matriarch of family dysfunction.  There is a ridiculous subplot involving Josephine's best  friend leading a double life as a commoner and secretive daughter to the Queen of England.  Does the damsel in distress overcome all obstacles to find happiness.  This is a beach book better eaten by a croc than read - later alligator.  

AMERICANAH by Nigerian author Adichie

AMERICANAH, Nat'l Book Award '13 is by Nigerian author Chimamana Ngozi Adichie.  Her entertaining & eye opening novel is a love story between Nigerian teens that spans over 3 decades & 3 continents.  Ifemelu is the headstrong, free spirit who falls in love with Obinze as teens in their hometown  in Nigeria.  Having spent years living abroad, Ifemelu in Amer. & Obinze in London, they reconnect after 30 years and rekindle their great love affair.  Looking back, Ifemelu wonders "Had she felt this way as a teenager?  This was love, to be eager for tomorrow."  Their romance is not at "The Heart of the Matter" (Green.)  It is through her foreign eyes & insightful blog, we discover her perspective on life as a black African living in Amer. in comparison to a black Amer., and her life in Nigeria.  It is her observations on racism, social hierarchy and prejudices that are most illuminating.  Adichie's commentaries shed new light on pressing issues.  "It seems to me that in Amer. blacks & whites work together but don't play together."  "Of course people are prejudiced, but aren't we all prejudiced?"  I agreed with this post in response to Ifemelu ending her blog.  "Please come back to the blogsphere soon.  You've used your irreverent hectoring, funny & thought-provoking voice to create a space for real conversations about an important subject."

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena-A Phenomenal Novel

Anthony Marra created a masterpiece of writing with his first novel, "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena."  This miraculous debut takes place over 5 incredulous days during war torn Checnya under attack by Russia in 2004.  War generally speaking is evil and advisably avoided.  All the unbearable horrors that occurred are offset in Marra's novel by the sliver of humanity that prevailed.  These 5 days are majestically woven into a nonlinear timelines spanning backwards with glimpses into the future.   Events & people are hauntingly webbed together.  Some connections are bonded together and others left with enigmatic holes.  The main characters are from small ravaged villages in Checnya.  Sonja is a surgeon working in a hospital with minimal staff & few supplies, trying to tend the wounded soldiers & remaining locals.  Akmed, a flailing Dr. and aspiring artist flees with Havaa, the young daughter of a slain friend to the hospital where Sonja works.  She agrees to care for Havaa in exchange for Akmed's medical assistance.  Sonja mentors Akmed "to teach him that saving a life & nurturing a life are different processes."  Havaa teaches them that love is what chooses a family.  "The years wash away your evidence, 1st you, then your friends & family, then the descendants…"  History writes itself.  Marra has written a miraculous phenomena of immense depth & grace.  

IN THREE WARS-Bio of S. African Dr.'s Service to the State of Israel

Dr. Cyril Kaplan Med. School graduate in Cape Town '1940 and deployed to the Middle East as a physician.  During the war, Dr. Kaplan 1st visited Palestine.  After WWII he specialized in orthopedic surgery in England.  After completing his medical training, Dr. Kaplan volunteered as a surgeon in the 1948 Israeli War.  IN THREE WARS gives a 1st hand account of the implausible struggles for Israel's existence.  Dr. Kaplan was an early pioneer in the medical field for a new nation who fought for its Independence and survival; through the War of Attrition & Yom Kippur War.  Israel's improbable proliferation parallels the amazing altruistic life of a young surgeon.  Dr. Kaplan's struggles to establish & provide basic care with rudimentary provisions during harsh wartime conditions is incredulous.   Dr. Kaplan's own assessment of his role is minimized, "I don't think it has been tremendous.. but I think it has been useful." He pays extensive tribute to the many dedicated medical personnel who worked incessantly and to the many brave young people who went into battle.  Dr. Kaplan found love during the tumultuous years of Israel's early history with his persistent pursuit of another S. African physician who became his wife.  Dr. Kaplan also reflected on S. Africa's own problems with apartheid and other African government's oppression & cruelty to their own people.  This is a compelling life story during a ferocious era.  Dr. Kaplan's insight is never-ending "All wars are completely wasteful and wicked."