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Review: Before I Go To Sleep, by S.J. Watson

3/31/2014

2 Comments

 
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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Format: ebook
Pages: 359 pages (Hardcover)
Source: Library Borrow via Overdrive
Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Review Date: March 31,2014
Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: 'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love—all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.


WOW! Seriously, just wow. This is one of the most crazy books I've ever read! And I mean that in a good way. I rushed through this book so quickly because I all wanted to do was find out what exactly was going on!  I'll try my best not to spoil too much of the story, because figuring it all out was the best part of it!

The main players in this story are Christine, the amnesiac. Ben, her husband. Dr.Nash, her doctor and Claire, her best friend.  Every day, day in and day out Christine awakes not knowing how old she is. Not knowing where she is, or how she got there. She doesn't recognize her husband. She doesn't know what happened to her.  Everyday she has to relearn basic information. At some point her subconscious memories start to come to the surface and all sort of revelations start to come out. Who can she trust? Who is lying to her and why?  But how does she capture these questions being that she can't retain her memory day to day? A journal.  It's a genius idea, and thanks to Dr, Nash she's able to start figuring things out, sort of.

Right off the bat, I knew something was off.  I had a few suspicions, but I was mostly wrong on my early guess. I actually was half right!  I'm one that can easily figure out what's going on in the "who done it" books, but this was much tougher. I wasn't able to put things completely together until two pages before the big reveal.  Usually I'm much faster at it than that. The author did a great job keeping you on your toes with that part.

The book is fast paced, and well written.  I had no issues with the integrity of the story.  Overall, it was a mind blowing story. 

What didn't I like?   I understand that getting the scope of her memory loss is crucial to the story, but I was near frustration with all the flip flopping that Christine was doing. I understood that each day was like a clean slate, but the woman would read her own diary and question why she would right something! Every day!  Then of course, like clock work, something bad or questionable would happen and she'd be right back on board with what she previously wrote in the diary. Then adding even more to the diary. Then again the very next day, doubting her own words.  It's got annoying after a while.   I started to wonder when the diary portion was going to end. Thankfully the story moved on before I reached my breaking point.  

Even though Christine when through a horrific ordeal, had she not, it's possible that Dr.Nash may have never started working with her. Christine may have never started a journal and she could still be living in her original situation. 

I really liked the ending. While it wasn't happy go lucky, justice was served. I always can appreciate a realistic ending. I also liked that the author let us draw our on conclusions about what happens in the future with Christina's memory.

If you like thrillers with loads of drama, then I recommend you try this book. I've never ready Watson before this, but I will read more from him in the future.

Happy Reading, 
~Tamara
Get the Kindle version here:

2 Comments
lectus link
3/31/2014 09:01:50 am

Can you imagine living like that? The story reminded of the comedy 50 First Dates. I loved the book. A movie is coming out.

Reply
Alexis@Reflections of a Bookaholic link
4/4/2014 06:41:25 pm

I've seen this one around and I've been a little scared of it. But now I feel like I have to give it a shot. I'll add it to my list of book club recommendations when it is my turn.

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