I just read this novel....it is about a man of wealth and privilege whose life changes in the middle of a deal, and an intersection. He is made a quadriplegic, instantly.
It is also about an awkward young woman who is looking for a job and becomes his caregiver, not knowing until she starts to love him that he has given his parent's six months notice about his intention to die in an assisted suicide clinical environment in Switzerland.
The book is funny and poignant and a great delight. It could be determined as sad given the young man's ultimate decision to go through with his self-annihilation, in the face of this woman's love.
In days gone by I would weep copiously at the ending of a story like this. But I found that I had an odd reaction this time. I put the book down and said, "huh."
My read (and it may not be your read but we are all entitled to our perspectives) is that this was an act of gratuitous and spectacular selfishness. This was a man (yes, yes, it's a novel but let me extrapolate for a moment) that was born into wealth and privilege. He grew up spectacularly handsome and bright, and he became a "master of the universe". He created business empires, crushed others, had lots of lovers and traveled the world in exorbitant ways, taking on breath-taking and life defying hobbies. And then when he doesn't get his way, he bails.
Of course, in my pantheon, no one bails, as one just transitions. Death is an utter illusion as we always face what we have done when that transition takes place. And then come back to correct it as our souls constantly seek absolution and ascension.
This story is not a tragedy, it is an anthem to the ego. I'm really glad that Christopher Reeve didn't take the same exit plan. I worked with many non profits who were the recipients of his foundation's largesse and compassion. Look at how he inspired us.
And we are all glad that Stephen Hawking didn't as well.
It is also about an awkward young woman who is looking for a job and becomes his caregiver, not knowing until she starts to love him that he has given his parent's six months notice about his intention to die in an assisted suicide clinical environment in Switzerland.
The book is funny and poignant and a great delight. It could be determined as sad given the young man's ultimate decision to go through with his self-annihilation, in the face of this woman's love.
In days gone by I would weep copiously at the ending of a story like this. But I found that I had an odd reaction this time. I put the book down and said, "huh."
My read (and it may not be your read but we are all entitled to our perspectives) is that this was an act of gratuitous and spectacular selfishness. This was a man (yes, yes, it's a novel but let me extrapolate for a moment) that was born into wealth and privilege. He grew up spectacularly handsome and bright, and he became a "master of the universe". He created business empires, crushed others, had lots of lovers and traveled the world in exorbitant ways, taking on breath-taking and life defying hobbies. And then when he doesn't get his way, he bails.
Of course, in my pantheon, no one bails, as one just transitions. Death is an utter illusion as we always face what we have done when that transition takes place. And then come back to correct it as our souls constantly seek absolution and ascension.
This story is not a tragedy, it is an anthem to the ego. I'm really glad that Christopher Reeve didn't take the same exit plan. I worked with many non profits who were the recipients of his foundation's largesse and compassion. Look at how he inspired us.
And we are all glad that Stephen Hawking didn't as well.